Australia will implement a ballot system for Working Holiday Maker (WHM) visa applicants beginning in September 2026 to manage extensions beyond the initial one-year stay.
Under the new system, the number of places available for a second year WHM visa will drop from 57,000 to 45,000. Third year WHM visa places will face a larger cut, reduced from 31,000 to 5,000.
Contribution of Working Holiday Visa Holders to Migration
The number of WHM and Work and Holiday (W&H) visa holders in Australia is currently at an all-time high. These visas contributed roughly 17% to Australia’s net overseas migration (NOM) in 2024-25, making WHM/W&H holders a major group behind
student visas responsible for a migration surge of over 538,000 in 2022-23.
Political Opposition and Ballot System Criticism
The Coalition party opposes the ballot system and tighter rules for working holiday visas, arguing the system makes migration selection akin to a lottery instead of merit-based allocation. Former Minister and Coalition politician David Littleproud criticised the measure as adding unnecessary bureaucracy and cost.
The Coalition’s opposition contrasts with its own lower net overseas migration target of 170,000, compared with Labor’s 225,000. The Coalition has pledged to protect WHM/W&H visas and Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) visas from cuts but faces pressure to reduce other visa categories significantly
to meet migration goals.
UK Nationals’ Working Holiday Visa Changes
UK nationals have received automatic three-year WHM visas without the obligation to work on Australian farms, a policy established under former Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s government. This change has likely reduced the number of UK WHM visa holders working in agriculture to near zero.
Farmers’ Concerns and Immigration Compliance
Farmers have expressed concern that the ballot system and reduced work requirements for visa holders will decrease the supply of labour for agricultural work. The new policy limits the incentive for WHM and W&H visa holders to take on farm jobs, especially given cuts to third year visa places.
Additionally, the government
has announced increased immigration compliance to target undocumented labour on farms. Historically, Australian farms have relied on undocumented workers, and increased enforcement may place those practices under greater scrutiny.
Migration Targets and Broader Policy Landscape
Labor aims for a net overseas migration target of 225,000, higher than the Coalition’s 170,000. One Nation proposes drastic cuts targeting negative net overseas migration of 250,000 annually over three years but has not clarified its position on WHM/W&H or PALM visas beyond quarantining them.
The Coalition’s commitment to protecting WHM/W&H visas while seeking lower overall migration means it must reduce other categories, such as student visas and temporary graduates, potentially
affecting the international education sector. One Nation’s migration proposals would require cuts far beyond current policy scopes and could have major economic impacts.
