The Australian Government has announced changes to the Working Holiday Maker (WHM) visa program to support regional and rural communities.
The changes aim to increase the number of workers available for seasonal agricultural (plant and animal cultivation) work in expanded regional areas of Australia.
The expanded regional areas include parts of New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia, and all of Northern Territory, South Australia, and Tasmania.
According to an announcement, there will be an increase in the eligible age for Working Holiday Visa subclass 417 visa applicants from Canada and Ireland to age 35 years.
Other changes to the WHM visa program include:
- The option of a third-year for subclass 417 and 462 visa holders who, after 1 July 2019, undertake 6-months of specified work in a specified regional area during their second year.
- From 5 November 2018, expanding the regional areas where subclass 462-visa holders can work in agriculture (plant and animal cultivation) to qualify for a second year of stay in Australia. Currently, only those who work in Northern Australia are eligible.
- From 5 November 2018, increasing the period in which subclass 417 and 462 visa holders can stay with the same agricultural (plant and animal cultivation) employer, from 6 to 12 months.
- Over the coming weeks, offering an increase in the annual caps to a number of countries that participate in the subclass 462 visa program.
What does plant and animal cultivation include?
Plant and animal cultivation includes most agricultural work, such as:
- the harvesting and/or packing of fruit and vegetable crops
- pruning and trimming vines and trees
- general maintenance crop work
- cultivating or propagating plants, fungi or their products or parts immediate processing of plant products
- maintaining animals for the purpose of selling them or their bodily produce
immediate processing of animal products including shearing, butchery, packing and tanning - manufacturing dairy produce from raw material.
For more information on the announced changes to the WHM visa program, visit the DHA website.
For expert assistance in applying for a working holiday visa in Australia, contact us.
