Work and Holiday visas: Chile to drop the need for government support from 18 February 2019

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Chile will become another country in the Work and Holiday visa program that will not require its applicants to submit evidence of government support to be granted a Subclass 462 – Work and Holiday visa from 18 February 2019, according to a new amending legislative instrument.

Chile joins the following countries that also exempt their applicants from requiring government support for this visa:

  • Argentina;

  • China;

  • Israel;

  • Singapore; and

  • United States of America.

The amending instrument will also require Malaysians to lodge their 462 applications online from 4 March 2019 unless an officer of the Department has sent an authorising email to them.

Government support is just one of the ways 462 visas differ depending on country within the subclass and also to their sister working holiday visa, the Subclass 417 – Working Holiday visa. Other differences between the two visa subclasses include:

  • Annual visa limits for each program year for 462 visas with the exception of the USA. These range from 100 (Bangladesh, Luxembourg, Malaysia, San Marino, and Turkey) to 5,000 for China;

  • Requiring successful completion of a specific education level for 462 visas; and

  • Different areas and activities that contribute to specified work, which is required to apply for a second visa.

A couple of things they have in common is that visa applicants must not be accompanied by dependent children, and applicants must not have previously been in Australia on the “other” visa, for example, a 462 visa application who previously entered Australia as a 417 visa holder or visa versa. Those with dual citizenship who attempt this should see their visa applications invalid.

The only varying requirement between countries in the 417 visa program is the joy for some that the age cap has increased. Further proposed amendments to the program have yet to have a date they will be implemented.