The Australian government has released the full list of 30 countries whose nationals are eligible to apply for the First Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462). This visa allows young people to live, travel, and work in Australia for an extended period.
The visa is available to applicants aged between 18 and 30 years old, inclusive. It is designed to support an extended holiday, with work permitted as a means of funding that stay rather than as the primary purpose of the visit.
Full List of Eligible Countries
The 30 countries whose passport holders qualify for the visa are: Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Chile, China (People's Republic of), Czech Republic, Ecuador, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Israel, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Peru, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Türkiye, Uruguay, United States of America, and Vietnam.
Notably, no African country appears on the list. Citizens of Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, and other African nations are not eligible to apply for this particular visa category.
Ballot Requirement for Some Applicants
Not all eligible nationals go through the same application process. Citizens of China, India, and Vietnam must first complete a visa pre-application process known as a ballot and be randomly selected before they can proceed with a full application.
The Australian government has also issued a caution to all prospective applicants, warning that offshore applications may take several months to process due to current prioritisation of onshore Working Holiday Maker visa requests. Authorities have advised applicants not to book flights or make any travel commitments until a visa has been formally granted.
Related UK Visa News
In a similar report, Legit.ng published that the Australian government announced a list of English language tests it does not accept for student visa processing. Meanwhile, the UK government published a list of 82 countries whose citizens can enter with an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) instead of a full visa. The permit covers short visits of up to six months to Britain, Jersey, Guernsey, and the Isle of Man.
Only Mauritius and Seychelles made the list from Africa, while Nigeria and most other African countries were left out. This means many African travellers must still follow the longer and more costly process of applying for a standard UK visa.
