On 16 August 2026, the Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration confirmed that the government has deliberately slowed the processing of Working Holiday visa applications in response to record demand. Applications are still being processed, but more slowly than before.
Subclass 462 Applications Paused
As of 7 August 2026, applications for the capped Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) from 24 countries have been paused for the current financial year, as annual country caps have been reached.
Subclass 417 Remains Open
The uncapped Working Holiday visa (subclass 417), available to passport holders from 19 partner countries including the UK, Canada, France, Japan and South Korea, remains open, but processing times have lengthened noticeably since July.
New Fees and Age Limits from 1 July 2026
The fee for a first Working Holiday visa application increased to AUD 840 (up from AUD 670), with second and third applications now costing AUD 1,000. The maximum age limit has also increased from 30 to 35 for passport holders from Cyprus, Finland, Germany and the Republic of Korea, and up to 1,500 subclass 462 visas per year are now available to eligible Uruguayan passport holders.
What This Means for You
If you are planning a working holiday in Australia, lodge your application as early as possible and make sure your documents are complete to avoid further delays. Our team can review your application before you submit.