You Did the Farm Work. Will Australia Still Give You a Second Year?

Australia’s proposed Working Holiday ballot could change what happens after the regional work is done. Here’s what visa holders need to know.

You find a regional job. You move away from the city, work the required months, keep your payslips, and start planning another year in Australia.

Then the rules change.

On 17 September 2026, the Australian government announced plans to introduce a ballot for second and third Working Holiday Maker visas. Under that plan, completing the required regional work would qualify you to enter the ballot, but it would no longer mean you could count on getting another year. The change is being rolled out over time; the government has not yet published every operational detail.

If you are already working toward a second visa, that distinction matters.

What has Australia announced?

The regional work requirement is staying. In his announcement, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said applicants would still need the required work to qualify for the ballot: three months for a second year and six months for a third year. He said the proposed second-year ballot would have 45,000 places, while the third-year ballot would have 5,000 places.

In plain English: doing the work would get you into the selection process. It would not guarantee selection.

That is a difficult shift for someone who took a regional job specifically to stay longer. Farm work can mean relocating, changing accommodation, and spending months away from the life you were building in Australia. People make those choices because the next visa is central to their plan.

The government’s current second subclass 462 visa page still lists three months of specified subclass 462 work among its eligibility requirements. Its broader policy page says the new measures will be introduced progressively over the next 12 months. So check the rules that apply when you make your application, rather than assuming the announcement has already changed every application.

Does this affect Indonesian WHV holders?

Potentially, yes. Indonesians use the Work and Holiday visa, subclass 462, which sits within Australia’s Working Holiday Maker program.

There are two separate ballot developments to watch. Australia has also announced a ballot for Indonesian passport holders applying for their first subclass 462 visa, with registrations expected to open later in 2026. That first-visa arrangement is separate from the announced ballots for years two and three. Do not mix up their registration dates or requirements.

For someone already in Australia, the immediate question is more personal: Will the second-year ballot apply to my application, and when? The published policy announcement does not yet answer every timing question for individual visa holders.

What should you do if you are completing regional work now?

Keep doing the work correctly and keep the evidence. The government says regional work will remain a requirement for the proposed ballot. Check that your job and location qualify for your particular visa subclass, and retain your employment records.

Then look closely at your dates. Note when your current visa expires, when you expect to complete the required work, and when you intend to apply. Follow Australia’s official visa page and Working Holiday Maker updates for the start date and ballot instructions.

Finally, make a plan that does not depend on a guaranteed second year. Be careful about paying for accommodation, courses, or travel on the assumption that your extension is certain. Australia currently says average Working Holiday Maker processing time is expected to be around three months and recommends waiting for a visa grant before making travel, work, or study commitments.

Australia’s Working Holiday visa can still be a valuable opportunity. But if your goal is to build a life there, you need to know exactly which part of your plan is within your control. You can choose the work, document it properly, and apply under the rules. Under the announced ballot system, selection for another year may be a separate hurdle.

FAQs

1. Does doing farm work still matter for a second Working Holiday visa?

Yes. The government says the required regional work would still be needed to qualify for the proposed second-year ballot.

2. Is the second-year ballot already operating?

Australia has announced the change, but says its migration measures will be rolled out progressively. Check the official rules and application process at the time you apply.

3. Are the first-visa ballot for Indonesians and the second-year ballot the same thing?

No. The Indonesian announcement concerns first-time subclass 462 applicants. The second- and third-year ballots are separate changes to the wider Working Holiday Maker program.

4. How many places has the government proposed?

The Home Affairs Minister announced 45,000 places for the second-year ballot and 5,000 for the third-year ballot.

5. Should I stop doing regional work?

Do not make that decision from a headline alone. Check your current visa conditions, the specified-work rules for your subclass, and the latest official update before changing your plans.

Planning more than one year abroad? Complete your Vortex Relocation Assessment to map your visa timeline, budget, and realistic options before committing to the next move