AUSTRALIAN IMMIGRATION NEWS

Chile Open Door to Work and Holiday Agreement

Thursday, 22 February 2007

Latin America has opened its door to Australian students and professionals to work and holiday in Chile. The renewed arrangement for the ‘Work and Holiday’ visa will allow up to 500 visas per year for both Australia and Chile.

The work and holiday visa enables professional and tertiary-educated Australians and Chileans aged 18 to 30, to holiday in each others’ country and subsidise their stay through periods of work.

Professionals from both countries are able to work for up to six months with an employer and study for up to four months during their 12-month stay in either country. Although similar, the ‘work and holiday’ visa should not be mistaken with the ‘working holiday’ visa.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Teresa Gambaro said that the work and holiday visa differs from a working holiday maker visa as it requires an applicant 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.

‘The arrangements enable young professionals and tertiary-educated students from Australia and Chile to work and travel for up to 12 months under the reciprocal arrangements. This visa assists young people from both countries to travel and experience different cultures and have closer contact with a local community whilst holidaying.’ Ms Gambaro said.

Gambaro said that the renewed agreement was an investment in future relations with Chile, helping develop links between people in both countries. Chile was the first Latin American country to agree to a reciprocal work and holiday visa arrangement with Australia in July 2005.

There is an annual limit of 500 visas for both Australia and Chile, and this figure is reviewed annually.