Working Holiday Visa Australia
Subclass 462
Complete Guide for Indonesians
Live, work and travel in Australia for 12 months. But two things changed in 2026: the fee jumped to AUD 840, and your age is now locked at lodgement. This guide covers the SDUWHV letter, eligibility, costs and every step of the application.
What Is the Subclass 462 Work and Holiday Visa?
The Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) lets Indonesian citizens aged 18–30 live, work and travel anywhere in Australia for up to 12 months. Unlike most countries, Indonesians must first secure an SDUWHV government support letter before they can even lodge the visa application.
Work Anywhere
Work for any employer in any industry. Maximum 6 months with any single employer.
Multiple Entry
Leave and re-enter Australia as many times as you want during your 12-month visa.
Study Up to 4 Months
Take short courses, English classes or certificates for up to 4 months total.
Extend to 3 Years
Complete specified regional work to unlock a second and then a third visa year.
SDUWHV Required
Indonesians need a government support letter first. Quota-limited, opens annually.
Ballot System Coming
A randomised ballot was approved on 15 Jul 2026 — but no start date is confirmed. Current rules still apply.
Subclass 462 vs Subclass 417 — which applies to you?
These two visas are often confused. As an Indonesian citizen, only the subclass 462 is available to you. The subclass 417 Working Holiday visa is for a different list of countries (UK, Ireland, Canada, Germany and others) and is not open to Indonesian passport holders.
| Feature | Subclass 462 (Indonesia) | Subclass 417 (not available) |
|---|---|---|
| Open to Indonesians | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Age range | 18–30 inclusive | 18–30, or 18–35 for some countries |
| Government support letter | ✅ SDUWHV required | Not required |
| Education requirement | Tertiary qualification or 2 years of undergraduate study | None |
| English requirement | Functional English required | None |
| Annual cap | ✅ Capped for Indonesia | Uncapped for most countries |
Not sure if you qualify?
Our MARA-registered agents have guided Indonesian applicants through the SDUWHV and subclass 462 process for over 20 years.
Key 2026 Changes You Must Know
The Working Holiday Maker program received its largest fee increase in years on 1 July 2026, alongside a quiet but consequential change to how your age is assessed.
Visa fee rose to AUD 840 +25%
From 1 July 2026 the first-application charge increased from AUD 670 to AUD 840. Second and third Work and Holiday visas now cost AUD 1,000 each. This is a non-refundable charge — you do not get it back if your application is refused.
Age is now locked at lodgement Critical
You must be 18–30 at the moment you lodge, not at a later assessment point. Previously some applicants could turn 31 during processing. Now, if you turn 31 before you press submit, you are ineligible — and because the SDUWHV must be issued first, applicants close to 31 need to plan the two-stage timeline very carefully.
SDUWHV remains quota-limited Plan ahead
The Indonesian government support letter is released in annual intakes through sduwhv.imigrasi.go.id, with a fixed number of places. The 2026 intake is expected around October 2026. Places have historically been claimed quickly, so documents should be ready before the portal opens.
Annual cap: 5,000 places — currently PAUSED Check before applying
Indonesia's allocation is 5,000 first Work and Holiday visas per program year — the same cap as China. As at 18 August 2026 that cap is shown as paused on the Department of Home Affairs country caps page, meaning the places for this program year have been used and no further visas are being granted until the next program year begins on 1 July. Status can change — always check that page before you lodge or pay.
Ballot system approved — but not yet live Announced only
On 15 July 2026, Australia's Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Matt Thistlethwaite confirmed at the Australian Embassy in Jakarta that Australia will introduce a randomised ballot for Indonesia's subclass 462 allocation, replacing the current first-come, first-served scramble. The proposal originally came from Indonesia's Directorate General of Immigration. Australia also approved removing the SDUWHV support letter requirement at the same time — no other Work and Holiday partner country requires one.
No start date has been confirmed. DFAT is still building the electronic ballot system, and it has not been confirmed for the 2026–27 program year. Until it launches, the existing SDUWHV process below remains in force. Read our full report on the announcement →
Worried the changes affect you?
