The Australian department of Immigration and Border Protection has released new findings in its first ever white paper on developing Northern Australia. There’s some huge changes to come into affect over the coming months.
The Summary
-462 Work and Holiday Visa holders can get a 2nd Year Visa from some time in 2016 after completing 3 months of agricultural, mining, construction and mining, tourism, aged and disability care and or hospitality work in Northern Australia.
-417 Working Holiday Visa holders 2nd year visa criteria will remain unchanged.
-417 & 462 Visa holders can work with one employer for up to 12 months in Northern Australia
-Northern Australia will consist of the entirety of the Northern Australia and those areas of Queensland and Western Australia north of the Tropic of Capricorn
-All part of a grander scheme of 2030 to develop Northern Australia
The Governments response
I recently sent a few letters to clarify any confusion regarding scheme changes and this was the response provided on behalf of the office of the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, the Hon Peter Dutton MP.
Dear Mr Roumpos
Thank you for your email of 6 November 2015 to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, the Hon Peter Dutton MP, concerning changes to the Working Holiday Maker visa programme which are being introduced in association with the White Paper on northern Australia. The Minister appreciates the time you have taken to bring this matter to his attention and has asked that I reply on his behalf.
The new second Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa initiative for northern Australia will have an expanded set of eligible industries compared to those currently used by second Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa initiative. While the second Working Holiday initiative will remain confined to the agriculture, mining and construction sectors, the new second Work and Holiday initiative will also be open to the tourism and hospitality sector and the aged and disability care sector.
In terms of how northern Australia will be defined, in general terms it will consist of the entirety of the Northern Australia and those areas of Queensland and Western Australia north of the Tropic of Capricorn. On a practical level, it will be identified using a list of eligible postcode which will be made available for reference on the Department and Immigration and Border Protection’s website in due course.
Thank you for bringing this matter to the Minister’s attention.
Northern Australia Definition
Northern Australia, defined as the parts of Australia north of the Tropic of Capricorn that span Western Australia, Northern Territory and Queensland, is often regarded as Australia’s ‘last frontier. ( All of NT is included regardless if is south of the Tropic Capricorn)
( This definition was sourced from the department of Immigration website and a representative of the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, the Hon Peter Dutton MP)
Working With One Employer For up to 12 Months
Currently working holiday makers can only for an employer for a 6 month period. Under the change, both Working Holiday (Subclass 417) and Work and Holiday (Subclass 462) visa holders who undertake work in northern Australia will be able to apply to work for a single employer for up to 12 months.
The Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Peter Dutton was quoted saying the changes, an initiative of the Government’s recent White Paper on Developing Northern Australia, will be of significant benefit to the agriculture and tourism sectors in the north of the country.
These industries are highly seasonal and rely on short term workers to provide labour flexibility in peak periods,” Mr Dutton went on to say.
The changes will also apply to work in northern Australia in aged and disability care, construction and mining.
Getting the Second Year Visa With the 417 Working Holiday Visa Jobs
Working holiday visa Australia holders can only on the 417 Australian Working holiday visa can apply for the second year visa after completing 88 days of specified work in a regional area.
Specified Work Currently
-Plant and Animal Cultivation
-Fishing and Pearling
-Construction, Mining
-Tree Farming and Felling
in specified areas under the postcode list.
Additional Areas to Obtain the Second Year Visa Under the new 417 Visa Terms
-There will be no additional fields of employment added to the 2nd Year Visa Scheme for 417 Working Holiday Makers
2016 462 Visa Changes ( Second Year Visa)
Further changes will follow in 2016 which will allow Work and Holiday (Subclass 462) visa holders to extend their stay in Australia by a further 12 months if they work for at least three months in agriculture or tourism in northern Australia.
These changes create a significant incentive for young travellers who wish to experience Australia to visit and work in northern Australia said Dutton.
Second Year Visa Eligible Work on the 462 Working and Holiday Scheme
-Plant and Animal Cultivation
-Fishing and Pearling
-Construction, Mining
-Tree Farming and Felling
-Tourism Work
-Hospitality sector
-Aged and disability care sector
( There is no set date when this will be live and active as yet)
2030 “ The Next Frontier”
The Australian government paper proposes that by 2030 Northern Australia could drive growth by:
– creating a food bowl, including premium produce, which could help to double Australia’s agricultural output;
growing the tourist economy in the North to two million international tourists annually; and
– build an energy export industry worth $150 billion to the Australian economy, with a major focus on clean and efficient energy, providing major increases to resource exports.
