Australia Introduces Lottery for Working Holiday Visas

On September 17, 2026, Tony Burke, the Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration, announced significant changes to Australia's temporary migration system, particularly affecting Working Holiday Maker visas. The new rules will replace the automatic access to second and third Working Holiday visas with a lottery system, limiting the number of successful applicants.

Currently, holders of the Working Holiday (subclass 417) and Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visas can extend their stay by completing specific work requirements. Under the proposed changes, completing these work requirements will only make applicants eligible for a lottery draw, rather than guaranteeing a visa.

The second-year visa quota will be set at 45,000 places, while the third-year quota will be limited to 5,000 places. Burke emphasized the need for control over migration volumes.

The Department of Home Affairs indicated that these reforms will roll out over the next twelve months, but the lottery system requires legislative approval, which has not yet been granted.