Australia is changing how Indonesians access the Working Holiday Visa. The Australia WHV ballot for Indonesians will replace the yearly first-come rush with a random draw for the Subclass 462 Work and Holiday visa. As of August 2026, the ballot is approved but not yet live, so you can still apply under the current rules for now. This guide explains what the ballot is, the current status for Indonesian applicants, who can enter, how the Subclass 462 ballot works, the key dates and visa cap, and how to prepare today.
The details for Indonesia are still being finalised. This guide separates what Australia has confirmed from what is still expected, so you can plan without acting on rumours.
Last updated: August 2026
What Is the WHV Ballot and Why Australia Introduced It
The WHV ballot is a random selection system for the Subclass 462 Work and Holiday visa. Instead of applying the moment a quota opens, you register first. Australia then draws registrations at random and invites the selected applicants to apply. The ballot decides who may apply. It does not grant the visa.
Australia introduced the ballot to manage very high demand. Under the old first-come system, Indonesian applicants needed a government support letter called the SDUWHV (Surat Dukungan Usulan Working Holiday Visa). The 2025 SDUWHV portal opened on 15 October 2025 with 5,500 places. Within 24 hours it recorded more than 1.4 million access attempts, and it crashed on 16 October. The quota filled and closed on 19 October, only four days after opening. Many Indonesians call this yearly rush “perang visa,” or visa war. A ballot removes speed from the process, so a fast internet connection no longer decides who gets a place.
Current Status for Indonesians: Approved but Not Yet Live
This is the part that causes the most confusion, so read it carefully. Australia has agreed to the ballot, but the ballot is not open yet.
On 15 July 2026, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Matt Thistlethwaite confirmed the decision at the Australian Embassy in Jakarta. He backed a proposal from Indonesia’s Directorate General of Immigration. Australia will move the Indonesia program to a ballot and will drop the SDUWHV support letter at the same time.
As of 19 August 2026, the Home Affairs status of country caps page lists Indonesia as CHECK BALLOT STATUS, not paused. A footnote on that page confirms two points. First, applications from Indonesian passport holders will be managed through a ballot. Second, registrations for the ballot are expected to open later in 2026. Home Affairs will publish the opening date on its Working Holiday Maker latest news page once details are confirmed.
Important: the ballot registrations are not open yet. Unlike China, India, and Vietnam, Indonesia’s entry on the caps page is not yet an active ballot link, which confirms you cannot register at this time. No opening date has been set, and the SDUWHV requirement has not been formally removed. Watch the official Home Affairs and Indonesian Directorate General of Immigration channels for the next step, and prepare your SDUWHV documents in case an interim round runs before the ballot opens. Indonesia becomes the fourth country to move to a ballot, after China, India, and Vietnam. It is the only one of the four to also lose a government support-letter requirement. You can read Australia’s approval of the Indonesia WHV ballot for the full announcement.
Not sure whether to wait for the ballot or apply under the current rules? Book a consultation with RACC Indonesia and get a clear answer on your options before the 2026-27 round opens.
Who Can Enter the Ballot
The ballot applies to the first Subclass 462 Work and Holiday visa. To be eligible, you must meet the standard requirements for Indonesian applicants:
- Be between 18 and 30 years old, inclusive, when you apply.
- Hold a valid Indonesian passport.
- Meet the English requirement, usually an IELTS score of at least 4.5.
- Hold a tertiary qualification, or have completed at least two years of undergraduate study.
- Hold sufficient funds for your stay, a minimum of AUD 5,000.
- Apply for your first visa from outside Australia.
- Hold an SDUWHV, while the current rules still apply.
The ballot affects first-time applicants only. If you already hold, or have held, a Subclass 462 visa, you apply for a second or third visa directly through ImmiAccount. You do not enter the ballot again. Selection does not lower these standards. A selected applicant who does not meet the health, character, funds, or English requirements can still be refused. You can review the complete criteria on RACC’s Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 462) guide.
How the Subclass 462 Ballot Works
Indonesia’s exact ballot rules are not finalised. The process below describes the existing Subclass 462 ballot for China, India, and Vietnam, which Indonesia is expected to follow. Confirm Indonesia’s final process on the Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa pre-application process page when it launches.
Register in ImmiAccount
You register once during a short registration window, which usually lasts about three weeks. Log in to ImmiAccount or create an account, then enable Multi-Factor Authentication. Select New application, open the Visa pre-application registration option, and choose Registration Work and Holiday Visa (462). Select your passport country and enter your details. Your passport number, national identity number, date of birth, and email must match your passport exactly. You cannot change your passport country or national identity number after you submit. Verify your email before you submit, because you cannot submit without a verified email address.
The AUD 25 Registration Fee
You pay a non-refundable fee of AUD 25 to submit your registration. This fee is non-refundable in every case, including if you are not selected. A saved draft does not enter the ballot. Your status must show Received, not Draft, for your registration to join the pool. The AUD 25 ballot fee is separate from the Subclass 462 visa application charge, which you pay later only if you are selected and lodge. Confirm the current visa charge on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au, because the charge increases on 1 July each year.
