On 17 September 2026 the government announced the biggest shake-up to the Working Holiday visa in years. Second and third years are moving to a ballot, and the student visa rules already changed on 2 October 2026. Here’s what’s changing, what isn’t, and what it means if you’re already in Australia.
Quick answer: doing your 88 days or 6 months of specified work no longer guarantees a second or third visa. It gets you into a ballot. There are 45,000 second-year places and only 5,000 third-year places a year. Start dates haven’t been confirmed yet.
Working Holiday visa: what’s NOT changing
- The Working Holiday visa is still available to Irish passport holders aged 18 to 35.
- Your first year works exactly as before.
- You still need 88 days of specified work for a second year and 6 months (179 days) for a third.
What IS changing: the ballot
Completing your specified work now makes you eligible to enter a ballot. It doesn’t guarantee the visa.
Second year
45,000
places a year. About 57,000 people qualified last year.
Third year
5,000
places a year. About 31,000 people qualified last year.
So roughly one in five people who’d have got a second year won’t, and most people chasing a third year will miss out.
Still to be confirmed: when the ballot starts, how often it runs, and how it applies to people who are already in Australia or already doing their days. I’ll update this post as soon as Home Affairs publishes the details. Keep an eye on the official Working Holiday visa page too.
Doing your 88 days? Most travel insurance doesn’t cover farm work unless you add it. True Traveller covers fruit picking, farm work and light construction with its Adventure Pack. More in our travel insurance guide.
Student visa: what’s NOT changing
- The student visa still exists, with a huge range of courses.
- Genuine students can still apply. But since 2 October 2026, most people have to apply from outside Australia (see below).
- The Genuine Student requirement still lets you mention future plans, including permanent residency.
What has changed for students (in force since 2 October 2026)
- Applying from inside Australia is now limited. Since 2 October 2026, Working Holiday (417/462), visitor, graduate (485) and most other temporary visa holders can’t apply for a student visa in Australia. You apply from overseas and must be outside Australia when it’s granted. If you’re already on a student visa, you can only apply for another one here if you meet an exemption, such as moving up to a higher level (Bachelor’s to Master’s), needing up to 12 more months with the same provider, or starting a PhD.
- Family can’t come along any more. Most new student visas can’t include partners or children, and they can’t be added later. The exceptions are PhD students, DFAT or Defence sponsored students, foreign government scholarship holders and eligible Pacific or ASEAN students.
- Announced, not law yet: “No Further Stay” on tourist visas. Future visitor visas will carry a condition that stops you applying for most other visas while you’re here. Switching from a tourist visa to a student visa onshore has already been banned since July 2024. The Minister says it won’t affect people who are already here.
More on your options in our guide to staying on after a student visa.
🤔 So what does this mean if you’re already in Australia?
Leaving it to the last minute is now a lot riskier. If you’re counting on a second or third Working Holiday visa, you could do your days and still miss out in the ballot. The time to look at a backup plan is while you still have months left on your visa, not weeks.
Study is still an option, but since 2 October 2026 you can’t switch from a Working Holiday visa to a student visa while you’re in Australia. You have to apply from overseas and be outside Australia when it’s granted, so plan the timing early.
Free consultation for the Irish Around Oz community ☘️
I’ve teamed up with the experts at Study Destination. Tell them your situation and they’ll contact you within 24 hours to go through your options. It’s totally free.
Looking at skilled, regional or sponsored visas instead? Our visa options guide covers every route, and our visa help page connects you with registered migration agents.
This post is general information based on the announcement of 17 September 2026 and the student visa changes in force from 2 October 2026. It isn’t migration advice. Irish Around Oz earns a referral fee from Study Destination if you enrol through them.