Working Holiday visa status
Working Holiday visa status
What au pairs and host families need to know right now. Last checked against the Department of Home Affairs on 2 November 2026.
The short answer
Working Holiday visas for au pairs are still being granted, but more slowly than before. Since July 2026 the Department of Home Affairs expects the average processing time to be around three months. First Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visas are currently paused only for passport holders from Brazil, Ecuador and Mongolia; all other countries can apply.
What has changed since July 2026
- Processing times: Home Affairs says it is “normalising processing timeframes” for most Working Holiday Maker visas because demand is at a record level. The expected average is around three months. Individual applications can be faster or slower.
- Fees: A$840 for a first 417 or 462 visa, A$1,000 for a second or third visa.
- Subclass 462 pause: in August 2026 first 462 applications were paused for 24 countries. Most have reopened since; as of 28 October 2026 only Brazil, Ecuador and Mongolia remain paused.
- Germany up to 35: since 1 July 2026, German passport holders (and those from Cyprus, Finland and South Korea) can apply for the 417 visa from 18 to 35.
- Luxembourg: since 3 June 2026, applicants from Luxembourg no longer need a Letter of Support.
Which visa do you need?
Your passport decides. The subclass 417 (Working Holiday) covers, among others, the UK, Ireland, Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. It has no education or English requirement and was never capped or paused. The subclass 462 (Work and Holiday) covers, among others, the USA, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Spain, Portugal and Poland. For most of these countries you need proof of education and functional English, and most have an annual cap. For the details, read Working Holiday visa for au pairs: 417 vs 462.
Status of the 462 country caps
| Status | Countries |
|---|---|
| Paused | Brazil, Ecuador, Mongolia |
| Lottery | China, India, Vietnam; Indonesia from later in 2026. You first register for a random draw (Home Affairs calls it the “ballot”). Only those drawn can apply for the visa. |
| Open | All other 462 countries, including Argentina, Austria, Chile, Czechia, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Türkiye and Uruguay. The USA has no cap. |
Caps can change at short notice. The official list is on the Home Affairs country caps page.
If you are an au pair
- Apply early. Plan for around three months between your application and your start date.
- Don’t book flights or commit to a start date until your visa is granted. Home Affairs gives the same advice.
- Stay where you applied. If you applied from outside Australia, you must be outside Australia when the visa is granted.
- Use the waiting time. You can create your profile and talk to host families while your visa is processed. Tell families honestly that you are still waiting for the grant.
- Check your application in ImmiAccount. Home Affairs cannot tell you when it will decide.
If you are a host family
- Allow more lead time. An au pair who applies today may only be able to start in about three months.
- Ask about the visa early. Has the au pair already applied, and when? Is the visa granted?
- Keep the start date flexible until the visa is granted, and have a short-term plan for childcare.
- Au pairs who already hold a granted visa, or are already in Australia, can usually start much sooner.
We check the visa situation every month and update this page. It is general information, not migration advice. Always confirm the current rules and fees with the Department of Home Affairs. Last checked: 2 November 2026.