Subclass 417 vs. 462: Australia's Two Working Holiday Visas

Two visas, two different partner-country lists

Australia runs its working holiday program as two separate visa subclasses — 417 and 462 — each tied to its own list of partner countries. They aren't tiers of the same program; which one you can apply for depends solely on your passport country, and most nationalities are eligible for only one of the two, not both.

A meaningful difference: the ballot

Several 462 partner countries have an annual cap on places, allocated through a ballot — being eligible on paper doesn't guarantee a place until you're selected. The 417 program doesn't currently use a ballot system for its partner countries.

What both versions generally require

• —Being within the eligible age range — usually 18 to 30, extended to 35 for some nationalities
• —Sufficient funds to support the early part of the stay
• —Meeting health and character requirements

Check your specific pathway before applying

Because eligibility, cost, and ballot status differ by passport country and can change, confirm your country's current subclass, quota status, and any ballot requirement directly on the Department of Home Affairs site before starting an application.