What's New for Working Holiday Visas
SkillSelect – January 2012
SkillSelect is an online system that enables skilled workers interested in migrating to Australia to record their details to be considered for a skilled visa through an Expression of Interest (EOI). People intending to migrate to Australia may be found and nominated for skilled visas by Australian employers or state and territory governments, or they may be invited by the Australian Government to lodge a visa application.
SkillSelect will be implemented on 1 July 2012.
See: SkillSelect
New Work and Holiday arrangement with Argentina – November 2011
Australia and Argentina have signed a Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa agreement, allowing young people to enjoy an extended holiday in the two countries.
The Memorandum of Understanding for the Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa was signed today by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen MP, and the Argentine Ambassador to Australia, His Excellency Mr Pedro Villagra Delgado, at Parliament House in Canberra.
Australia and Argentina are now working towards putting in place the administrative and legal processes that are necessary to bring the agreement into effect.
New Work and Holiday arrangement with Papua New Guinea – October 2011
Australia and Papua New Guinea (PNG) have signed a Work and Holiday agreement, allowing young people to enjoy an extended holiday in the two countries.
The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen MP and the PNG Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration, the Hon Ano Pala, signed the Memorandum of Understanding for a Work and Holiday (Subclass 462) visa arrangement at the 20th annual Australian-PNG Ministerial Forum at Parliament House in Canberra on Tuesday 12 October 2011.
The agreement means university-educated Australian and PNG travellers aged between 18 and 30 years old will be able to work and holiday in each other's country for up to 12 months when the program comes into effect.
Australia and PNG are now working towards putting in place the administrative and legal processes that are necessary to bring the agreement into effect.
Biometric data collection begins – May 2011
If you lodge your application with the Australian Immigration Offices in Dhaka, Bangladesh or Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia you will be required to attend a Visa Application Centre in person to provide your biometrics.
New Skilled Migrant Selection Model – May 2011
On 10 May 2011, as part of the 2011–12 budget allocation for the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, Minister Chris Bowen MP announced that funding has been allocated to assist with the development of a new Skilled Migrant Selection Model (the Model).
It is proposed that the Model will be a two stage process whereby potential applicants first register their
claims for skilled migration through an online Expression of Interest (EOI), and subsequently may be invited
to make an application for a visa. This is a significant change from the current situation, as applicants for
independent or state/territory sponsored migration will require an invitation to lodge a visa application.
The Model will ensure a match between the number of applicants and the number of available program places and
consequently, the selection of the best and brightest migrants as well as streamlined processing times.
See: SkillSelect – About SkillSelect
Helping out with Australia’s flood crisis – January 2011
Working Holiday visa holders can help out with Australia's flood crisis
by volunteering their time towards the clean up and rebuilding efforts.
If the volunteer work falls under the definition of ‘specified work’ and
is conducted within an eligible part of regional Australia, it can count
towards the 88 days of work that visa holders must undertake in order to
be eligible for a second Working Holiday visa.
See: Specified Work