Australia has made changes to its Working Holiday Maker program, which offers young people the opportunity to travel and work. First visa applications from 24 countries in the Subclass 462 category of the annual quota-based Work and Holiday visa have been temporarily suspended.

Many countries, such as Spain, Austria, and Switzerland, have been affected by this situation. Although Turkey is part of the Subclass 462 system, it is not among the countries whose applications have been suspended. The annual quota of 100 people for Turkish citizens remains valid; new first visa applications are being accepted.

Germany, however, was not affected by this suspension. German citizens benefit from the Working Holiday visa's Subclass 417 category instead of the quota-based Subclass 462.

Applications Open for Turkey

A total of 29 countries are included in the Subclass 462 category of Australia's Work and Holiday program. Annual quotas for the first visa are applied in most of these countries.

Currently, applications from 24 countries have been temporarily suspended. Applications for Turkey and San Marino remain open. An annual quota of 100 first Work and Holiday visas has been allocated to both countries. Applications for citizens of China, India, and Vietnam are managed through a separate ballot system.

Therefore, there is no direct restriction for Turkey. Turkish citizens who meet the requirements can continue to apply for the first Subclass 462 visa within the existing quota.

The program offers young adults the opportunity to work temporarily while traveling in Australia. While the first visa grants a stay of up to 12 months, the total duration can be extended up to three years with second and third visas if the conditions are met.

New Applications Suspended in Austria and Switzerland

Austria and Switzerland are also included in the Subclass 462 program. However, new first visa applications for both countries have been temporarily suspended. Austria's annual quota was set at 500 people, and Switzerland's at 200.

Placing applications in "paused" status does not necessarily mean that the quota is full or that the program has been closed until the end of the year. Australian authorities may reopen applications within the program year.

Reasons for the temporary suspension of applications include the quota nearing its limit, the balanced distribution of applications throughout the year, and the government's general immigration policy objectives.

Germany in a Different Visa Category

German citizens participate in Australia's work and travel program with the Working Holiday visa under Subclass 417. Therefore, the current application suspension for Subclass 462 countries does not include Germany.

However, this does not mean that German applicants will be entirely unaffected by delays. Australian authorities state that there is still a high volume of applications in the Working Holiday Maker program. The processing of both Subclass 417 and Subclass 462 visas may take longer than usual.

Australia has raised the age of participation for German citizens in the program starting from July 1, 2026. German passport holders can now apply for the Subclass 417 visa between the ages of 18 and 35.

24 Countries Affected by Temporary Suspension

The countries where new first Subclass 462 visa applications have been temporarily suspended are: Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Chile, Czechia, Ecuador, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, and Uruguay.

The program has attracted significant interest in Europe and Asia for years, as it allows young people to finance their long-term travels in Australia. By the end of June 2025, more than 206,000 people were in Australia under the Working Holiday Maker program.

An Important Program for Tourism and Labor

Developments in Working Holiday Maker visas concern not only young travelers but also certain sectors in Australia. Foreigners participating in the program can work in temporary jobs during their travels. This allows them to play a significant role, especially in sectors with high seasonal labor demands.

Sectors such as agriculture, hospitality, and tourism have benefited from young workers coming through the Working Holiday Maker program for many years. A significant decrease in the number of visas or in the processing of applications could affect the labor supply.

The program also has an important dimension for the tourism economy. Young people arriving in the country under the Working Holiday scheme do not just work. They also stay in Australia for extended periods, spending on accommodation, transportation, food and drink, and other tourist services.

Currently, there is no direct suspension preventing new applications for Turkey and Germany. However, the positions of the two countries differ. Turkey is open for applications under Subclass 462 with an annual quota of 100 people. Germany, on the other hand, is in the quota-free Subclass 417 system. New first Subclass 462 applications from Austria and Switzerland are currently temporarily suspended.

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