Australia and United Kingdom Formalise Working Holiday Maker Arrangement
Australia has formalised its Working Holiday Maker arrangements with the United Kingdom that creates opportunities for young Australians to experience the British lifestyle and culture, Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, Senator Amanda Vanstone said today.
‘Working holiday maker arrangements have been available to young Australians and Britons for the past 30 years. Formalising the arrangement concludes negotiations that began in December 2004,’ Senator Vanstone said.
‘There are no changes to the existing terms of the arrangement for UK working holiday makers travelling to Australia, following amendments by the United Kingdom to its Working Holiday Maker Scheme.
‘Both countries have benefited greatly from the arrangement. The program provides young Australians with a chance to gain valuable skills overseas, thereby increasing Australia’s competitiveness in the global market, while enabling young people from the United Kingdom to come to Australia on working holidays,’ she said.
Under the arrangement, young Britons aged between 18 and 30 can apply for working holiday visas for up to 12 months. Work undertaken must be incidental to the main purpose of holidaying and, employment for more than three months with any one employer is not allowed.
More than 95,750 visas were issued under the program last year, of which 35,061 were to UK nationals.
The program boosts tourism to Australia and benefits industries that rely heavily on casual labour at peak times, especially the hospitality, horticultural and rural industries.
The arrangement with the UK is one of 18 Working Holiday Maker arrangements administered by the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs.
Eligible passport holders are able to lodge visa applications for Australian Working Holiday Maker visas on the internet at www.immi.gov.au/allforms/visiting_whm.htm. Electronic lodgement enables clients to apply for visas 24-hours-a-day, seven days a week.
