Why working holiday visas are on the rise in Australia?

A report from the immigration offices in Australia have shown that since the worldwide financial crisis started in 2008 the number of working visa applications for Australia has reached a record high. The numbers show an increase of roughly 250,000 visas issued by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship from 2008-2013. That is a 30% increase on the previous five years.

Applications from Italy, Hong Kong and Taiwan have increased significantly, but also there have been some surprising increases from European countries. In fact, over the past five years, 52% more people have been successfully granted a working visa from France.

Young backpackers looking for work in Australia 

According to the report, the increase is mostly due to young backpackers who are looking for jobs in Australia. However, it goes on to say that while in previous years, the backpackers may have been looking for a ‘working experience’, they mostly now want to increase their potential income by working in a country that offers a better income than their home country.

The increase has been most dramatic in the last 12 months, with an additional 108,200 working visas issued on top of the 11/12 figures. Furthermore, 85 per cent of working visa applications in Australia are coming from new migrants. The report says that it believes the increase in net growth in employment in the country is “almost all” down to migrant workers.

Information about the visa 

An Australian working holiday visa is valid for a year after you first enter the country. It allows you to work for six months with any one employer with an additional four months of training or study. There are also no restrictions on how many times you leave and enter Australia during your visa. You may also be able to extend a working holiday visa (subclass 417) for a further year if you have worked for three months in a regional/seasonal job. However, a number of terms need to be met, and it does not guarantee an extension.

Australian Visa consultants in Delhi

A working holiday visa to Australia costs different amounts from where you may be travelling from so you should make sure you check how much one costs before you think about applying. In all cases, it is strongly advised you seek out expert advice before travelling. At MoreVisas, we have dedicated Australian visa consultants based in our Delhi office and various other locations. We also have visa consultants in Chennai, visa consultants in Hyderabad and visa consultants in Bangalore. For further information and expert advice or a free assessment click here