Selection and the 28-Day Window
Home Affairs runs random selection rounds throughout the program year. The system uses no criteria to rank registrations. Your education, funds, and work experience play no role in selection. If your registration is selected, Home Affairs sends a Notification of Selection by email and your status changes to Selected. You then have 28 calendar days from the notification date to lodge a complete Subclass 462 application. You must be outside Australia when you lodge your first application.
Key Dates and Indonesia’s Visa Cap
The Home Affairs status of country caps page lists Indonesia’s annual cap at 5,000 first Work and Holiday visas, which matches China’s allocation. Assistant Minister Thistlethwaite confirmed the same figure and said Australia will keep it under the ballot. Two other figures cause confusion. The 4,100 figure on some websites is outdated. The 5,500 figure refers to SDUWHV support letters issued in October 2025, not visa places, because immigration issues more letters than available places.
No ballot registration date has been set. The table below separates what is confirmed from what is still expected, based on the caps page as of 19 August 2026.
| Detail | Status |
|---|---|
| Indonesia managed by ballot | Confirmed. Listed as CHECK BALLOT STATUS on the caps page |
| Annual cap of 5,000 first visas | Confirmed by Home Affairs |
| Removal of the SDUWHV support letter | Agreed, but only when the ballot goes live |
| Ballot registration opening date | Not set. Expected later in 2026, per the Home Affairs footnote |
| SDUWHV for any interim round | Prepare it, until Australia confirms the ballot is live |
For the latest status, check the official Home Affairs status of country caps page linked above, RACC’s article on when the WHV opens for Indonesians, and the Indonesian SDUWHV portal at sduwhv.imigrasi.go.id.
How to Prepare for the Indonesia Ballot Now
You cannot register for the Indonesia ballot yet, but you can prepare so you are ready on day one. Complete these steps now:
- Create your ImmiAccount and enable Multi-Factor Authentication.
- Check that your Indonesian passport is valid and will not expire soon.
- Prepare your English test results, targeting an IELTS score of at least 4.5.
- Confirm your tertiary qualification or your two years of undergraduate study.
- Save at least AUD 5,000 as evidence of sufficient funds.
- Monitor both Home Affairs and the Indonesian Directorate General of Immigration for the opening date.
- Prepare your SDUWHV documents, in case the current rules still apply for the 2026-27 round.
A common mistake is to wait for the ballot and stop preparing. If the ballot is not ready in time, the next round could still run under the SDUWHV rules, and those places fill in days. Prepare for both paths.
How RACC Indonesia Can Help You
The ballot is new, and the Indonesia rules are still changing. RACC Indonesia tracks each official update and advises you on the right step for your situation. Our consultants are MARA-registered migration agents, so you receive advice from qualified professionals, not guesswork.
This article is general information, not personal migration advice. Immigration rules change often, so seek advice from a registered migration agent for your specific case. Book a consultation with RACC Indonesia to review your eligibility and plan your Subclass 462 application before the 2026-27 round opens.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is the Australia WHV ballot for Indonesians open now?
No. As of 19 August 2026, the Home Affairs caps page lists Indonesia as CHECK BALLOT STATUS, so the program will use a ballot, but registrations are not open yet. Unlike China, India, and Vietnam, Indonesia’s entry is not an active ballot link. Home Affairs will publish the registration date later.
Do I still need an SDUWHV for the 2026-27 Working Holiday Visa?
Probably yes. Australia has agreed to drop the SDUWHV support letter, but only when the ballot goes live, and no date has been set. Treat the SDUWHV as compulsory until Australia formally announces the change. Prepare your SDUWHV documents in case the current rules still apply for the 2026-27 program year.
How much does the WHV ballot cost?
The ballot registration fee is AUD 25, paid once through ImmiAccount, and it is non-refundable. This fee is separate from the Subclass 462 visa application charge, which you pay only if you are selected and lodge a full application. Confirm the current visa charge on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au.
How many Working Holiday Visa places does Indonesia get each year?
Home Affairs lists Indonesia’s annual cap at 5,000 first Work and Holiday visas, which matches China’s allocation. Assistant Minister Matt Thistlethwaite confirmed the same figure. The 4,100 figure on some websites is outdated, and 5,500 refers to support letters issued, not visa places.
What happens if I am selected in the ballot?
If a random selection round picks your registration, Home Affairs sends a Notification of Selection by email and your status changes to Selected. You then have 28 calendar days from the notification date to lodge a complete Subclass 462 visa application. You must be outside Australia when you lodge your first application.
When will the Indonesia WHV ballot open?
No date has been set. The Home Affairs caps page, updated 19 August 2026, says ballot registrations for Indonesian passport holders are expected to open later in 2026. Home Affairs will publish the opening date on its Working Holiday Maker latest news page once details are confirmed. Check that page regularly.
