Visa Changes for Brits: Age Limit Changed From 30 to 35, No More Farm Work and 3 Year Visa

Darryl Newby

Posted On 15 June 2021

News about working holidaymakers travelling to Australia has been hard to come by recently. However, that changed today, with huge developments for people from Britain looking in to the possibility of a working holiday in Australia. 

No More Farm Work

 

In the trade agreement between the UK and Australia, Boris Johnson pushed for the removal of the mandatory regional work if a Brit on a working holiday visa wanted to extend for another 12 months, which has been in place since 2005.

The work includes:

  • 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

This work previously allowed a traveller to extend their stay for a 2nd, and then 3rd year (if more work was completed). The new deal will see Brits get a total of three years on a working holiday, a program that encourages young travellers to experience the best of Australia.

Live and work in paradise for longer.

Age Limit Increased To 35 

 

Another major change is the announcement that the working holiday visa age limit will change to 35 years old, following in the footsteps of other countries such as Canada, France and Ireland.

Previously you could only arrive in Australia on a working holiday visa before you turned 31. This will now permit that you can arrive in Australia on a working holiday visa before you turn 36. This is a huge change and an incredible opportunity for people that thought they had missed out, to give Australia a go.

What To Do Now?

This has just been announced and is an agreement and has not been made policy. So don’t go quitting your farm job if you’re in Australia and don’t go applying for a visa if you’re in the UK.

The finer details of how and when this, and a special agricultural visa will work are yet to be released.

If you’re wanting to be kept updated on any visa announcements then sign up for our newsletter below. Here at Welcome to Travel we make it easier for you to start your working holiday with tours in both Melbourne and Sydney.

We also help our travellers with employment with our expansive database of employers and recruiters. We have a dedicated community team that are your constant network of support whilst you’re travelling here.

If you have any questions at all about travelling Australia, contact us here and we’ll help you with anything and everything.

Keep Up To Date

Written By

Darryl Newby

Travelled to Australia from the UK in 2010 for what was supposed to be a 6 month visit…that didn’t quite go to plan. He now calls Melbourne home, co-founded Welcome to Travel and is a proud dog dad to his pug, Harvey.

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16 thoughts on “Visa Changes for Brits: Age Limit Changed From 30 to 35, No More Farm Work and 3 Year Visa”

  1. This is great news!

    I’ve already used my first visa and was forced to come home because of covid restrictions. Will I be able to get a second WHV now that’s the rules have changed?

  2. Hey Darryl, I had a working holiday visa in 2019 but didn’t do any farm work so wasn’t eligible for my 2nd year. Will I be able to apply for my 2nd year when the new rules are released?

  3. Such exciting news. Waiting for more info on whether a gal like me who did a first year waaay back in 2013/2014 without doing the farmwork (so didn’t qualify for 2nd year at the time) would in theory be able to apply for a second year before I’m 35. Loving the update emails, thank you!

  4. Hi Darryl,

    Any more updates on the age change?
    Will it be 1st July 2022? I have seen this in a couple of places, but also seen it might take 2 years. By then i would be too old to take advantage. I turn 35 on July 1st 2022!
    Will it be a 3 year visa grant automatically? Or have to apply for 2nd/3rd year?

  5. this is exciting news thought i missed out ,Do you have any news when the visa requirement will go to under 35 ?

  6. Hey there just wondered I already had my working holiday visa in 2008, did the farm work and got my second year and came home in 2010.
    Can I apply for another visa now? Or is that it for me?? Thank you in advance

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