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Tuesday, 19 February 2019
Media release

Increased Work and Holiday visa arrangements with Chile

Australia’s Work and Holiday visa arrangement with Chile now allows more young people to explore, work and study in Australia.

From this week, the number of places available to Chileans under the Work and Holiday Maker program will increase from 2,000 to 3,400 annual visa places.

Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, David Coleman, said the expansion of the Work and Holiday visa with Chile follows changes to the program announced in November 2018.

"There has been strong participation from young Chileans in the Working Holiday Maker visa program over many years and the increase in places will provide more opportunities for work and cultural exchange," Mr Coleman said.

"The success of this Work and Holiday visa arrangement which began in 2006 is a testament to our strengthening people-to-people links between our two nations."

"The increase to places will provide regional areas and farmers with access to more workers."

While on their first visa, Chilean nationals may undertake specified work in regional areas to become eligible for a second Work and Holiday visa and extend their stay. From 1 July 2019, the option of a third year stay will also be available to them if they undertake six months of regional work in their second year in Australia.

The Work and Holiday visa requires first-time Chilean applicants to hold or be studying towards tertiary qualifications and to speak a functional level of English.

While Labor look to restrict Work and Holiday visas, the Government continues to support the Working Holiday Maker program and the significant benefits the program provides to regional Australia and the economy as a whole.

Australia’s Working Holiday Maker program currently has arrangements in place with 42 countries, across the globe.

The number of places available to Spanish, Israeli and Peruvian nationals under the program have all recently increased. For Spain an increase from 1,500 to 3,400 places (28 December 2018), for Israel an increase from 500 to 2,500 places (28 December 2018), and for Peru an increase from 100 to 1,500 places (2 January 2019).

More information on the Work and Holiday visa program is available at www.homeaffairs.gov.au.