James Skinner
James is the Founder & Chief Executive of
CANZUK International in Vancouver, Canada
Following the signing of their comprehensive trade deal in December 2021, Australia has announced new passport arrangements allowing UK citizens to live and work Down Under.
According to the Australian Department of Home Affairs website, changes to visa legislation will be made under the Working Holiday Maker (WHM) program and Youth Mobility Scheme within the next two years (date yet to be confirmed by the Australian and British governments).
The eligible age for UK citizens to apply for a Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa in Australia is currently 18 to 30 years inclusive. When the new arrangement commences, the upper limit will increase to 35 years. UK passport holders will then be able to lodge an application for any Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa up until the day before their 36th birthday.
A major change to the current legislation also eliminates the need for “specified work”. At present, to be eligible for a second or third Working Holiday visa (granting a two or three year stay in Australia, respectively), applicants must show that they have done at least three or six months of ‘specified work’ – usually requiring agricultural work in remote areas of Australia.
When the new arrangements commence, UK passport holders will not have to meet this requirement when applying for a second or third Working Holiday visa.
These new passport arrangements are incredibly significant for the CANZUK campaign as they provide the ideal framework upon which freer movement of citizens between the two nations can increase.
Australian Trade Minister, Dan Tehan, has already stated that Australia would be “willing to do more” than what the new trade agreement will offer on mobility, saying, “If we can’t have free exchange and movement of people between ourselves, then who can we have it with?”.
CANZUK International will continue to work with relevant ministries in both countries to promote further legislation supportive of freer movement between Australia and the United Kingdom.
The eligible age for UK citizens to apply for a Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa in Australia is currently 18 to 30 years inclusive. When the new arrangement commences, the upper limit will increase to 35 years. UK passport holders will then be able to lodge an application for any Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa up until the day before their 36th birthday.
A major change to the current legislation also eliminates the need for “specified work”. At present, to be eligible for a second or third Working Holiday visa (granting a two or three year stay in Australia, respectively), applicants must show that they have done at least three or six months of ‘specified work’ – usually requiring agricultural work in remote areas of Australia.
When the new arrangements commence, UK passport holders will not have to meet this requirement when applying for a second or third Working Holiday visa.
These new passport arrangements are incredibly significant for the CANZUK campaign as they provide the ideal framework upon which freer movement of citizens between the two nations can increase.
Australian Trade Minister, Dan Tehan, has already stated that Australia would be “willing to do more” than what the new trade agreement will offer on mobility, saying, “If we can’t have free exchange and movement of people between ourselves, then who can we have it with?”.
CANZUK International will continue to work with relevant ministries in both countries to promote further legislation supportive of freer movement between Australia and the United Kingdom.
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