Below are in depth resources,
2030 Vision For Developing Northern Australia
Visa changes to benefit northern economy
Australia Working Holiday Visa Numbers
In 2014/15 financial year a total of 226,812 visas were granted to participants in the working holiday visa programmes.
Backpacker Tax
There is also legislation in the pipeline to create a backpacker tax which will mean working holiday makers are taxed 32.5 cents in the dollar. If you disagree with this tax please fill out this backpacker tax survey, which states the results go directly to the government.
Looking For Work
If you’re currently on a working holiday visa and looking for a working holiday job or fruit picking job this could affect your plans with some parts of the legislation coming into affect on November 21.
39 Responses to “Working Holiday Visa Australia Changes”
Miyoko Marpaung
Hello there. Thank you for this great post. I’m currently holding 462 work and holiday and it will be expired in March 2016. I’ve been working as housekeeping in mining camp more than 4 months and willing to extend my visa for another year. My question is:
1. How’s the procedure?
2. For tax 32.5 each one dollar, when will it begin? Is it from july 2016?
Dimi
Hi Miyoko,
You won’t have any issues with backpacker tax for this financial year but in terms of the second year visa we are awaiting further details and I don’t think you will have enough time in my opinion. As if it doesn’t get approved until say February then you will have only 1 month to complete your 88 days 🙁
Miyoko Marpaung
Hi Dimi, thank you very much for replying me.
So, it means I can’t extend for my second year because the 88 days will start counted after this new legislation, not what I’ve done now (before new legislation)? 🙁
Dimi
Hi Miyoko,
Your situation wouldn’t change. Whatever you did before Nov 21 was eligible will count towards your total 88 day count. These 2nd Year changes won’t come into play until next year. We have emailed the department of immigration and are waiting for a response.
Cheers
Mike
So if i’m now at WH 462. and my visa expire , I lost my chance to come back to australia at second year work and holiday visa ?? not really fair isn’t ? I would deffo do 88days in nt. if I would know it before
no chance for bridge visa ? any another opportunity to claim it
Dimi
Hi Mike,
It’s just darn unlucky 🙁 You would have to come back on a study visa of some sort. If you need help with that please let me know we can shoot your details over to a migration agent that specialises in this kind of stuff.
Sorry about the initial bad luck.
Roberto Arrisueno
Dimi;
is there any reconsiderations towards the volunteers or woofer jobs to obtain the 2nd year visa in any of the Australian states or territories.
Cheers
Dimi
I read somewhere that wwoofing is still eligbile until Nov 30 this year,
Source: http://www.wwoof.com.au/new-hosts/visa-information – click on second year working visa extension
Cleopatra
hi there iam a Zimbabwean age of 31 i would love to come and wotk in Australia as a fruit picker
Dimi
Perfect Cleopatra, best of luck with it, hopefully you can get a visa but the working holiday visa won’t be for you unfortunately.
Malin
What if I just finished 3 months of work in NT with tourism? Does this mean that I can get a second year?
Dimi
Hi Malin,
It would be from the start date and there seems to be no start date announced for the 2nd Year tourism work for 462 working holiday visa holders, just ” 2016″. ( We are confirming whether or not this will apply to 417 working holiday visa holders too)
Dominik
Get your facts right, working in Tourism will only count for the 2nd Year Visa if you’re holding the Work AND Holiday Visa (462), not the Working Holiday Visa (417).
See here: https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visi/Visi-1/work-holiday-visas-noth-aus
Dimi
Hi Dominik,
Cheers for the message. We made the correction and we also emailed the Minister for Immigration to confirm if that’s true. Ie why wouldn’t 417 visa workers be able to work in tourism for the 2nd year visa but 462 visa holders can?
Marlene
“Work as an au pair, in aged and disability car, or in tourism and hospitality does not count as ‘specified work’ under the second working holiday visa initiative” https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Work/Empl/WHM-six-months-one-employer#
however, 417 or 462 visa holders can work beyond 6 months with one employer in these mentioned industries in northern Australia.
Dimi
Cheers Marlene, we amended that. We also reached out to the Minister to get more clarification on the matter.
Veronica
Hi,
Thanks for the information 🙂
I’ve a question about the tax. Backpackers are more taxed, but is still it refund? Because that’s a lot of money and if we earn less, we aren’t going to spent as much money as we do in Australia, and we’ll go straight up in Asia or somewhere else where the life is cheaper. So, I hope the government is aware about that.
