Australia and Chile treble work and holiday visa program
Thursday 31 July 2008
More young people will be able to holiday and work in Australia and Chile after the governments of both countries agreed to treble a reciprocal visa program.
The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, said the number of visas available under the Work and Holiday visa program will be increased from 500 to 1500.
The Work and Holiday visa enables professional and tertiary educated Australians and Chileans aged 18-30 to holiday in each others’ country and subsidise their stay through periods of work.
‘The increase in the program is an investment in future relations with Chile, helping develop links between people in both countries,’ Senator Evans said.
‘This visa assists young people from both countries to travel and experience different cultures and have closer contact with a local community.
‘The program has so far been very popular among young Chileans and I encourage young Australians to take up this life changing opportunity to experience one of Latin America’s most dynamic countries.’
Professionals from both countries are able to work for up to six months with any one employer and study for up to four months during their 12 month stay in either country.
The Work and Holiday visa differs from a Working Holiday visa as it requires applicants to have the support of their government, hold tertiary qualifications or be studying towards a tertiary qualification, and to speak functional English or Spanish respectively.
Chile was the first Latin American country to enter into a reciprocal Work and Holiday visa arrangement with Australia in July 2005.
The annual limit of visas for both Australia and Chile was expanded from 100 to 500 visas in 2006 and is reviewed on an as-needs basis.
Further details on the Work and Holiday visa are available.See: www.immi.gov.au
URL: http://www.minister.immi.gov.au
/media/media-releases/2008/ce08073.htm
Last update: 13 August 2008 at 17:14 AEST