Third year Working Holiday visa option from 1 July 2019 + immediate changes to Working Holiday visas announcement
Following the announcement of Irish and Canadian working holiday makers' age limit increase from 30 to 35 years old earlier, further changes to the Working Holiday Maker program were announced today.
The intention of such changes is to provide more support to farmers in regional and rural areas around Australia to address labour shortages.
Key changes include:
Work and Holiday makers (subclass 462) are able to undertake regional plant and animal cultivation work in additional priority areas to become eligible for a second visa, effective 5 Nov 2018.
Extension of the period a WHM (subclass 417 and 462) may work with the same agricultural employer from six to 12 months, effective 5 Nov 2018.
Introduction of a third year visa option for WHM (subclasses 417 and 462), who from 1 July 2019 onwards complete six months of regional work in the second year.
Increase the number of places available for Work and Holiday Maker program (subclass 462) by lifting annual caps available to a number of countries participating in the subclass 462 visa program.
Further info at https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/News/Pages/changes-working-holiday-maker-visa.aspx?, https://minister.homeaffairs.gov.au/davidcoleman/Pages/MORE-SUPPORT-FOR-FARMERS-AND-REGIONAL-ECONOMIES.aspx and https://minister.homeaffairs.gov.au/davidcoleman/Pages/Age-increase-for-the-Australian,-Irish-and-Canadian-Working-Holiday-program.aspx
