Australia welcomes India to the Working Holiday Maker program

Department of Home Affairs

​​The Australian Government has established a new partnership with the Government of India to become our 50th Working Holiday Maker partner country.

Australia now offers a one-year Work and Holiday (WHM) (subclass 462) visa annually for up to 1,000 eligible Indian citizens aged between 18 and 30.

These visa holders will be able to participate in short term work and study during their stay in Australia.

Pre-application ballot registration for the WHM visa opened on 1 October for the 2024-25 program year and will close on 31 October.

Successful registrants will be chosen via an electronic random selection process and will be invited to apply for the visa. 

This partnership was reached under the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement.

Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister for Immigration, the Hon Matt Thistlethwaite MP

“The Working Holiday Maker program has promoted cultural exchange between young people from Australia and partner countries since 1975.

“I am delighted to be here in person to officially welcome India into the Working Holiday program today. This new partnership will help strengthen the already strong bonds between our countries.

“The addition of India in the program will enrich the Indian diaspora in Australia, further enhancing the cultural exchange already flourishing in the Australian community.”

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