If you are close to turning 31, or unsure whether the cap is still open, a 30-minute consultation will tell you where you stand.
Subclass 462 Eligibility for Indonesian Citizens
Every requirement below must be met. Indonesian applicants face two conditions that most other nationalities do not: an education requirement and an English test.
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✓
Age 18–30 at lodgementYou must be at least 18 and not yet 31 on the day you lodge. From 1 July 2026 this is assessed at lodgement, not at decision.
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✓
Valid Indonesian passportMust be valid for the full duration of your intended stay. Aim for at least 12 months validity remaining at application.
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✓
SDUWHV government support letterIssued by the Indonesian Directorate General of Immigration. Mandatory for Indonesian citizens and must be obtained before lodging.
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✓
Education: tertiary qualification or 2 years of undergraduate studyA completed diploma or degree, or evidence of at least two years of successfully completed undergraduate study.
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✓
Functional EnglishIELTS 4.5 overall with no band below 4, PTE Academic 24, or TOEFL iBT 26. Tests must be taken in person, not online at home.
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✓
Financial capacity: AUD 5,000Roughly IDR 52 million in accessible funds, plus enough for a return airfare. Three months of bank statements is the norm.
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✓
No dependent children accompanying youYou cannot bring dependent children with you on this visa at any time during your stay.
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✓
Health and character requirementsYou may be asked for a medical examination and a police clearance certificate (SKCK) depending on your circumstances.
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✓
No previous subclass 462 or 417 visaFor a first Work and Holiday visa you must not have previously held either of these visa types.
Accepted English tests and minimum scores
| Test | Minimum score | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (General or Academic) | 4.5 overall, no band below 4 | Most common choice in Indonesia |
| PTE Academic | 24 overall | Faster results, widely available in Jakarta and Surabaya |
| TOEFL iBT | 26 overall | Must be the in-person test |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE) | 147 overall | Less commonly used |
⚠️ Online at-home versions of these tests are not accepted. Test results are generally valid for 3 years — check that yours will still be valid at lodgement. Confirm current requirements on the Department of Home Affairs website.
Want your eligibility checked properly?
We will review your age timeline, education documents and English results before you spend a rupiah on fees.
The SDUWHV Government Support Letter
This is the step that catches most Indonesian applicants out. You cannot lodge a subclass 462 application without it, and it is issued by the Indonesian government — not the Australian one — on its own timeline and its own quota.
Surat Dukungan Working Holiday Visa — a Letter of Government Support confirming you meet Indonesia's criteria for the program.
The Directorate General of Immigration (Direktorat Jenderal Imigrasi), Ministry of Law and Human Rights.
Online only, at sduwhv.imigrasi.go.id. There is no walk-in or agent-lodged alternative.
Annual intake with a fixed quota. The 2026 intake is expected around October 2026 — confirm on the portal.
Documents you need for the SDUWHV
- ✓Recent photographWhite background, meeting Indonesian immigration photo specifications.
- ✓Passport valid 12+ monthsRenew early if yours is close to expiry — this alone can cost you the intake window.
- ✓Valid English test certificateIELTS 4.5 / PTE 24 / TOEFL iBT 26, taken in person and still within validity.
- ✓Education evidenceDiploma or degree certificate, or an official letter confirming two years of completed undergraduate study.
- ✓Proof of funds — minimum AUD 5,000Bank statements in your own name. Statements covering the last three months are standard.
- ✓Notarised statement of document authenticityA declaration that the documents you submitted are genuine.
How the two stages fit together
Stage 1: SDUWHV
Apply via Indonesian Immigration portal during the annual intake
Letter issued
Receive your Letter of Government Support
Stage 2: Subclass 462
Lodge with Home Affairs via ImmiAccount, pay AUD 840
Visa granted
Enter Australia within 12 months of grant
Get your SDUWHV documents right the first time
The intake window is short. We help Indonesian applicants prepare every document before the portal opens.
What It Really Costs — and How Long It Takes
The visa charge is only part of it. Budget realistically for the English test, medicals and the AUD 5,000 you must show — and remember the visa fee is non-refundable.
