Changes to Working Holiday Visas

The government announced some changes to the working holiday VISAs in early November.  These changes are designed to help ease a shortage of farm and agriculture labour in rural areas.

Visitors to Australia on subclass 417 and 462 visas will be able to stay in the country for up to three years if they undertake regional agricultural employment. They are also allowed to continue working for up to 12 month with the same regional employer. Previously they had to change employer ever 6 month.

These 417 and 462 VISA holders can apply for a second and third VISA if they meet all the conditions for their previous working holiday VISA.

There are now more area that qualify as regional agricultural employment. Visitors can gain valuable work experience in several areas of agriculture.

Applicants for these working holiday VISAs must be between 18 and 30 (18 and 35 if from Canada or Ireland), without accompanying children. Of course they must have a valid passport for Australian travel.

Expect more changes in the not too distant future

While these changes will benefit visitors to Australia they are really intended to help understaffed Australian farmers. ‘“We will work to establish an agriculture visa. That is the long-term solution,” Mr Morrison’, the Australian Prime Minister, claims. [1]

Backpacker Tax Abolished.

It is also worth noting that the 15% backpacker tax, only recently introduced, is now being discontinued. 

Immigration Lawyers Sydney

It is difficult to keep up the constantly changing immigration laws. Consult an immigration lawyer for up to date advice.

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