Australia Halts Work and Holiday Visas for Brazil, Mongolia

Australia's Department of Home Affairs has temporarily halted Work and Holiday visa applications under the Subclass 462 programme for citizens of Brazil and Mongolia. This decision was made as strong demand has pushed the national caps close to their annual limits.

As of 12 October 2026, Brazil has an annual grant cap of 500 visas, while Mongolia's cap is set at 100. The department outlined that the pause aims to manage processing efficiently and monitor numbers as countries approach their annual grant ceilings.

A paused cap differs from a closed cap; the latter means no new applications will be accepted until the programme year restarts on 2 July. However, a paused cap may reopen at any time within the same year.

The department has advised affected applicants to check the website regularly for updates. It is also noted that caps apply only to first Work and Holiday visas, with no caps for second or third visas under the Subclass 462 programme.