Working Holiday changes: age 35 for four more countries and a bigger Uruguay cap

Official release date: 30 June 2026 · Visitor

From 1 July 2026, the 417 age limit rose to 35 for Cyprus, Finland, Germany and Korea, age is checked at lodgement for 417 and 462 visas, and Uruguay's 462 cap grew to 1,500.

Picture this: you are 32, you live in Germany, and you thought your chance for a working holiday in Australia had passed. From 1 July 2026, that door may be open again. There have been several changes to the Working Holiday Maker program, so let's walk through them.

What has changed

From 1 July 2026, the maximum age for a Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa rose from 30 to 35 for passport holders of:

• Cyprus
• Finland
• Germany
• The Republic of Korea

Here's the thing: there is also a change to how age is checked. Under new regulations, age is now tested at the time of lodgement for both subclass 417 and subclass 462 visas. If you are outside the eligible age range when you lodge, your application is invalid. No charge is payable, but there is also no merits review. Previously, an applicant outside the age range would have been refused.

According to the Department's Working Holiday Maker news, there are some other updates too:

• The subclass 462 cap for Uruguay rose to 1,500 places a year from 1 July 2026.
• Luxembourg applicants have not needed a Letter of Support for 462 visas since 3 June 2026.
• Registrations for the 2026-27 China, India and Vietnam 462 ballot closed on 25 June 2026.
• A first-year 462 ballot for Indonesian applicants is planned, with registrations expected to open later in 2026. A firm opening date has not yet been confirmed.
• The Department says Working Holiday processing is being brought back to around three months.

Who is affected

Young travellers from Cyprus, Finland, Germany and Korea aged 31 to 35 now have a new opportunity. Applicants from Uruguay have more places available, and Luxembourg applicants have one less document to arrange.

What you should do

Check your age carefully against the rules that apply to your passport, and lodge while you are within the eligible range. Because age is now tested at lodgement, timing really matters.

Once you arrive, make sure you follow your visa conditions, including any limits on how long you work for one employer. Breaching conditions can lead to visa cancellation and may affect your eligibility for a second or third Working Holiday visa or other visas later. If you are aiming for a further visa through specified work, keep accurate records of your work and payslips from the start.

A working holiday can be a wonderful experience, and these changes make it available to more people.

If you would like to talk through how this applies to you, our registered migration agents and lawyers at Auzworld Lawyers & Immigration are here to help.

Official source: Federal Register of Legislation – Migration (Arrangements for Subclass 417 (Working Holiday) Visa) Instrument 2026 (LIN 26/048)