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5,000 AUD to rupiah for the WHV: how much should Indonesian applicants keep in the bank?

Tips · 2026-10-17 · 10 min read

The Work and Holiday visa asks Indonesian applicants to show at least 5,000 AUD in the bank, and at the Bank Indonesia rate of 8 October 2026 that is roughly Rp 62.6 million. The proof is a bank letter you give to Imigrasi when you apply for the SDUWHV, the Letter of Support you need before you can lodge a first subclass 462 visa. Below you will find the rupiah figures, what the bank letter should show, and the mistakes that cost people time.

Where the 5,000 AUD rule comes from

The rule is Indonesian, not Australian. Before an Indonesian passport holder can lodge a first Work and Holiday (subclass 462) application, Home Affairs requires a letter of support from the Directorate General of Immigration. That letter is the SDUWHV (Surat Dukungan untuk Work and Holiday Visa), issued through sduwhv.imigrasi.go.id.

In its published SDUWHV requirements, Imigrasi asks for a bank letter showing funds of at least 5.000 AUD, together with a passport valid for at least 12 months. "Active funds" is also one of the SDUWHV criteria, next to age, education, English and good conduct.

So when people search "bukti dana WHV Australia", this is what they mean: one bank letter, one minimum amount, written in Australian dollars, even though most of us keep our savings in rupiah.

If you are still checking the other SDUWHV criteria, our guide on getting your Letter of Support ready for the 462 ballot walks through age, education and the English certificate. This post stays with the money.

5,000 AUD to rupiah: the rough figures

Bank Indonesia publishes a daily transaction rate (Kurs Transaksi BI) for each currency. On 8 October 2026, its Kurs Transaksi BI page showed Rp 12,521.08 for 1 AUD on the sell side and Rp 12,392.93 on the buy side (Bank Indonesia writes them as 12.521,08 and 12.392,93).

Here is what the main amounts look like at those rates. Treat them as a rough comparison at the rate published on that date: rates change every day, and your own bank will use its own rate.

The gap between the sell and buy rates on that one day is worth Rp 640,750 on 5,000 AUD. That is why a balance sitting exactly on the line is risky: the number that counts depends on which rate is used and on which day.

Funds and visa charge are two different payments

A common confusion is to think the 5,000 AUD is a fee. It is not. It is money that stays in your account to show you can support yourself. You do not pay it to anyone.

The visa charge is separate. The Home Affairs Visa Pricing Table lists AUD 840.00 as the base application charge for a first Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa, and AUD 1,000.00 for a second or third. Home Affairs also notes that applicants pay other costs on top, such as English tests, health checks, police certificates and biometrics.

So plan your savings in layers: the funds you must show, the visa charge, and the smaller costs around them. Our guide to how much money to set aside for Australian visa charges breaks down the official charges for other visas too.

What the surat keterangan bank should show

The Imigrasi requirement is short: a bank letter showing funds of at least 5,000 AUD. It does not publish a template, so ask your bank for a clear, signed letter (often called a surat keterangan bank or surat referensi bank) and check it before you upload it.

A useful bank letter normally makes these points easy to read:

• Your full name exactly as it appears in your passport.
• The account number and the bank's name and branch.
• The current balance, with the date the balance was checked.
• The bank officer's signature and the bank's stamp or letterhead.

If the balance is in rupiah, it helps to make sure it is comfortably above the converted figure, not just at it. Some banks can also issue the letter in English, which makes the same document easier to reuse if you need it later.

How to prepare your funds and bank letter

1. Check the current requirement. Read the Imigrasi SDUWHV requirements and the SDUWHV portal again before you start. Rules and amounts can change between program years.
2. Convert at today's rate. Look up the latest Kurs Transaksi BI for AUD and multiply 5,000 by the sell rate. Use the result as your minimum, not your target.
3. Add a safety margin. Keep extra money above the minimum so that a weaker rupiah between your bank visit and your SDUWHV application does not push you under the line.
4. Keep the money in your own active account. Use an account in your name that you actually use. If you plan to rely on family money, confirm first what the SDUWHV portal accepts.
5. Request the letter close to your application date. Ask the bank to show the balance and the date clearly, and check your name matches your passport letter for letter.
6. Check your passport validity at the same time. Imigrasi also asks for a passport valid for at least 12 months, so renew it first if it is close.
7. Keep saving for the next steps. After the SDUWHV comes the visa charge, the other costs Home Affairs mentions and your first weeks in Australia.

