As of the most recent update on October 12, 2026, the Australian Department of Home Affairs confirmed that citizens from 23 countries have open applications for the Work and Holiday visa, subclass 462. The program operates on a yearly cycle, with applications opening on July 2 of each year. A cap system limits the number of first Work and Holiday visas that can be granted to applicants from partner countries.
Importantly, no caps apply to second or third Work and Holiday visas. Countries With Open Subclass 462 According to the Department of Home Affairs, the following 23 countries have open application caps under the subclass 462 program: Argentina — 3,400 places Austria — 500 places Chile — 3,400 places Czechia — 500 places Ecuador — 100 places Greece — 500 places Hungary — 500 places Israel — 2,500 places Luxembourg — 100 places Malaysia — 1,100 places Papua New Guinea — 100 places Peru — 1,500 places Poland — 1,500 places Portugal — 500 places San Marino — 100 places Singapore — 2,500 places Slovak Republic — 1,000 places Slovenia — 200 places Spain — 3,400 places Switzerland — 200 places Thailand — 2,000 places Thailand — 2,000 places Türkiye — 100 places Uruguay — 1,500 places How the Cap System Works A country’s cap status can shift between “open,” “paused,” or “closed” at any point during the programme year.
Once a cap is closed, it will not reopen until the next programme year begins on 2 July. A paused cap, however, may reopen during the current year, so prospective applicants from paused countries are advised to monitor the Department of Home Affairs website regularly for updates about Australia.