Full cost breakdown
| Item | Cost (AUD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Visa application charge — 1st visa | 840 | Non-refundable. Increased from 670 on 1 Jul 2026. |
| Visa application charge — 2nd / 3rd visa | 1,000 | Applies to each subsequent Work and Holiday visa. |
| English test (IELTS / PTE / TOEFL) | 300–400 | Required for the SDUWHV and the visa. |
| Medical examination | 100–500 | Only if requested by Home Affairs. |
| Police clearance (SKCK) | 50–100 | Only if requested. |
| Travel / health insurance | 200–500 | Not mandatory but strongly recommended. |
| Passport renewal (if needed) | ~35 | IDR 350,000–650,000 depending on type. |
Figures current as at July 2026. Visa charges are set by the Australian Government and change on 1 July each year — always confirm the current amount with the Department of Home Affairs before you pay.
Processing times
| Stage | Typical duration | Speed |
|---|---|---|
| SDUWHV application | Varies by intake — allow several weeks | ⏳ Varies |
| Subclass 462 — 50% of applications | Around 15–30 days | ⚡ Fast |
| Subclass 462 — 90% of applications | Up to 3 months | ⏳ Standard |
| Applications needing medicals or extra documents | 3+ months | 🐢 Slow |
Home Affairs publishes live processing times that fluctuate through the year. Start the whole process 3–4 months before your intended departure.
Work Rules and How to Extend to 3 Years
Your first visa gives you 12 months. Completing specified work in designated regional areas unlocks a second year, and then a third.
Specified work: the key to years 2 and 3
First visa
12 months. Complete 3 months (88 days) specified work.
Second visa
Another 12 months. Complete 6 months specified work.
Third visa
A final 12 months — up to 3 years in Australia total.
What counts as specified work
Specified work must be paid at award rates and completed in a designated regional area. Eligible industries typically include:
- Plant and animal cultivation — fruit picking, packing, pruning, farming, livestock
- Fishing and pearling
- Tree farming and felling
- Mining
- Construction
- Bushfire recovery and natural disaster recovery work
- Tourism and hospitality in remote and very remote Australia (subclass 462 only)
Planning your second-year visa?
We review specified work evidence before you lodge, so a refused extension does not cost you a year in Australia.
How to Apply for the Subclass 462 Visa
Nine steps, two governments, one hard deadline. Start 3–4 months before you intend to travel.
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Confirm you meet every requirementCheck your age against the lodgement date, your education documents, and whether your English test is still valid. Review the .
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Sit an accepted English testBook IELTS, PTE Academic or TOEFL iBT — in person, not online. Allow 2–4 weeks for results. Do this early; it gates everything else.
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Prepare your financial evidenceBuild up and hold at least AUD 5,000 (~IDR 52 million) in your own account. Get three months of statements — sudden large deposits invite scrutiny.
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Check the SDUWHV intake openingMonitor sduwhv.imigrasi.go.id. The 2026 intake is expected around October 2026. Have every document ready before it opens — the quota can fill fast.
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Apply for and receive your SDUWHVSubmit through the Indonesian Immigration portal with your photo, passport, English certificate, education evidence, proof of funds and notarised authenticity statement.
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Create an ImmiAccount and lodge the subclass 462Apply online at the Department of Home Affairs. Attach your SDUWHV letter, passport, English results, education documents and financial evidence. Verify your age is still within range on the day you submit.
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Pay the AUD 840 application chargePayable by credit card or PayPal. Non-refundable — it is not returned if your application is unsuccessful.
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Complete health and character checks if requestedYou may be asked for a medical examination at a panel clinic or an SKCK police certificate. Respond promptly — delays here are the most common cause of slow processing.
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Receive your grant and plan your entryThe visa arrives electronically and is linked to your passport. You must make your first entry within 12 months of the grant date, and your 12-month stay starts from that first entry.
Want a MARA-registered agent to handle it?
RACC Indonesia has guided Indonesian applicants through Australian visa applications for over 20 years. MARN 1572961.
Working Holiday Visa FAQ
The questions Indonesian applicants ask us most often.
Still have questions?
Talk to a MARA-registered migration agent who has handled Indonesian WHV applications for over 20 years.
