Over 98,000 Indians have applied for the Australian Work and Holiday (Subclass 462) visa since it became available to 1,000 Indian nationals last year.
However, the statistics reveal that only 988 visas have been approved up to this point, VisaGuide.World reports.
Indian nationals, for the first time, are being allowed to live, work and explore Australia under the Work and Holiday (Subclass 462) visa, also known as the backpacker visa.
Pre-Application Ballot Visa System
On October 1, 2024, the government of Australia introduced a pre-ballot system for visas, targeting applicants from China, Vietnam, and India.
Based on the recent report of the Administration of the Immigration and Citizenship Programs, the Department of Home Affairs received a total of 139,633 valid registrations from China, India, and Vietnam, up to this point, with a total of 98,019 received from Indian nationals alone.
Interest From Indians Remarkable
Migration agent Vaibhav Patel told SBS Hindi that the level of interest from young Indian nationals has been remarkable.
Patel said that there has been a surge of excitement in India since the visa opened its doors to Indian nationals for the first time last year.
It used to be mostly European countries that had access to this kind of visa for Australia, but now India is part of that list thanks to the free trade agreement. It’s a sign that the relationship between the two countries is really growing.
In order to benefit from this scheme, applicants are required to obtain an Indian passport, speak English and also meet specific education requirements, and show they have at least $5,000 in savings.
These are fairly reasonable requirements for young professionals or graduates looking for a global experience.
Australia’s Work and Holiday visa (Subclass 462) is created for young adults aged 18 to 30 who want to explore Australia while being engaged in short-term jobs to support themselves.
To benefit from this scheme, applications must be filed from outside this county, while no family members can be included as secondary applicants. At present, the cost of the visa is $650.
Australia’s Work and Holiday visa has been continuously increasing, attracting a larger number of international visitors. By the end of 2024, there were a total of 206,187 Work and Holiday visa holders in Australia, accounting for a notable increase compared to 170,437 registered in 2023.