Australian Government Will Implement A New Pre-application (ballot) System For Work And Holiday (subclass 462) Visa For Indians At Aud 25

In a significant update to the Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa process, the Government will implement a pre-application (ballot) system for the 2024-25 program year. This new process will apply to high-demand countries, including China, Vietnam, and India, with a registration fee set at AUD 25.

Key Points of the New Ballot System

• Purpose: The ballot aims to address the imbalance in registration and availability, ensuring fairness in the selection process.
• Targeted Countries: Initially, this will only affect first-time Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa applicants from China, Vietnam, and India.
• Exemptions: Nationals from these countries who have already been granted a first Work and Holiday visa can continue to apply for subsequent visas (second and third) through the existing online system via ImmiAccount.
• Other Countries: The current application processes for first, second, and third Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visas from other participating countries remain unchanged.

Commencement and Implementation

The first ballots for China, Vietnam, and India will open later in 2024. This system is specifically designed for high-demand countries and will not apply to those with low demand where the number of applicants does not exceed the available places.

Impact on Working Holiday (Subclass 417) Visas

The ballot system will not impact the Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa, which does not have a cap on first-time applicants. Therefore, there is no need for a ballot process for this visa category.

Fee Structure

The introduction of the AUD 25 ballot registration fee aligns with similar visa programs, such as the Pacific Engagement (subclass 192) visa. This fee is a modest addition compared to the AUD 650 Visa Application Charge for the Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa.

This new initiative marks a significant step towards a more balanced and transparent visa application process, addressing the high demand from specific countries and ensuring a fair opportunity for all applicants.