Peru added to the Work and Holiday visa programme

Peru is the newest country to be added to the Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa programme, after a memorandum of understanding was signed by the Australian and Peruvian governments on 24 May 2017. The new instrument also adds another address to validly lodge a Work and Holiday visa for Chinese nationals.

Peruvians who wish to apply for this visa must hold either a tertiary qualification or have successfully completed at least two years of undergraduate university study, among other requirements. As with all Work and Holiday and Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa applicants, they must be no less 18 years old and no older than 30 years old.

On the much-speculated age cap increase, the regulations were amended so from 1 July 2017 there is a maximum age cap of 35 years old, however, this is subject to any lesser age stipulated by the relevant instrument. For all countries, that limit has remained at 30. This amendment is substantial despite it not having any immediate effect.

The purpose of amending the regulations is to allow the age cap to increase by country where previously there was no mechanism to do this. As these visas are subject to individual negotiations with each participating country, it stands to reason that Australia is willing and able to raise age caps once agreements to increase the maximum age have been ratified. When that will happen is the question many wish they knew the answer to.