No More Restrictions On Australia’s Working Holiday Maker Visa Program
Working Holiday Makers or WHMs visa holders can live in Australia for a maximum of 12 months while seeking short-term employment of nearly six months. What’s important to note here is that Working Holiday visa holders have to take permission to continue employment at the same place or look for another job after completing the six months.
However, this restriction was removed on 19 January 2022 in order to deal with the growing demand for temporary workers in Australia. As a result, Working Holiday visa holders can keep working for the same employers without taking permission for as long as their visa remains valid.
Previously, the Department of Home Affairs stated that the removal of this restriction would end on 31 December 2022, but it was further extended till 30 June 2023. Suppose a Working Holiday visa holder renews their employment contract with the same employer before 1 July 2023. Consequently, they can keep working for the same employer for an extra six months starting from 1 July 2023.
Everything You Should Know About The Working Holiday Maker Visa Program
Australia’s Working Holiday Maker or WHM program allows people from different countries around the world to apply for two types of visas; Working Holiday subclass 417 or Work and Holiday subclass 462. This program is mainly for individuals aged between 18 to 30 years, but specific passport holders aged 35 years are also eligible for it. The availability of these visas depends on the applicant’s country of citizenship. Regardless, this program is specifically designed to help young foreign nationals to come to Australia for a specific period and seek short-term employment in any sector to manage their expenses.
The Working Holiday program was launched in 1975, and more than 40 partner countries or jurisdictions are now a part of it. Each program year starts on 1 July and ends on 30th June. Every year, there’s an annual cap on the number of visas available to the citizens of some countries that are included in this program. As a result, citizens can not apply for a visa in this program once the limit has been reached for the year.
Surprisingly, annual caps for the program year 2022-2023 were raised by 30% for all countries. However, the caps will go back to the usual figures for the upcoming program year 2023-2024. Plus, there are no caps for second or third work and holiday visas.
This is a reciprocal program that gives young Australians the same work and travel opportunities in partner countries, so they can travel and study while seeking short-term employment abroad.
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