Australia Working Holiday Visa – AU UK Free Trade Agreement
From the 1st of July 2024, UK Passport Holders can be granted up to three separate Working Holiday Visas without having to meet any Specified Work requirements.
The news we have all been waiting for! It’s been a tedious journey for us all, waiting for what seems like years. But now it is finally here and we can safely say from July 1st 2024, goodbye apple picking for UK passport Holders!
Straight from the Immigration and Citizenship website, this is how it is:
Australia and the UK have agreed to put in place new arrangements under the Working Holiday Maker (WHM) program and Youth Mobility Scheme. This follows the entry into force of the Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (Australia-UK FTA) on 31 May 2023.
Increased eligible age range for UK applicants
From the 1st of July 2023, you can apply for a working holiday visa if you are between the ages of 18-35. Originally it was between 18-30. Which is great news because Covid technically took a few years from us and those that missed out on the age margin now have a chance at the life Down Under! This means you can apply up until the day before you turn 36.
Removal of ‘specified work’ requirements
From the 1st of July 2024, UK passport holders can be granted up to three separate Working Holiday Visas without having to meet any specified work requirements. What does this mean?.. No specified/farm work! If you are currently in
Specified work previously allowed a traveller to extend their stay for a 2nd, and then 3rd year if they completed a set amount of specified work in regional areas. This new deal means that all you Brits can get a total of 3 years on a working holiday.
IMPORTANT TO NOTE:
If you are a UK passport holder and you are currently in Australia or have already spent one or two years in Australia on your Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa before the new arrangements commence on 1 July 2024, you can apply for the remaining visa(s) under the new arrangements from 1 July 2024 only. This will enable access to the maximum of three years in Australia.
OTHER WORKING HOLIDAY VISA PASSPORT HOLDERS:
Other partner country arrangements (other passport holders) under the WHM program are established through bilateral negotiations. These will not be affected by the Australia and UK FTA.
For all up to date and accurate information, stay away from TikTok and only refer to the official Government websites.
Check out UltimateOz Working Holiday Package here.
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