Important Changes to the Australia Working Holiday Visa You Ought to Note

Are you planning for an Australia Working Holiday visa in 2019? For those who nod yes, here are some important changes to this visa that you must definitely note before you move ahead with your decision.

The Department of Home Affairs announced on some key changes to the working holiday visa program in Australia on 5th November 2018. Though the main purpose of introducing such changes is to provide farmers immediate access to work in key regional areas of the country, anyone who is applying for this visa must be aware of all such changes.

The Changes Made to the Australia Working Holiday Visa Program

The important changes made to the Australia Working Holiday Visa program are as follows:

• Effective From 5th November 2018 – The regional work area of the country has expanded that permits the subclass 462 visa holders to undertake agricultural work and to be eligible for the second-year visa program. Presently, applicants who had worked previously in Northern Australia are eligible.
• Effective From 5th November 2018 – There has been an increase in the period of stay for sc 417 and sc 462 visa holders working in the same agricultural employer. The period of stay has increased from 6 months to 12 months.
• Increment in Annual Caps – The Department of Home Affairs will offer an increase in the annual caps to a number of countries which participate in the Holiday and Work visa subclass 462.
• Third-Year Visa – If you are applying for the visa after 1 July 2019 then you are required to undertake 6 months of specified work in a particular regional area while holding the second year sc 417 or sc 462 visa. This will also offer you an option of applying for the third year visa.
• Increase of Eligibility Age – Applicants that aged up to and including 35 years old from Canada and Ireland are now eligible to apply for the Work Holiday visa subclass 417.

These key considerations have been made in context to agricultural work that includes animals and plants cultivation.

Animal and Plants Cultivation for Regional Work

The following categories have been included under the plants and animals cultivation for regional work:

• Trimming and Pruning Trees and Vines
• Harvesting as well as Packing of Vegetable Crops and Fruits
• Propagating or cultivating fungi, plants, or their parts or products
• General Maintenance of Crop Work
• Maintaining Animals in order to Sell them or for their Bodily Produce
• Immediate Processing of Products Obtained from Plants
• Manufacturing Dairy Produce from Raw Materials
• Immediate Processing of Products obtained from Animals including Butchery, Tanning, Packing, and Shearing

Changes to Handle Issues Related to Shortages of Regional Workforce

The amendments to the Working Holiday Visa program in Australia have been announced to address the shortages of the workforce in regional areas of the country.

As per the Department, such changes will aid to increase the number of sc 462 and sc 417 visa holders availability for seasonal work requirements.

Additionally, the amendments from 6 months per employer restriction has increased to 12 months per employer, which will allow regional employers to retain experienced and trained workers doing animal and plant cultivation work.

Such changes will also allow holders to apply for a third-year visa to attract workers to work for a longer time period in regional areas of the country.

Extension of Regional Areas for Work Holiday Maker Visa Program

There will now be an extension of regional areas from 5th November 2018. These regional areas will extend in Victoria, New South Wales, Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, and Tasmania.

Countries Eligible for the Work Holiday Visa Subclass 417

• United Kingdom
• Germany
• Taiwan
• Hong Kong Special Region of the People of the Republic of China
• Sweden
• France
• Norway
• Finland
• Netherlands
• Estonia
• Malta
• Denmark
• Republic of Korea
• Republic of Cyprus
• Japan
• Canada
• Italy
• Belgium
• Republic of Ireland

Countries Eligible for the Work and Holiday Visa Subclass 462

• Poland
• Portugal
• Peru
• Vietnam
• Malaysia
• Uruguay
• Luxembourg
• USA
• Turkey
• Israel
• Thailand
• Indonesia
• Hungary
• Span
• Slovak Republic
• Singapore
• San Marino
• Argentina
• Austria
• Chile
• China, People of Republic
• Czech Republic

How Can Debika Migration Services Help You?

If you wish to apply to the subclass 417 Work Holiday visa or subclass 462 work and holiday visa but not sure about your eligibility then we can help you. Also, you can contact us if you have any confusion regarding these new amendments.

With the help of our migration agents, it is possible for you to assess your eligibility as well as understand all the requirements involved. Contact us right away!

Amitava Deb

• Amitava is a gold medallist from India’s premier technical institute, IIT Kharagpur.
• He has worked with some of the world’s top companies such as Sony Australia Pty. Ltd., Siemens AG Germany, Clarity International Ltd., Reliance Communications and Optus Sydney.
• Amitava is a Chartered Professional Engineer accredited by Engineers Australia. He is a full member of this esteemed association.
• He is a member of the Australian Computer Society, Tele Management Forum and Worldwide Institute of Software Architects.
• Amitava is a well-recognised name in the ICT Professional Community in Australia.