New Delhi: Australian Assistant Minister for Immigration Matt Thistlethwaite announced the launch of the Working Holiday Maker Visa on Monday during his visit to New Delhi. The Minister highlighted that the program provides young people from India with the opportunity to experience Australian life and culture firsthand.
How will it benefit Indians?
According to Thistlethwaite, the Working Holiday visa will enable young Indians to immerse themselves in the “Australian lifestyle and culture,” allowing them to gain valuable experiences while working or studying in Australia.
“Just about every Indian that comes to Australia knows someone there. Almost a million people who live in Australia and are our citizens are inclined to Indian heritage and it’s one of the fastest growing diasporas in our country, and this is just another opportunity for young Indians to come to our country, to experience our culture, to get to know and to grow friendships with Australians.”
He emphasised that while it is a temporary visa, it allows individuals to experience life in Australia. He added that after their stay, they can return and apply for a student visa, a skilled visa, or one of the other visa options that will be announced later this week.
He also mentioned that there are no restrictions on the types of jobs for which individuals can apply.
“You can work in any industry in Australia. What we tend to find is that people tend to work in hospitality industries, such as this great cafe here.”
“There are opportunities for people to work in the agricultural sector, all different industries across Australia. But there’s also the opportunity to study. They can study under the Working Holiday Maker visa for a short period, as well. To improve your English language skills, to get experience in the vocational area, to take on a short course. Those opportunities are all available under this visa. The most important thing about it is, it’s an opportunity to come to Australia, to have a bit of fun, to learn about our culture, and to experience Australian life,” he further said.
What is a Working Holiday Maker Visa?
The Working Holiday Maker visa allows young people from India to visit Australia for up to one year, during which they can work or study short-term while enjoying their holiday. Each year, Australia can issue a First Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa to a maximum of 1,000 eligible Indian citizens aged 18 to 30.
India officially became the 50th partner in the Working Holiday Maker program on September 16, as part of the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA). The visa ballot process began on October 1, and already 40,000 young Indians have applied for this visa.
In addition to India, the Australian government has implemented a visa pre-application (ballot) process for this visa for applicants from China and Vietnam.
How does it work?
Indian passport holders who are eligible can register online for the visa ballot between October 1 and 31. Each person can submit only one registration per ballot process while it is open for their country.
The Australian immigration authorities will randomly select registrations from October 14 to April 30, 2025. Those selected will receive an email notification inviting them to apply for the visa.
How much does the visa cost?
The visa costs AUD 650.
“People can pay $25 to apply for the ballot process. The ballot is randomly selected by a computer. So, there is no human involvement at all. Health and character checks will be undertaken for those applicants to ensure their eligibility,” Thistlethwaite said.
Who is eligible?
Indian citizens aged 18 to 30 (inclusive) are eligible to participate in the ballot. In addition to a valid passport, applicants must also have a national identity card, such as a PAN card. Individuals can register for the ballot from inside or outside Australia, but if selected, they must apply for the first Work and Holiday visa from outside the country.
How to Register?
Eligible passport holders from China, India, and Vietnam can register for the ballot through the ‘Visa pre-application registration’ form in ImmiAccount. Here’s how to complete the process:
- Log into ImmiAccount and select ‘New application.’
- Click on ‘Registration – Work and Holiday Visa (462).’
- The registration form will appear; choose your eligible passport country.
- Complete the form and pay the AUD 25 registration fee to submit your application.
ImmiAccount allows you to save your registration form as a draft by pressing “save.” However, to participate in the ballot selection, ensure you pay the fee and submit the form before the registration period closes. If not submitted on time, the registration will not be included in the ballot process.