Pack your bags, dust off your sunhat, and get ready for an adventure of a lifetime! Australia’s Working Holiday Maker (WHM) Visa is your golden ticket to koalas, kangaroos, and paychecks! Imagine this: one day, you’re sipping a flat white at a trendy Melbourne café, and the next, you’re harvesting grapes in the rolling vineyards of South Australia. With this visa, you can work, travel, and experience all the wonders of Australia while making some cash to fund your adventures!
This WHM program is not just about work—it’s about exploring the wild Outback, surfing on Bondi Beach, making lifelong friends, and discovering hidden gems across the country. But hold on—before you start dreaming of beach bonfires and road trips, let’s talk about who’s eligible, what jobs are allowed, and the latest updates on visa openings for 2025.
What is the Australian Working Holiday Visa?
The Working Holiday Visa for Australia is a temporary visa designed for young travelers to experience the country while supporting themselves through short-term employment. The program is divided into two visa subclasses:
- Subclass 417 – Working Holiday Visa
- Subclass 462 – Work and Holiday Visa
The program allows eligible applicants to work, travel, and live in Australia for up to 12 months. Depending on the visa type and country of origin, participants may apply for a second or third visa extension after completing specified work, such as agricultural, hospitality, or construction jobs in designated regions.
Latest Updates on the Working Holiday Maker Program (WHM)
This year, from July 1 to June 30, 2025, Australia implements an annual cap on the number of first-time Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visas granted to applicants from certain countries. Second and third visas remain uncapped. So, if the cap for a specific country is reached, applications are either paused or closed until the new program year begins on July 1, 2025.
Purpose & Duration of the Visa
The Working Holiday Maker Visa aims to encourage cultural exchange and strengthen bilateral ties between Australia and participating nations. It provides an opportunity for young individuals to gain international work experience while enjoying travel opportunities across the country. The standard WHM visa duration is 12 months, with the possibility of an extension for those who complete specific work requirements.
Occupations Allowed Under the WHM Visa
Visa holders are permitted to engage in short-term jobs across various industries. Some of the eligible occupations include:
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- Agriculture & Farming – Fruit picking, harvesting, cattle station work
- Hospitality & Tourism – Hotels, restaurants, bars, event management
- Construction & Trade – Skilled and unskilled labor jobs
- Health & Aged Care – Support work in hospitals and aged care centers
- Retail & Sales – Customer service and retail positions
- Office Administration – Entry-level clerical jobs.
Applicants seeking a second or third Working Holiday Visa must complete a specified amount of work in regional areas, mainly in agriculture or construction.
List of Countries Where Applications Are Open in 2025 for WHM Visa
The following table lists the current status of applications for each participating country:
| Country | Status | Annual Grant Cap |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina | Open | 3,400 |
| Austria | Open | 500 |
| Brazil | Closed | 500 |
| Chile | Open | 3,400 |
| China | Ballot System | 5,000 |
| Czech Republic | Open | 500 |
| Ecuador | Closed | 100 |
| Greece | Open | 500 |
| Hungary | Open | 500 |
| India | Ballot System | 1,000 |
| Indonesia | Open | 4,796 |
| Israel | Open | 2,500 |
| Luxembourg | Open | 100 |
| Malaysia | Paused | 1,100 |
| Mongolia | Closed | 100 |
| Papua New Guinea | Open | 100 |
| Peru | Open | 1,500 |
| Poland | Open | 1,500 |
| Portugal | Closed | 500 |
| San Marino | Open | 100 |
| Singapore | Open | 2,500 |
| Slovak Republic | Open | 1,000 |
| Slovenia | Open | 200 |
| Spain | Closed | 3,400 |
| Switzerland | Closed | 200 |
| Thailand | Closed | 2,000 |
| Türkiye | Open | 100 |
| Uruguay | Closed | 200 |
| Vietnam | Ballot System | 1,500 |
Call: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/what-we-do/whm-program/status-of-country-caps.
DATE . Mar/6/2025