Agreement has been reached for 5,000 applicants each year from the People’s Republic of China to obtain subclass 462 Work and Holiday visas to Australia. Whilst a date has not yet been fixed for the programme to commence, some details are already available for the programme: What can a Work and Holiday visa holder do in Australia? The Work and Holiday visa will allow participants to engage in cultural exchange and tourism. In addition, the visa allows the holder to: • stay in Australia for 12 months from their date of first arrival; • work for the 12 month duration of their stay, but for no longer than six months with any one employer; and • study for four months. What are the visa’s eligibility requirements? General eligibility requirements for Chinese Work and Holiday visa applicants will be:

• hold a valid Chinese passport
• are at least 18 but have not turned 31 years of age at the time an application is lodged
• will not be with a dependent child while in Australia
• have enough money for support on a working holiday (about AUD $5000)
• have enough money to buy a return or onward travel ticket at the end of the stay
• have not previously entered Australia on a Working Holiday visa (subclass 417)
• hold tertiary qualifications, or have successfully completed at least two years of undergraduate university study
• have functional English
• meet character and health requirements and are a genuine visitor. More detailed information about what is involved in meeting these requirements will be made available closer to the date the arrangement commences.

Is there an age limit for a Work and Holiday visa? Yes. Applicants for the Chinese Work and Holiday visa must be at least 18 but have not turned 31 years of age at the time of lodging the application.

What will I need to provide in my application and where will I send it? The details of what will be required of applicants and where to send applications will be available once the arrangement commences. This information will be published on this website and the website of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection.

How much will the visa cost? The cost of the visa will be confirmed on the website of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection when the arrangement commences. As an indication only, the base cost of a Work and Holiday visa application to Australia was AUD $420 at 19 November 2014.

Will the annual limit of 5000 places be increased? This is a matter for the Australian and Chinese governments to consider once the arrangement has been in operation for a period of time.

Are the 5000 participants individually selected? Anyone who meets the Work and Holiday visa’s eligibility requirements is able to apply.

How many times can I apply for a Work and Holiday visa? The Work and Holiday visa provides a unique ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ opportunity for participants. Consequently, participants can only ever apply for one such visa.

Where can I find more information on Australia’s Work and Holiday visa? Further general information can be found on the website of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection: See: Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462)

Will Australians be able to apply for a Work and Holiday visa to China? The arrangement will initially allow Chinese participants to visit Australia. There is a mechanism for review should China be in a position to offer opportunities to Australians in the future.

• Please see the full release from the Australian Embassy in Beijing here