A practical Brisbane guide for Indian passport holders aged 18 to 30 on how to register for the 2026-27 Subclass 462 Work and Holiday visa ballot, what happens if you are drawn, and the onward pathways into study, skilled work and partner visas.
The Department of Home Affairs ballot for the 2026-27 Subclass 462 Work and Holiday visa for India opened on 04/06/2026 and closes on 25/06/2026. If you hold an Indian passport and you are between 18 and 30 years old, this short window is your only opportunity this year to register for a chance at a Work and Holiday visa to Australia. At Migration Star, principal agent Rohit Sharma (MARA No. 1797395) and the team see Indian families ask the same five practical questions every June: how does the ballot work, am I eligible, what does it cost, what happens if I am drawn, and what can I do in Australia on the visa once it is granted. This guide answers each in turn.
The Subclass 462 Work and Holiday visa lets eligible nationals from partner countries spend up to 12 months in Australia, work to support their stay, undertake limited study and travel freely. Because demand from many partner countries (including India) is significantly higher than the annual cap, Home Affairs uses a pre-application ballot to randomly select candidates who are then invited to lodge a visa application.
India joined the Working Holiday Maker program on 16/09/2024 as the 50th partner country, with an annual allocation of up to 1,000 first Work and Holiday visas. Full ballot mechanics are published on the Home Affairs pre-application process page, and the underlying visa rules sit on the first Work and Holiday visa page.
Registering in the ballot is the first step, not a promise of selection or visa grant. To register, you must hold an Indian passport, be between 18 and 30 years old at registration (and again at visa application), and meet the broader Working Holiday Maker eligibility for India set out on the Home Affairs first Work and Holiday visa page.
Beyond age and passport, the visa itself requires that you, subject to meeting Department requirements:
The detail sits in the Migration Regulations 1994 and on the Home Affairs visa-listing page for the Subclass 462 Work and Holiday visa. If you are unsure whether your qualification meets the education requirement or your funds meet the financial requirement, a short conversation with a registered migration practitioner can answer that question before you spend the registration fee.
The ballot is run through ImmiAccount. To register, you create or sign into an ImmiAccount, complete the pre-application form for India, and pay the AUD 25 registration fee. The registration window for the 2026-27 program year is 04/06/2026 to 25/06/2026.
"Registrations for the India Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa ballot for Program Year 2026-2027 will open on Thursday 04 June 2026 and will close on Thursday 25 June 2026."
Department of Home Affairs, Working Holiday Maker program latest news
A few practical points worth understanding before you click register. The AUD 25 fee is a registration fee for the ballot only; it is not the visa application charge, which is paid later if you are drawn and choose to lodge. Each eligible passport holder can register once per program year, and multiple registrations from the same person are rejected. Random selection happens after the window closes, and only candidates who are drawn are invited to lodge a full visa application. Plan ahead: registering on the final day of the window is permitted, but ImmiAccount traffic peaks then, so an earlier registration is usually less stressful. Keep the registration confirmation email safe; you will need the reference if you need to contact the Department about your ballot entry.
Selection in the ballot does not grant a visa. It gives you a defined window in which to lodge a full Subclass 462 Work and Holiday visa application. If you are drawn, you will receive an invitation through ImmiAccount with the deadline for lodgement clearly stated.
The application itself asks for proof of identity, evidence of your education, evidence of funds (current AUD figures published on the visa-listing page), the Indian Government endorsement where required, health checks and police certificates for character. Processing times vary, and the Department updates standard processing time ranges on the visa processing times page. The cleaner and more complete your application, the faster a case officer can decide it. Subject to meeting Department requirements, a decision-ready application is typically the best lever you have on timing.
A Subclass 462 visa lets you stay in Australia for up to 12 months from first entry. During that time, you can work for the same employer for up to six months (or longer in specified circumstances), undertake up to four months of study and travel between regions. The visa is the start of a 12-month decision point: many Subclass 462 holders use the time to confirm Brisbane (or another city) is the right fit and then explore an onward pathway.
Common onward pathways from a 462 visa include:
Each pathway has its own criteria, and your eligibility for any onward visa depends on the choices you make during your Working Holiday year. Subject to meeting Department requirements, the 462 visa can be the foothold from which a longer Australian story is built.
Migration Star is a Brisbane-registered migration practice led by principal agent Rohit Sharma, MARA No. 1797395. We help Indian passport holders prepare a clean ballot registration, lodge a complete Subclass 462 application if selected, and plan the onward steps from a Working Holiday year into a Subclass 500, 482 or 820 pathway. Our services overview sets out the visa categories we work in, and you can reach the team via our contact page or book a session with us directly.
Free 15-minute Migration Eligibility Assessment: https://meetings-ap1.hubspot.com/rohit-sharma/15-mins-meeting
30-minute Migration Consultation (AUD 165): https://meetings-ap1.hubspot.com/rohit-sharma
Phone: 07 3519 5619 Address: Level 2, 8 Clunies Ross Court, Eight Mile Plains QLD 4113
Information current as at 10/06/2026. Migration Star is a registered migration practice. Principal agent Rohit Sharma, MARA No. 1797395. Migration outcomes depend on individual circumstances. Visa criteria may change. This article is general information only and does not constitute migration advice. For advice on your specific situation, book a consultation at migrationstar.com.au.