Australia has just paused visas for the working holiday program from 24 countries, including Spain. This temporary visa provides a legal pathway that allows young people to live and work in the country for one year. The quota allocated for Spaniards is 3,400 in total.
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At a press conference held on Sunday in Sydney, the Minister of Home Affairs, Tony Burke, stated that visas for young foreigners are being processed “more slowly than before.” He did not offer further comments on the changes or whether these were affecting visas recently applied for.
On the website corresponding to the working holiday visa, the acceptance of applications from 24 of the 29 countries with which Australia has an agreement for visa 462 has been suspended. Applications from five countries remain open: San Marino, Turkey, China, India, and Vietnam.
It has not been specified what the status is of applicants who submitted the visa 462 application on July 2
The website states that applications are temporarily suspended when the maximum quota is about to be reached. “The submission of applications may also be suspended to support the Government’s immigration policies while ensuring the sustainable operation of the program,” the page notes.
In 2025, about 200,000 young people between 18 and 30 years old applied for this type of visa.
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It is not yet clear why applications have been suspended, but experts tell Australian media that it could be due to a debate the administration wants to promote about immigration.
It has not been specified what the status is of applicants who submitted the visa 462 application on July 2, the opening date.
It coincides that other visa programs are being affected by slow processing or by the high number of student visa denials, according to Australian media.
The working holiday program started in 1975 with the aim of promoting cultural exchange between young people from Australia and around the world.
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