Australia Replaces Working Holiday Visa With Ballot

The government is transitioning to a ballot system while significantly cutting the number of available extended stay visas.

Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Australia and New Zealand

Australia Replaces Working Holiday Visa With Ballot

Live Poll

Should the government maintain guaranteed visa pathways to ensure consistent labor for the agriculture industry?

The Australian government has replaced the guaranteed second-year working holiday visa with a new ballot system to manage programme demand. This change includes a substantial reduction in the total number of second-year and third-year visas available to backpackers.

Why it matters

These reforms aim to ensure the long-term sustainability of the working holiday maker programme by managing high demand. However, the reduction in available visas has raised concerns regarding the availability of labour for critical seasonal agriculture and wine production.

The government has lowered the annual limit for second-year visas from 57,000 to 45,000, while third-year visa availability drops sharply from 31,000 to just 5,000. Applicants must still complete 88 days of regional or rural work during their first year to qualify for the ballot.

The players

De Bortoli Wines

This family-owned winery operates in Griffith and relies on backpackers for up to 85 per cent of its workforce.

The details

Backpackers who previously relied on guaranteed extensions by completing 88 days of regional or rural work must now enter a ballot system to stay beyond one year. Growers in areas like Young and wine producers in Griffith express concern that these limits will cause severe labour shortages during the summer harvest and three-month vintage season.

This year, 57,000 second-year visas were made available to backpackers.
The summer harvest period will see potential food production impacts due to lower labour availability.
In January, the three-month vintage season begins, which typically requires significant seasonal labour.

Travel Outlook

This ballot system marks a major shift in the administration of the Australian working holiday maker programme. By moving away from guaranteed extensions, the government is fundamentally changing how seasonal labour cycles are managed across the country.

Backpackers currently in Australia or planning to arrive should anticipate a more competitive process for extending their stay beyond one year. Those intending to rely on regional work to secure a second-year visa must now prepare for the uncertainty of the ballot system.

The takeaway

Travellers should verify their eligibility status early, as guaranteed extensions are no longer automatic. Employers in regional areas are advised to adjust their recruitment strategies to account for the restricted pool of visa holders available next season.