Australia's Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462): rules, ballot, costs and pay
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.
Status as of 8 October 2026 Department of Home Affairs, Australia
Summary
- First 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 Home Affairs.
- Australian Embassy basics: aged 18 to 30, tertiary education, functional English, proof of funds and a letter of support from Indonesia's immigration directorate.
- An SDUWHV from an earlier year gives no priority; all eligible registrants have an equal chance.
Show the full summaryShow less
On this page
| Route | Run by | Official link | Who pays placement costs | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) | Independent PMI (no agency), legal-entity employer | Official source | There is no placement agency; the applicant pays the visa fee and other requirements unless the employer covers them. Do not pay a placement fee to any middleman. See the cost rules | Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) |
See this route in the comparison table
What do you need to work in Australia through Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462)?
Placement channels from Indonesia for working in Australia through Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462): Independent PMI (no agency), legal-entity employer. Age limits: 18 to 30 years. Language tests asked for: English test accepted by Australia for functional English: Functional English.
- Placement channels from Indonesia
- Independent PMI (no agency), legal-entity employer An independent migrant worker goes without an agency, only to a legal-entity employer, and must report to the labour office and the Indonesian mission. This is not the same as an individual employer (a household), or an individual who places migrant workers, which is banned.
- Age
- 18 to 30 years
- Job types
- Temporary or casual work during a holiday, typically for a 12-month stay
| Test | Level |
|---|---|
| English test accepted by Australia for functional English | Functional English |
What does working in Australia through Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) cost, and who pays?
The Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) route to Australia uses no placement agency: you pay the visa fee and other requirements unless the employer covers them, and no middleman is owed a placement fee.
- Law 18/2017 Article 30(1): Indonesian migrant workers may not be charged placement costs. Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id)
- Ministerial Regulation P2MI 17/2025: the employer bears placement costs. A worker may be charged only costs that are written and itemised in the Placement Agreement. Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id)
- Any request for money outside that document, in cash or to a personal account, is a red flag.
Cost rules for this route
- Letter of support (SDUWHV): Issued by Indonesia's Directorate General of Immigration through the SDUWHV portal; uploads include passport, proof of education, English certificate, bank statement and a written statement. Direktorat Jenderal Imigrasi
- Proof of funds: The Australian Embassy asks for proof of sufficient funds for the start of your trip; the amount is on the official checklist. Kedutaan Besar Australia di Indonesia
- Ballot: There is no way to pay for priority; Home Affairs says all eligible registrants have an equal chance. Department of Home Affairs, Australia
What is the minimum pay for working in Australia through Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462)?
The official pay floor for the Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) route in Australia is AUD 26.44 per hour, in force from 1 July 2026 (Fair Work Commission). This is the legal minimum in Australia, not an offered wage.
| 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 |
Which visa do you need to work in Australia through Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462)?
Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462): Working holiday visa for young people from partner countries, including Indonesia, with an annual cap. Official source
What are the steps to work in Australia through Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462)?
- Make sure you meet the basic requirements: aged 18 to 30, tertiary education or at least two years of university study, and functional English.
- Watch the Home Affairs Working Holiday Maker news page for the ballot opening; registration was not open on 7 October 2026.
- Prepare documents for the immigration directorate's letter of support (SDUWHV): passport, proof of education, English certificate, bank statement and a written statement.
- After the ballot, follow the official instructions to apply for the visa, including a health check if requested.
- Do not book flights or make work commitments before the visa is granted.
The order and timings are editor estimates, not promises.
Which schools or training lead to Australia?
The education and training routes linked to working in Australia through Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462): Bachelor's degree (S1) in Indonesia, D3 vocational diploma in Indonesia, Language tests for working abroad.
What changes with the ballot system?
Under an agreement between Australia and Indonesia, first Work and Holiday (subclass 462) applications from Indonesian passport holders will be managed by ballot rather than first come, first served. As of 8 October 2026 ballot registration was not open, and Home Affairs says the opening date will be published on its official news page. Do not trust anyone who claims they can register you early. The letter of support from Indonesia's immigration directorate is still listed on the Australian Embassy checklist, so prepare the documents while you wait.
What are the warning signs of offers to Australia through this route?
- Someone sells 'SDUWHV slots', 'priority lanes' or 'guaranteed' WHVs. Home Affairs says the SDUWHV gives no priority and all registrants have an equal chance.
- You are pushed to book flights or accept a job before the visa is granted. Home Affairs advises waiting until the visa is granted.Department of Home Affairs, Australia
- A job offer expects an upfront payment or giving back part of your pay to the employer or a middleman.
- The agent handling your visa is not a registered migration agent.Department of Home Affairs, Australia
- Someone asks you to give false data for the SDUWHV. Indonesia's immigration directorate says falsified data cancels the application and may lead to legal sanctions.Direktorat Jenderal Imigrasi
How to check a P3MI agency in 5 steps Learn the signs of trafficking through job offers
-
Ministry for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (KP2MI)
Overseas recruitment, illegal agents and migrant-worker protection
-
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
KarirAman is 100% free. We never ask for money. Our no-fee policy
Not legal advice. Always check SISKOP2MI before you sign up.
Frequently asked questions
What is the WHV 462 cap for Indonesia?
The Home Affairs country caps page (updated 2 October 2026) lists an annual cap of 5,000 first 462 visas for Indonesia, with the status 'CHECK BALLOT STATUS' because first applications will be managed by ballot.
Is an old SDUWHV still useful?
Holders of an SDUWHV from an earlier program year can still register for the ballot, but Home Affairs says the letter does not reserve a place, give priority or exempt them from the ballot. Follow official announcements for documents required after the ballot.
When does the Indonesia WHV 462 ballot open?
As of 8 October 2026, ballot registration for first 462 visas for Indonesian passport holders had not opened and no date had been announced. Home Affairs says the opening date will be published on the official Working Holiday Maker news page. KarirAman does not guess the date; ignore anyone who claims they can register you early.
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
- Checklist Working Holiday (Bahasa), Kedutaan Besar Australia Jakarta Kedutaan Besar Australia di Indonesia · accessed
- Surat Dukungan untuk Work and Holiday Visa (SDUWHV) Australia Direktorat Jenderal Imigrasi · accessed
- Work visa scams (Home Affairs) Department of Home Affairs, Australia · accessed
- Undang-Undang Nomor 18 Tahun 2017 tentang Pelindungan Pekerja Migran Indonesia Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) · UU 18/2017 · accessed
- Peraturan Menteri P2MI/Kepala BP2MI Nomor 17 Tahun 2025 tentang Biaya Penempatan Pekerja Migran Indonesia Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) · Permen P2MI 17/2025 · accessed
- National Minimum Wage Order 2026 (PR799279), Fair Work Commission Fair Work Commission · PR799279 · accessed
- First Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) Department of Home Affairs, Australian Government · accessed
How to cite
KarirAman (2026). Australia's Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462): rules, ballot, costs and pay. Updated 8 October 2026. https://kariraman.com/en/work-abroad/australia/work-and-holiday-visa-462/
Report a fake job Report a data problem How we handle corrections
Related guides
- Australia
- New Zealand working holiday visa
- How to check a licensed overseas recruitment agency (P3MI) on SISKOP2MI
- Human trafficking (TPPO) through job offers
- Job checker: is this job offer a scam?
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 ballot opening was replaced with a dated status from Home Affairs.