Working in Australia through legal routes
Australian work visas for Indonesians: the Work and Holiday 462 visa, now a ballot, and the sponsored Skills in Demand 482. Minimum wage and red flags.
Summary
- First Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visas for Indonesian passport holders will be managed by ballot; as of 8 October 2026 no registration opening date had been announced.
- The annual cap for first 462 visas for Indonesia is 5,000, according to the Home Affairs country caps page.
- Holding a letter of support (SDUWHV) from an earlier program year gives no priority and no exemption from the ballot.
- The Skills in Demand (subclass 482) Core Skills stream requires a minimum salary that is updated every 1 July.
- Australia has criminal and civil penalties for anyone who asks for, receives, offers or gives a benefit for visa sponsorship.
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On this page
Which legal work routes exist for Australia?
- Routes we cover
- 2
- Routes marked Open
- 1
- Status last checked
| Route | Status | Age | Language tests | Who pays placement costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) | Open Status as of 7 October 2026 | Not stated | Not stated | The applicant, no agency |
| Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) | Ballot Status as of 8 October 2026 | 18 to 30 years | English test accepted by Australia for functional English: Functional English | The applicant, no agency |
Compare with other routes to work abroad
- Open Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) Open. Workers are nominated by an Australian employer; the Core Skills and Specialist Skills salary thresholds are updated every 1 July.
- Ballot Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) First 462 visas for Indonesian passport holders will go through a ballot. As of 8 October 2026 registration was not open and no date had been announced; follow the Home Affairs news page.
Which route fits you?
For Indonesians, the two main routes as of 7 October 2026 are the Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) for young people, which is moving to a ballot system, and the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) for skilled workers sponsored by an employer.
| Route | Status | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Work and Holiday (subclass 462) | Ballot; registration not yet open | Aged 18 to 30, tertiary education, functional English |
| Skills in Demand (subclass 482) | Open | Skilled workers nominated by an Australian employer |
What is the minimum wage in Australia?
Australia's national minimum wage is set per hour from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, for adult employees not covered by an award or agreement. Award-covered employees follow their award rates.
| Area or group | Official floor | Approximate rupiah value |
|---|---|---|
| Australia, adult employees Applies to: National minimum wage per hour for adult employees not covered by a modern award or agreement Excludes: Junior employees, trainees and award-covered employees have their own rates | AUD 26.44 per hour In force from | about IDR 329,363 rate as of 8 October 2026 |
What about Australia Awards scholarships?
Australia Awards Indonesia is the Australian government scholarship for master's and doctoral study. One requirement is that applicants are not applying for a visa to live in Australia, and the scholarship handbook requires awardees to leave Australia for at least two years after study. It is meant for study and a career at home, not a route to work in Australia.
How can you avoid Australian work visa scams?
Home Affairs warns against job offers that expect an upfront payment or giving back part of your pay, and asks people to use registered migration agents. Asking for or giving a benefit for visa sponsorship carries criminal and civil penalties, including for applicants. Do not book flights or make work commitments before your visa is granted.
Which official channels can you contact?
-
Ministry for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (KP2MI)
Overseas recruitment, illegal agents and migrant-worker protection
-
Licensed agency (P3MI) list on SISKOP2MI
Check a licensed migrant-worker placement agency and its status
-
Official overseas job orders on SISKOP2MI
Official job orders for migrant workers
-
Peduli WNI (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Help for Indonesian citizens in trouble or danger abroad
+62-812-9007-0027WhatsApp +62-812-9007-0027 peduliwni.kemlu.go.id
Frequently asked questions
Can a place in Australia's WHV ballot be bought or guaranteed?
No. Home Affairs says all eligible registrants have an equal chance, and an SDUWHV from an earlier year gives no priority. Anyone selling 'slots', 'priority lanes' or 'guaranteed success' in the ballot is running a scam.
Can an Australia Awards scholarship lead to work in Australia?
No. Australia Awards Indonesia requires that applicants are not applying for a visa to live in Australia, and the scholarship handbook requires awardees to return home after study and leave Australia for at least two years.
What is the age limit for working in Australia?
Age limits differ by legal route: Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462): 18 to 30 years. Check the route page again before you apply.
Which language tests do you need to work in Australia?
The language tests the legal routes to Australia ask for: Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462): English test accepted by Australia for functional English: Functional English.
Which visa do you need to work in Australia?
The legal routes to Australia use these visas or permits: Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482): Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482); Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462): Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462). Apply only through the destination government's official website or its mission.
What is the minimum wage for working in Australia?
The official pay floor for the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) route in Australia is AUD 79,423.00 per year, in force from 1 July 2026 (Department of Home Affairs, Australia). This is the legal minimum in Australia, not an offered wage.
Who wrote and reviewed this page?
Sources
The facts on this page come from these sources. Dates show when we opened them.
- Working Holiday Maker program: status of country caps (Home Affairs) Department of Home Affairs, Australia · accessed
- Working Holiday Maker program: latest news (Home Affairs) Department of Home Affairs, Australia · accessed
- Salary requirements for sponsored workers (Home Affairs) Department of Home Affairs, Australia · accessed
- Work visa scams (Home Affairs) Department of Home Affairs, Australia · accessed
- Checklist Working Holiday (Bahasa), Kedutaan Besar Australia Jakarta Kedutaan Besar Australia di Indonesia · accessed
- Australia Awards in Indonesia: general requirements (PhD and Masters) Australia Awards in Indonesia (Australian Government DFAT) · accessed
- Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook (November 2025) Australian Government DFAT (copy hosted by Australia Awards Vanuatu) · accessed
- Undang-Undang Nomor 18 Tahun 2017 tentang Pelindungan Pekerja Migran Indonesia Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) · UU 18/2017 · accessed
- National Minimum Wage Order 2026 (PR799279), Fair Work Commission Fair Work Commission · PR799279 · accessed
- Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) (Home Affairs) Department of Home Affairs, Australia · accessed
How to cite
KarirAman (2026). Working in Australia through legal routes. Updated 8 October 2026. https://kariraman.com/en/work-abroad/australia/
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Related guides
- Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462)
- Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482)
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CariTalent and PanduanHewan are Kode Nirlaba projects; Panduan Warga and The Cast Index are independent publications with the same founder. CourseToJob is a study-guide site with the same owner, run by Elite Digital AI Solutions Ltd.
Change log
- : The expected WHV ballot opening was replaced with a dated status from Home Affairs.