Work and holiday visa arrangements with Thailand expand
Saturday 9 August 2008
Australia and Thailand have agreed to more than double their reciprocal work and holiday visa arrangement for young people.
In Bangkok today, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, said the change will increase the number of work and holiday visas available to each country from 200 to 500 per year.
‘This is an investment in future relations with Thailand to help develop links between people in both countries,’ Senator Evans said.
‘This visa assists young people in Australia and Thailand to travel and experience different cultures and have closer contact with a local community while holidaying.’
The work and holiday visa enables professional and tertiary educated Australians and Thais aged between 18 and 30, to visit each others’ country for up to 12 months and subsidise their holiday through periods of work.
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 Thai respectively.
Applicants must also must meet health and character requirements and have no dependent children. Work and holiday visa holders may do temporary or casual work for up to six months with any one employer.
Thailand was the first South East Asian country to agree to a reciprocal work and holiday visa arrangement with Australia in July 2004.
‘Each year almost 50 000 Thai people visit Australia and Thailand is a popular destination for Australians with over 300 000 departures to Thailand every year,’ the minister said.
‘The expansion of the work and holiday arrangement will help to further enhance this important bilateral relationship.’
Australia also has reciprocal work and holiday arrangements with Malaysia, Chile, Turkey and the USA. Earlier this week, Australia and Indonesia agreed to introduce reciprocal work and holiday visa arrangements.
For further details on the work and holiday visa go to: www.immi.gov.au
URL: http://www.minister.immi.gov.au
/media/media-releases/2008/ce08079.htm
Last update: 15 August 2008 at 10:07 AEST