Australia’s Working Holiday Visa Opens for Young Indians

Australia has officially launched its Working Holiday Maker Visa, which aims at some nationalities, including Indians.

The new program allows up to a thousand young Indians aged between 18 and 30 to come to Australia to either work or study and experience Australian culture for up to 12 months.

According to Australian Assistant Minister for Immigration Matt Thistlethwaite, since the opening of applications for the mentioned visa category on October 1, around 40,000 young Indians have already applied, VisaGuide.World reports.

The selection process will use a ballot system, with successful applicants expected to begin their Australian adventures early next year. Initially, this new visa regime was announced in September of this year. At the same time, Vietnamese and Chinese nationals will also benefit from this program. As previously reported by VisaGuide.World, the registration fee for the ballot is AUD 25 ($16).

Minister Thistlethwaite further said that after the ballot is closed, several people will be randomly selected and allowed to apply for the visa.

Moreover, he noted many job opportunities in Australia’s agricultural sector and other industries. Additionally, people can study for a short time while on the Working Holiday Maker visa. This allows them to improve their English, gain vocational experience, or take short courses. Overall, the visa provides a chance to come to Australia, have fun, learn about the culture, and experience life here.

Indian Students to Face Challenges in Australia Following Student Caps

In August, Australia announced a cap on student visas for 2025, limiting new international student commencements to 270,000. Of this cap, around 145,000 spots will be for public universities and 95,000 for vocational institutions.

This change is predicted to impact the number of Indian students pursuing education in Australia, which has traditionally been one of the country’s largest sources of international students. The number of Indian students enrolling in Australian institutions has declined in 2024 compared to the previous year due to rising costs, housing challenges, and increased competition from other countries.

Australia also registered a significant drop in Indian students in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While there were 126,487 Indian students in Australia in 2023, that number fell to 118,109 in 2024.