Australia Work Holiday Visa, Australia Work Holiday Visa India: The Australian Government on October 14, 2024, announced a new immigration partnership with India welcoming New Delhi in their much-talked Working Holiday Maker Visa program. Australia's Working Holiday Maker Visa scheme is especially for youths who are between 18 to 30 years old. Under this, Indian youths will be given 12-month visa during which they can work, study, and explore the culture of Australia. Australian Home Affairs announced under Work and Holiday (WHM), it is offering visas to 1,000 eligible Indian citizens aged between 18 and 30. Now, the question arises how Indian youths can apply for an Australia Work and Holiday Visa and what is its eligibility? Below is everything you need to know-
Australia Work and Holiday Visa: How to Apply and what is its process?
As per Australian Home Affairs, Pre-application ballot registration for the WHM visa was opened on 1 October for the 2024-25 program year and will close on 31 October. Therefore, those who haven't applied yet can still do till October 31, 2024. Successful registrants will be chosen via an electronic random selection process and will be invited to apply for the visa.
Matt Thistlethwaite, Assistant Minister for Immigration said, “The Working Holiday Maker program has promoted cultural exchange between young people from Australia and partner countries since 1975. I am delighted to be here in person to officially welcome India into the Working Holiday program today. This new partnership will help strengthen the already strong bonds between our countries. The addition of India in the program will enrich the Indian diaspora in Australia, further enhancing the cultural exchange already flourishing in the Australian community."
Australia Work and Holiday Visa Eligibility
- You must have a passport
- You can work while you are here (Australia)
- You can apply for a second Work and Holiday visa if you meet certain eligibility criteria
Australia Work and Holiday Visa Application Processing Time
As per the Australian immigration official website, "For an indication of processing times for this visa, use the visa processing time guide tool. This will show the processing times for recently decided applications. It is a guide only and not specific to your application. Your application may take longer to process than the times shown in the guide due to the number of Working Holiday visa applications we receive. Do not arrange travel to Australia before we tell you in writing that we have granted your visa."
How to apply Australia Work and Holiday Visa
As per the official immi.homeaffairs.gov.au, you can apply online in ImmiAccount. ImmiAccount gives you access to many of online services of the Australian immigration services.
You can use ImmiAccount to:
- apply for a visa or citizenship
- apply for an APEC Business Travel Card
- apply for Australian Trusted Trader
- access LEGENDcom
- request visitor access to detention facilities
- create a Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) account for an organisation
- access your organisation's education provider report (only if you are a principal executive officer).