Good news for Working Holiday Makers

Working Holiday Visa and Work and Holiday Visa are temporary visas for young people at least 18 not turned 31 years of age who want to work and holiday in Australia for up to a year.

The Australian Government has introduced some changes regarding these two visas. Read the article to find out more!

 Working Holiday Visa Subclass 417

Visa  417 allows you to: Working Holiday visa 417 is a temporary visa for young people who want to work and holiday in Australia for up to a year.

Visa 417 allows you to:

1. Stay and work in Australia for 12 months;
2. Work in Australia up to six months with each employer;
3. Study for up to four months;
4. Leave and re-enter Australia any number of times before the visa expires.

Who can get this visa:

1. You must hold a valid passport from one of the following countries: Belgium, Canada, Republic of Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Taiwan and United Kingdom.
2. You are at least 18 but not yet 31 years old.
3. You have not previously entered Australia on Working and Holiday Visa 462.
4. You have enough money to support yourself on a working holiday (about 5000 AUD).
5. You do not have a dependent child accompanying you, and
6. You meet health and character requirements.

You can get this visa for the second time, but you must have completed three months of specified work in regional Australia while on your first Working Holiday visa.

Work and Holiday Visa Subclass 462

Work and Holiday Visa 462 is open for the passport holders of the following countries: Argentina, Bangladesh, Chile, China, Indonesia, Israel, Malaysia, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, USA and Uruguay.

Besides requirements for visa 417, the applicants for visa 462 need to satisfy further requirements including:

1. Functional English competency;
2. Successful completion of at least two years of undergraduate university study (except Israel & USA);
3. A letter of home government support in association with their visa application (except China, Israel & USA).

Difference between Visa 417 and Visa 462

The difference between 417 and 462 is not only in the requirements. The number of 417 visas per individual person is unlimited, while the number of individuals who can be granted visa 462 is capped depending on their country of origins.

There is also difference in processing time. Visas 417 are processed within 6 (for first 417) or 14 calendar days (for second 417) , while visas 462 are processed within 21 days,  except for USA online applications which are processed within 6 days.

Eligible countries

These visas allow people from 39 countries to come and work in Australia, but the number of eligible countries is growing constantly.

In 2016, working and holiday arrangements between Australia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Israel came on force.

The Australian Government signed agreements for Working Holiday Program (417 visa program) with Hungary, Vietnam, Papua New Guinea, Greece, Luxembourg and San Marino. However, these arrangements are not in effect yet, because each of these arrangements will need to be implemented by both Australia and the partner country through the necessary administrative and legislative instruments.

Countries with which Australia is currently negotiating new Work and Holiday (462 visa programme) visa arrangements are: Andora, Austria, Brazil, Croatia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Fiji, India, Latvia, Lithuania, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Peru, Philippines, Singapore, Solomon Islands and Switzerland.

Both 417 and 462 can be a pathway to the permanent residency and can provide many advantages for skilled migration.

The changes concern the following aspects:

1. Age limit

Good news is that from 1 January 2017, the Australian Government is expanding the upper age of eligibility from 30 to 35 years for both visa types.

2. Flexible work arrangements

Also, from 1 January 2017, there will be more flexible arrangements related to the condition that Working Holiday visa holders cannot work more than six months for the same employer. Changes will allow an employer with premises in different regions to retain employees for up to 12 months, providing that the second six months are spent in a different location.

3. Reduction in application fees

The application fee for these visa will be reduced from $440 to $390.

4. Better tax arrangements

From 1 January 2017, the tax rate applying to working holiday makers will be 19% on earnings up to $37,000, instead of current 32.5%.

Why all these changes?

There has been a decline in arrivals since 2012/2013 and the government wants to increase it. The Australian Government recognises that working holiday makers are an important part of Australia’s tourism industry. They are also a key source of labour, particularly in the horticulture, tourism, agriculture and hospitality sectors.

If you need assistance with applying for Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417) or Work and Holiday Visa (462) or you need an advice, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our best contact is info@baxvel.com.

Vera Radisavljevic

Solicitor and Registered Migration Agent
MARN 1681254

Disclamer: Your use of the above text or the receipt of any information from this article or website www.baxvel.com is not intended to create nor does it create a solicitor (migration agent) – client relationship between you and the writer (Vera Radisavljevic and/or Baxvel Pty Ltd) and it is not a legal/immigration advice.