Australian Immigration Daily News

The Australian Government has introduced the Migration (Arrangements for Subclass 462 (Work and Holiday) Visa) Instrument 2026 (LIN 26/072), which commenced on 1 July 2026. The instrument repeals and replaces the previous 2021 instrument to align with amendments to the Migration Regulations 1994 relating to the administration of the Subclass 462 (Work and Holiday) visa program.

The instrument preserves the existing administrative framework for the Subclass 462 visa, including the approved application forms, lodgement requirements, eligible passport-issuing countries, country-specific age limits, exemptions from government support requirements for certain applicants, and prescribed educational qualification requirements.

The amendments are consequential to broader reforms to the Working Holiday Maker Program, with the age criterion for Subclass 462 applicants being relocated from the visa grant provisions to the visa application provisions of the Migration Regulations. The instrument does not introduce substantive changes to eligibility requirements but ensures the continued operation of the existing legislative framework.

Source: Migration-Arrangements-for-sc462-WHV-Instrument-2026.pdf and

Migration-Arrangements-for-sc462-WHV-Instrument-2026---explanatory-statement.pdf