Rules that determine whether there is a valid application for the Department to consider.
Visa application charges
Charge
Amount
Specified nil-fee class
Nil[item 1224A(2)(a)(i)][reg 2.12C]
First Work and Holiday application
AUD $840 (non-Pacific-regional rate; a lower Pacific-regional rate may apply)[F2026L00874 Sch 3 · item 1224A(2)(a)]
Second or third Work and Holiday application
AUD $1,000 (non-Pacific-regional rate; a lower Pacific-regional rate may apply)[F2026L00874 Sch 3 · item 1224A(2)(a)]
Application and grant location
Item
Requirement
First 462 application
The applicant must be outside Australia when lodging.
[item 1224A(3)(b)(i)]
Repeat 462 application
The application may be lodged in or outside Australia, but not in immigration clearance.
[item 1224A(3)(c)(i)]
Visa held at application
Item
Requirement
Onshore repeat applicant
Must hold a substantive visa, or have held one during the 28 days before lodging.
[item 1224A(3)(c)(iv)]
Prior 417 history
A first-time 462 applicant must not previously have been in Australia as a 417 holder.
[item 1224A(3)(b)(ii)]
Age requirements
Stream
Requirement
Primary applicant
At least 18 and no more than 35, unless the current passport-country instrument sets a younger maximum
[item 1224A(3)(aab)]
Passport requirements
Item
Requirement
Passport
Must hold a valid passport from a country specified in the current instrument, unless the limited expired-passport exception applies to an onshore applicant
[item 1224A(3)(a)]
Ballot
Passport holders from specified countries may need to be selected through the pre-application ballot process and apply within the selection deadline; ballot registration windows are annual and close before the program year, so check current Home Affairs dates
[item 1224A(3A)]
Specified-work declaration
Item
Requirement
Second 462 application
The application must include a declaration of at least 3 months of specified 462 work on the first visa, unless a passport or COVID-affected-visa exception applies.
[item 1224A(3)(c)(ii), (3)(d)–(e)]
Third 462 application
The application must include a declaration of at least 6 months of specified work on or after 1 July 2019 while holding the second 462 or its linked bridging visa, unless an exception applies.
[item 1224A(3)(c)(iia), (3)(d)–(e)]