Australia has launched the First Work and Holiday Visa, which allows Indian citizens aged 18 to 30 to work and study in Australia for up to a year. The new program, part of Australia’s Working Holiday Maker visa, begins a ballot procedure for up to 1,000 eligible Indian passport holders, with registrations open from October 1 to October 31, 2024, for the 2024-2025 program year.
Selected applicants, notified via email between October 14, 2024, and April 30, 2025, may apply for this visa, which costs $650 plus a $25 ballot fee. The automated ballot mechanism, which is open to Indian, Chinese, and Vietnamese nationals, provides a fair outcome. Successful applicants must pass a health and character screening.
Australia’s Assistant Minister for Immigration, Matt Thistlethwaite, describes the visa as a step towards improving Australia-India ties by providing young Indians with an immersive cultural experience. Mayank Maheshwari of University LivingThrough stated that this program offers vital job possibilities, vocational training, and the opportunity to increase English skills, all of which promote cultural interaction and economic progress.
This project follows India’s recent inclusion in Australia’s Working Holiday Maker program, established under the AI-ECTA, strengthening the two countries’ economic and cultural ties.
