Australia pauses Work and Holiday visas for 24 countries

Australia has temporarily paused Subclass 462 Work and Holiday Maker visa applications for passport holders from 24 countries. The Department of Home Affairs indicated that strong demand has caused applications to exceed available annual grant caps for several nations, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand.

This pause specifically affects the Subclass 462 visa, which allows young people to holiday while undertaking short-term work or study. It does not impact applicants for Subclass 417 Working Holiday Visas, such as those from the United Kingdom. The pause may affect industries reliant on seasonal labor, including agriculture, hospitality, and tourism.

Separately, the Australian government is reviewing its broader migration policy. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke stated that the federal cabinet is working through significant immigration announcements to avoid unintended consequences. The delay in finalizing these policies follows internal discussions regarding migration numbers, which currently stand at 301,000 people, compared to the government's target of 225,000.