Posted: 07/09/2015 Author: Ivan Chait

Australian Visa Update: Requirements For 2nd Working Holiday Visa Changed

Australia's Working Holiday visa program is available to applicants aged 18-30 from a list of gazetted countries to have an extended holiday in Australia for an initial period of 12 months. Visa holders are permitted to work while in Australia on this visa provided they do not work for the same employer for more than 6 months. The second Working Holiday visa is available to working holiday visa holders who have undertaken a minimum of 88 days specified work in regional Australia during their first Working Holiday Visa. This has encouraged Working Holiday visa holders to spend some time in rural parts of Australia and it has also helped Australian business in these areas to contribute to the Australian economy and run their businesses, particularly in seasonal peaks.

Effective 31 August 2015 , Working Holiday visa holders who apply for a 2nd Working Holiday visa will need to provide pay slips as evidence that they have been employed in Regional areas of Australia for at least 88 days during their first working holiday visa as part of the application for a 2nd Working Holiday visa. The payslips can be uploaded to their online application electronically or hard copies can be provided with paper applications.

It is a legal requirement in Australia for employers to provide pay slips to employees.

Volunteer work commenced after 31 August 2015 cannot count as specified work.

The reason for the change is to ensure that the visa holders do not claim for work that was never undertaken and to ensure that employers pay the visa holders a lawful wage.

Recommendations:

A Working Holiday visa holder who intends to apply for a 2nd Working Holiday visa must ensure that:

  1. A minimum of 88 days paid employment in Regional Australia is undertaken during the validity of the first year Working Holiday visa
  2. Employers must provide pay slips as evidence of paid employment in regional Australia

Please contact Santa Fe Visa & Immigration for any assistance or information in relation to this matter.

Contact Santa Fe's Visa & Immigration team in, Australia

Ivan Chait

General Manager Santa Fe Visa & Immigration

Phone 1: (61) 2 9262 4477

Ivan.chait@santaferelo.com.au

26-40 Nina Link, Dandenong South, Vic 3164

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