What the money has to cover once you land

The 5,000 AUD is not just a box to tick. A first subclass 462 visa lets you stay for 12 months, study for up to 4 months, and usually work with the same employer for 6 months. You arrive without a job lined up in most cases, so the money in that letter is what carries you through your first rent payments, transport and food while you look for work.

That is also why the funds should be your own money to use. A balance that disappears the week after your bank letter is printed does not help you in a new city.

If you complete 3 months of specified subclass 462 work, you become eligible to apply for a second Work and Holiday visa, which carries the higher base charge of AUD 1,000.00. Some people later look at an employer-sponsored route instead; our plain guide to the Skills in Demand (482) visa explains how employer sponsorship works.

The ballot comes first, but do not leave the money late

Home Affairs says first 462 applications from Indonesian passport holders will be managed through a ballot, with registrations expected to open later in 2026. Indonesia's annual cap for first Work and Holiday visas is 5,000 places.

The bank letter is not the only item to time carefully. See which English test score Indonesian WHV applicants need and how to keep the result valid until you lodge.

The SDUWHV does not reserve you a place. Home Affairs says an SDUWHV from a previous program year lets you register for the ballot, but it gives no priority and no exemption. Saving early still makes sense: building up around Rp 62.6 million takes time for most young workers, and you do not want the money to be the step that holds you back once your chance comes.

Always check the Home Affairs Work and Holiday (subclass 462) page for the latest on the ballot and the visa conditions.

Common mistakes with WHV funds

• Using an old exchange rate. A figure from a friend's application last year means little today. Convert at the current Kurs Transaksi BI.
• Keeping the balance exactly at the minimum. A small rate movement can leave you short. Keep a clear margin.
• Mixing up funds and fees. The 5,000 AUD stays in your account; the AUD 840.00 visa charge is paid separately to Home Affairs.
• Paying someone to "top up" your account. Offers on social media to lend a balance just for the bank letter are a trap. The Australian Embassy in Jakarta lists contact through social media or WhatsApp and prices above the Home Affairs fee among its scam signs. Our guide to checking a WhatsApp visa agent against the official register shows what to look for.
• A name that does not match the passport. A missing middle name or a different spelling on the bank letter causes avoidable questions.
• Handing original documents to a middleman. You rarely need to give originals to anyone. Our guide to apostille and certified copies in Indonesia explains who can certify copies for Australian applications.

Frequently asked questions

How much is 5,000 AUD in rupiah for the WHV?

At the Bank Indonesia transaction rate of 8 October 2026, 5,000 AUD is roughly Rp 62.6 million using the sell rate and Rp 61.96 million using the buy rate. This is only a rough comparison, because rates change every day and your bank uses its own rate.

Does the money have to be in Australian dollars?

Imigrasi states the minimum as 5,000 AUD, but its published requirement does not say the account itself must be in Australian dollars. Most applicants keep savings in rupiah, so check on the SDUWHV portal how a rupiah balance is assessed and keep a clear margin above the converted amount.

Can I use money from my parents for the SDUWHV bank letter?

The requirement Imigrasi publishes only says a bank letter showing funds of at least 5,000 AUD. It does not explain how money in a parent's account is treated, so confirm what the SDUWHV portal accepts before you rely on an account that is not in your name.

Is the 5,000 AUD the same as the visa fee?

No. The 5,000 AUD is money you show in your own bank account for the Letter of Support. The base charge for a first Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa is a separate payment of AUD 840.00, listed in the Home Affairs Visa Pricing Table.

Does having the bank letter mean I will get a visa place?

No. Home Affairs says first 462 applications from Indonesian passport holders will be managed through a ballot, and even an SDUWHV from an earlier program year does not reserve a place or give priority. The bank letter is one requirement for the Letter of Support, not a promise of a visa.

Key takeaways

• Imigrasi asks for a bank letter showing at least 5,000 AUD for the SDUWHV, plus a passport valid for at least 12 months.
• At the BI sell rate of 8 October 2026, 5,000 AUD is roughly Rp 62.6 million; check the current rate before you go to the bank.
• Keep a margin above the minimum, in an active account in your own name.
• The AUD 840.00 visa charge is a separate payment, and other costs come on top.
• The bank letter does not reserve a ballot place: plan your savings early and never pay anyone to borrow a balance.

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