Second and Third Year WHM Places Now Go to a Ballot: A Practical Briefing for Working Holiday Visa Holders
News · 2026-09-23 · 4 min read
Tourism and hospitality lobby groups are focused on the billions in revenue they say will be lost. For the individuals directly affected, the more pressing question is personal: how does the new ballot affect someone planning a working holiday in Australia, or someone already there who wants to extend?
Immigration Minister Tony Burke announced the changes at the National Press Club. For current and future Working Holiday Maker (WHM) visa holders, a phrase like "billions in lost wages for the tourism sector" is abstract. A one-in-six chance of staying for a third year is not. This briefing covers the practical side, point by point.
Caps and approval figures
From next year, the new limits apply:
- Second-year WHM places: capped at 45,000, which is a fall of over 21% in second-year approvals compared with 2025 figures.
- Third-year WHM places: capped at just 5,000, a fall of more than 80% in third-year approvals against 2025 figures.
The first WHM visa should remain fairly simple to obtain. The extension is where things change. Under the previous approach, meeting the requirements meant you could count on your extension. Under the new one, you still complete the regional work (88 days for a second year, 179 days for a third) and then enter a ballot, with no guarantee of being given a place.
Effect on the choice of destination
Most industry commentary has looked at what the ballot means for employers. The impact runs in both directions, however, and the larger shift may be in how working holiday makers have to plan their time.
The old incentive was straightforward: complete the regional days, receive the extension, stay longer, earn more and see more of the country. Now anyone comparing Australia with Canada, the UK or other working holiday destinations must account for a real chance that months of regional farm or hospitality work will not turn into the extra year they were relying on.
This creates a clear decision point for three groups:
- Applicants who have not yet chosen a country for their working holiday year.
- First-year visa holders deciding whether regional work justifies the time when the result is no longer assured.
- Second-year visa holders choosing between entering the ballot for a third year and preparing to leave or move to another visa pathway.
Unresolved questions raised by industry
Four peak bodies oppose the changes: the Tourism & Transport Forum, National Farmers' Federation, Accommodation Australia and the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. They have listed a number of unanswered questions, and several bear directly on applicants:
| Question | Current position |
|---|---|
| Start date of the ballot | Reportedly planned for November, leaving very little lead time. |
| Method of allocating places | Unknown. A split by subclass, a split by country of origin or a single pool would change the odds considerably depending on where you come from. |
| Treatment of people already in the system | No confirmed transition arrangements yet for backpackers who completed regional work days under the old expectations. |
If you are partway through regional work and assuming the old rules will apply, getting this clarified should be your first priority before making any further plans. It is precisely the kind of detail that gets lost among industry statements about economic impact, so do not guess.
Recommended actions for WHM holders
However the political and economic arguments end, the working reality for anyone holding or considering a WHM visa is that certainty has been replaced by odds. In practice:
- Regional work now buys a ballot entry. Do not assume it automatically secures a second or third year.
- Get personalised advice before you commit to 88 or 179 days of regional work, particularly if your visa plan depends on a longer stay.
- Keep a backup plan ready. This could be another visa pathway, a different country or a shorter time in Australia than first intended.
- Monitor the transition rules. They will matter a great deal for anyone already partway through their regional work commitment.
Keeping your documents in order
Whichever pathway you follow, general preparation helps. Keep an English CV up to date, and obtain a police character certificate if a police certificate is requested. Readers in Pakistan heading abroad for work should also complete Pakistan's emigration formalities, such as registration with the Protector of Emigrants, and check current requirements with the Bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment.
This is a live policy change and the details are still being settled. If your plans depend on the outcome, seek current guidance specific to your own case rather than relying on general commentary, this article included.
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