Australia has temporarily suspended new Work and Holiday visa applications from 24 countries. The move affects the subclass 462 visa under the Working Holiday Maker programme.
The visa allows young people from eligible countries to travel and work temporarily in Australia. It also helps employers address short-term labour shortages.
The Department of Home Affairs confirmed the application pause. However, authorities have not provided a specific reason for the suspension.
24 Countries Face Temporary Application Pause
The affected countries include Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Chile, and the Czech Republic. Ecuador, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, and Luxembourg are also included.
Malaysia, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Portugal, and Singapore face the suspension. Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, and Uruguay are also affected.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said visa processing has slowed. However, he did not provide further details about the latest changes.
Applications can be suspended when annual country allocations approach their limits. Authorities may also pause applications to manage demand throughout the programme year.
Some Countries Can Still Submit Applications
The capped subclass 462 programme currently covers 29 countries. However, applications remain open for San Marino and Türkiye.
China, India, and Vietnam continue using a ballot-based application system. Each participating country operates under specific arrangements and annual limits.
Immigration lawyer Chris Johnston described the scale of the suspension as unusual. He noted that Australia previously paused applications from individual countries.
Experts suggested the decision could relate to efforts to reduce net overseas migration. However, the government has not confirmed this connection.
The government said programme reforms aim to control demand and ensure fairer visa allocation. Applicants from affected countries must wait until authorities reopen applications.
