AUSTRALIAN IMMIGRATION NEWS

Work and Holiday visa quotas with Thailand to be increased by Australia.

Friday, 15 August 2008

Australia continues to increase its Work and Holiday scheme through signing visa agreements with new countries as well as increasing visa quotas for countries that already participate in the program.

Australia has now formed an agreement with Thailand to expand their Work and Holiday agreement by more than doubling the number of visas under the arrangement.

According to Australian Immigration Minister Chris Evans the change is expected to increase the number of Work and Holiday visas from 200 to 500 per year for citizens from each country.

The Work and Holiday visa scheme also allows young people in participating nations between the ages of 18-30 to travel and work in each other’s country for about 12 months. In order to be eligible for the Work and Holiday program it is necessary to have a degree or if still following courses- should have at least two years of study underway. Other pre-requisites are that they must speak English or the language of the destination country.

"This is an investment in future relations with Thailand to help develop links between people in both countries," 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."

Thailand was in fact the first South East Asian country to sign a Work and Holiday agreement with Australia in July of 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," Evans noted.

"The expansion of the work and holiday arrangement will help to further enhance this important bilateral relationship," he added. Apart from Thailand, Australia has Work and Holiday agreements with Malaysia, Chile, Turkey, Indonesia, and the United States.

If you are interested in Visas to Australia, contact Migration Expert for information and advice on which visa is best suited to you. You can also try our visa eligibility assessment to see if you are eligible to apply for a visa to Australia.