Cheers
Dimi
Hi Veronica,
At the moment you will receive an 18,000 tax free thresold ( everything you earn up till 18k is tax free – so whatever you are taxed you will be refunded come tax time)
The proposed legislation means you would be taxed 32.5cents for every dollar you earn in Australia!
If you don’t agree with this post your thoughts on this survey
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/417taxincrease
It states the results are going to the government
Wandering Casey
So will we find out if subclass 462 holders will be able to obtain there second year visa on November 21st? I hope it comes through. I will be entering Australia November 29th to start my working holiday. Also the work would need be don’t in the northern territory as well? Thanks in advance!
Dimi
Hi Casey,
I doubt it, but we will keep you updated 🙂
And from what we understand yes, 3 months of agricultural or tourism work in Northern Australia
Kimberley Hall
Is Gold Coast classed as Northern Australia? I have a 462 visa.
Dimi
Nope 🙁 as it’s south of Tropic of Capricorn
Troy
So will international travelers be able to workk the 88 days as prevoiusly without pay in far north queensland?
Dimi
Payslips will always be required moving forward it seems. Though there was an extension till end of November.
” Following concerns from Hosts and WWOOFers, WWOOF Pty Ltd wrote to the Department and they have agreed to extend the cut off date for WWOOFers to the 30th of November 2015. All work done from December 1 onward will require pay slips. See email below:”
Click on 2nd WHV Visa Extension
http://www.wwoof.com.au/new-hosts/visa-information
Jay
Hi.. Im wondering wether u can arrange for the working holiday visa also or i have to do it by myself..
Thanks in advance..
Dimi
Hi Jay,
You can do either, go through your local government or let us know and we can pass your details on to a migration agent to sort everything out for you 🙂
Anna
Hi, we employ farm workers on our property, we pay the award wage etc however we ask our workers to have an abn and we pay them on their invoices. Will these suffice as payslips?
Dimi
Hi Anna,
This is a matter for the taxation office. I would assume the invoices could suffice but I am not 100% certain. I would suggest you call the ATO and clear up the matter.
Sorry I couldn’t provide an exact answer
Cheers
Dimi
Tom
Hi there,
Question on the tax raise!
Does the tax rate rise affect EVERY backpacker post Jul 1st 2016? Or people who arrive in Australia thereafter?
Dimi
G’day Tom,
In short, it affects everyone who arrives after Jan 1 2016 OR arrived before and wasn’t in the country for 182 days up until June 30 2016.
If you’re in the country now and don’t plan on leaving until July 1 you are sweet.
Cheers
Dimi
Tom
Thanks Dimi, this is the only place I can find this being discussed so its a great help, plus the funny thing is not many Backpackers are actually aware of it. One more question, do you know exactly when an announcement will be made on when the legislation will pass or not?
Cheers
Melisa
Hi, do you know if there’s any news already about the working with 1 employer up to 12months? Is it already applicable?
If yes, do you know how does it work, like how is the procedure? I’m currently working in hospitality in Broome and would like to extend the job for more than 6 months rather than looking for another job again before do my east coast trip.
Thanks before,
Cheers
Dimi
Hi Melisa,
This is something to discuss with your employer. You are legally allowed to work up to 12 months in the specified industries so the key is to find a job that will keep you on for that amount of time.
rain
Hi Dimi, I have only one question. 88days for 2nd years visa subclass 462 will start count the days from when?
21 nov 2014? From 1 january 2016 or from 1 July 2016?
We need clearly with this one
Dimi
There’s no set date of the 2nd Year Visa for 462 Work and Holiday Visa Holders
We will update this post as soon as the information has been made public.
Ashley
Hi, I conpleted my working holiday visa in 2013 unfortunately/stupidly I only obtained 48 days towards my second year as I wasn’t aware one of my jobs weren’t in the allowed postcodes. I take it there is no leniency on this matter, with trying to apply for a second year? I’d also be interested in studying in Australia. I currently have obtained a Bsc, would this help me with applying for any other visa/ study visa? Thanks
Dimi
Hi Ashley,
Sorry to hear about your bad luck with the postcodes 🙁 It happens to the best of us. Moving forward study is probably your best option. I will drop you an email with some more information if thats ok with you 🙂
Cheers
Dimi
cynthia elin
Hi.. i wish can go work there but its very difficult for indonesian people…
Dimi
If you have an eligible visa then yes.