Australian Work and Holiday visa.

Indian citizens aged 18 to 30 are presently qualified to take part in a visa pre-application (poll) to prepare for the recently presented ‘First Work and Occasion visa‘ for Australia. This visa allows Indian working holiday makers to travel to Australia for a duration of one year, during which they can engage in short-term work or study while enjoying their holiday. Each program year, Australia may issue up to 1,000 First Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visas to qualified Indian citizens within this age range.

Starting from October 1, eligible Indian passport holders can enroll in the visa pre-application process for the 2024-2025 program year. This initiative will enable 1,000 young Indians, aged 18 to 30, to work or study for one year while exploring the Australian lifestyle. According to Australia’s Assistant Minister for Immigration, Matt Thistlethwaite, this visa reflects the strengthening economic and cultural relations between the two nations.

Up to 1,000 visas will be allocated annually. The ballot process is currently open, with approximately 40,000 individuals having already submitted their applications. The visa fee is $650. This new visa category presents a significant opportunity for young Indians,” he stated. Applicants are required to pay a fee of $25 to participate in the poll, which is selected randomly by a computer system, ensuring that there is no human involvement in the process. Health and character assessments will be conducted to verify the eligibility of these applicants.

In addition to India, the Australian Government is also implementing a visa pre-application process for this visa for citizens of China and Vietnam.

On September 16, India officially became the 50th partner country in the Working Holiday Maker visa program. This partnership was established under the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA).