IMPACT – MEDIUM

What is the change? Australia and Singapore have entered into an agreement for a reciprocal Work and Holiday visa programme. Australia’s Work and Holiday programme for Israeli nationals, agreed to in 2014, will commence as of 1 June 2016.

What does the change mean? Beginning 1 June, 500 Work and Holiday visas will be available to Australian and Israeli nationals, ages 18 to 30, to travel, live, work and study in each other’s countries. Australia and Singapore agreed to a similar arrangement, but no implementation date has been announced.

  • Implementation time frame: The Work and Holiday arrangement between Australia and Israel will take effect 1 June 2016; no date has been announced for the Work and Holiday arrangement between Australia and Singapore.
  • Visas/permits affected: Work and Holiday (Subclass 462) visas.
  • Who is affected: Eligible Australian, Israeli and Singaporean nationals.
  • Business impact: Employers may hire Work and Holiday visa holders for short-term work.
  • Next steps:The Australia-Israeli programme is set to take effect 1 June. The Australian and Singaporean governments must finalise procedures before opening the application period. The Australian Government also announced that it would soon introduce a long-term, multiple-entry visitor visa for Singaporean nationals visiting Australia and said additional information will be forthcoming.

Background: Australia has Work and Holiday visa arrangements with a number of countries, including Argentina, Bangladesh, Chile, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, the United States and Uruguay. Australia signed an agreement with Vietnam last year and with Hungary in February 2016, neither programme has taken effect yet.

BAL Analysis: The Work and Holiday program is very popular, and interested applicants should apply as soon as the application period opens.

This alert has been provided by BAL Australia. For additional information, please contact australia@bal.com

MARN: 9683856

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