May 2020
Working Holiday visas cannot be extended during Coronavirus pandemic.
However, you can apply for a further Working Holiday visa if you have undertaken specified work for three months on your first Working Holiday visa or six months on your second Working Holiday visa.
The following industries and areas are approved as specified work for subclass 417 (Working Holiday) visa holders:
- plant and animal cultivation in regional Australia;
- fishing and pearling in regional Australia;
- tree farming and felling in regional Australia;
- mining in regional Australia;
- construction in regional Australia; and
- bushfire recovery work in declared bushfire affected areas only, carried out after 31 July 2019.
The following industries and areas are approved as specified work for subclass 462 (Work and Holiday) visa holders:
- plant and animal cultivation in northern Australia and other specified areas of regional Australia;
- fishing and pearling in northern Australia only;
- tree farming and felling in northern Australia only;
- tourism and hospitality in northern Australia only;
- construction in northern Australia and other specified areas of regional Australia; and
- bushfire recovery work in declared bushfire affected areas only, carried out after 31 July 2019.
Coronavirus COVID 19 Update – Working Holiday Maker Visa Holders in Australia
You must apply for a new visa before your current visa expires. You may be eligible to be granted a bridging visa that will keep you lawful until a decision is made on your visa application.
Existing arrangements for specified work will remain in place but the Australian Government has announced temporary measures to assist WHMs working in critical sectors who are not eligible to apply for a further WHM visa.
If you are working in the health, aged and disability care, agriculture, food processing or childcare sectors and are unable to return to your home country you can apply for the Temporary Activity (subclass 408) Australian Government Endorsed Event (AGEE) stream visa. This visa will allow you to remain lawfully in Australia and continue working until it is safe and practicable to return to your home country during Coronavirus COVID 19 outbreak.
Visa Condition 8547 – six months work limitation with one employer
Working Holiday Makers are generally limited to working for any one employer for six months, unless the department of Home affairs has given permission to work with the same employer for longer than six months.
However, in the current circumstances of the Coronavirus COVID 19 pandemic, the Department has given permission to Working Holiday makers in critical sectors, such as health, aged care or agriculture to work for the same employer for longer than six months.
Other situations where Working Holiday Makers have permission to work for the same employer for more than six months include:
· Where the work is in different locations and work in any one location doesn’t exceed six months;
· In plant and animal cultivation anywhere in Australia;
· In certain industries in Northern Australia;
· Assisting bushfire recovery efforts.
In any other circumstance you need to request permission to work for any one employer for more than six months.
Coronavirus COVID 19 Update Working Holiday Maker Visa Holders in Australia
For more information regarding COVID-19 pandemic and Working Holiday Maker Visa Holders consultancy, please book your appointment now with Melbourne’s best immigration lawyers at Erskine Rodan & Associates.
