Indian citizens aged between 18 and 30 years can apply for a Work and Holiday 462 visa in Australia, providing them with the opportunity for an extended holiday of up to one year. This visa is being offered as part of the new Free Trade Agreement between the two countries. It also allows for short-term study for up to 4 months and employment for up to 6 months.

What you need for subclass 462

This visa should not be confused with the Working Holiday 417 subclass. Indian citizens must meet the following requirements to apply for the Work and Holiday 462 visa:

• Be between 18 and 30 years old (inclusive) and apply while outside of Australia.
• Possess a valid Indian passport.
• Not have previously held a Working Holiday or Work & Holiday visa for Australia.
• Pay the Visa Application Charge (VAC).
• Have sufficient funds (approximately INR 280,000 or AUD 5,000) to support yourself in Australia and for a return ticket.
• Meet health and character requirements as specified by the Australian government.
• Possess functional English language skills.
• Have no prior visa refusals or debts owed to the Australian government.
• Have completed at least 2 years of undergraduate study or hold tertiary qualifications.
• Sign the Australian Values Statement and not be accompanied by dependent children.

Pre-application

Certain applicants, particularly those who have not previously held a subclass 462 visa, must undergo a pre-application process, also known as the ‘ballot’. This applies to citizens from specific countries, including India, China, and Vietnam. The ballot system randomly selects applicants before they can formally apply for the visa to manage the high demand.

Participant responsibilities

To participate in the pre-application process, you must:

• Hold a valid passport from the designated country.
• Submit your visa application before the specified deadline if selected in the ballot.

Pre-application charges

Registration for the pre-application process costs about $25, as outlined in the Migration Charge Amendment (Work and Holiday Visa) Regulations 2024. This fee helps ensure that only genuine candidates participate, reducing system overloads.

Commencement

All subclass 462 visa applications submitted on or after 16 September 2024 will include the aforementioned amendments and pre-application charges, reflecting the government’s efforts to manage visa demand effectively.

Further Information

For more details and to learn about Migration options, please get in touch with us at Acet Migration