Australia Offers 1,000 Work and Holiday Visas for Indians Starting October 1

New Delhi: Australia is set to open its doors to 1,000 Indian citizens annually through the Work and Holiday visa program, starting October 1, 2024. This new visa initiative comes under the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA), which has been in effect since December 2022. The move is expected to strengthen bilateral relations, focusing on mobility and enhancing people-to-people connectivity between the two nations.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, during his recent visit to Australia, welcomed the announcement. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he wrote, "During the visit, I was happy to learn that the Work and Holiday visa, a key commitment under the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement, will be operational from 1st October 2024. This will facilitate mobility and deepen people-to-people connections."

What is the Work and Holiday Visa?

The Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) will allow Indian nationals aged 18 to 30 to live, work, study, and travel in Australia for up to 12 months. Visa holders can study for up to four months and are allowed to leave and re-enter the country multiple times during their stay. The cost of the visa is AUD 650 (approximately Rs 36,748), as outlined by the Australian Department of Home Affairs.

Eligibility Criteria for the Visa

To qualify for the Work and Holiday visa, Indian citizens must meet the following conditions:

1. Be under 30 years of age.
2. Hold a valid passport and national identity card.
3. Pay a registration fee of AUD 25 (₹1,500).
4. Registrations for the visa ballot will begin on October 1, 2024.

Ballot Process for Visa Selection

The Work and Holiday visa will operate under a ballot system, ensuring a fair distribution of visa slots among eligible participants. According to Immigration Australia, "We will hold an annual ballot process for each participating country each programme year." This system randomly selects individuals from the pool of applicants, who can then apply for the visa.

Eligible Indian passport holders can register by completing a 'Visa pre-application registration' form in their ImmiAccount. If selected, they will receive a 'Notification of selection' letter, after which they will have 28 calendar days to apply for the visa.

What Happens if You Are Selected?

If selected in the ballot, applicants will be notified via email and invited to apply online. However, receiving a notification does not guarantee a visa. Applicants must meet all eligibility criteria before a visa is granted.

If You Are Not Selected

For those not selected in the ballot, registrations will remain valid until April 30, 2025, or until the applicant turns 31, whichever comes first. If not selected this year, eligible individuals can reapply in the following year.