On 1 July 2019, the Department of Home Affairs expanded the Working Holiday Maker visa program (subclass 417 and subclass 462) with the aim of benefiting regional communities and employers, boosting the tourism and hospitality industries, and strengthening ties with other countries involved in the program.

A summary of the recent changes are as follows:

• Working Holiday Makers may be eligible to apply for a third year visa if they have completed at least 6 months specified regional employment while holding their second year visa. The 6 months of work must be undertaken from 1 July 2019 so a successful application for a third year visa can be lodged from January 2020.

• Working Holiday Makers can now work with the same agricultural (plant and animal cultivation) employer for 12 months rather than 6 months.

• Greek and Ecuadorian passport holders have been added to the list of countries eligible to apply for Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462), with 500 and 100 new places, respectively. This takes the total number of eligible countries in the Working Holiday Maker visa program to 44.

• There is an increase in the number of places available for applicants from Spain (1,500 up to 3,400), Portugal (200 up to 500), Israel (500 up to 2,500), Peru (100 up to 1,500), Chile (2,000 up to 3,400), Argentina (1,500 up to 2,540), Malaysia (100 up to 1,100), and Singapore (500 up to 2,500).

• The maximum eligible age for applicants from France has been increased from 30 to 35 years. This makes France one of only three countries (the others being Canada and Ireland) whose citizens can apply for a Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) until the age of 35. Applicants from all other eligible countries can apply before they turn 31.

If you require further information about the Working Holiday Maker Visa Program or any other immigration matter, please feel free to contact us.