Bilateral Interest
Work and Holiday Visa Arrangement between Australia and Chile
It comes into effect on 31 March 2006
The Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, Senator Amanda Vanstone, today announced a reciprocal Work and Holiday Visa arrangement between Australia and Chile.
The arrangement was signed today in Canberra by Senator Vanstone and Chilean Foreign Minister, Ignacio Walker.
Senator Vanstone said the agreement would open up new opportunities for young people from the two countries wishing to travel and experience different lifestyles and cultures.
“The Work and Holiday visa will allow university-trained young people from Australia and Chile to work and holiday in the other country for up to 12 months,” Senator Vanstone said.
“This is the first such arrangement Australia has with a Latin American country. It is an important investment in future relations with Chile and also highlights the importance of people-to-people links between our countries.”
The Work and Holiday visa is different to a ‘Working Holiday Maker’ visa arrangement, in that it requires an applicant to have the support of their government, hold post-secondary qualifications and have some English ability.
Senator Vanstone said Australia is becoming a more popular destination for Chilean travellers, with 1,945 Tourist visas granted to Chilean nationals in the period from 1 July 2004 to 31 May 2005 - a 30 per cent increase over the same period in the previous year.
Source, DIMIA, July 14th, 2005