Working Holiday Visa changes to assist bushfire recovery

The Government has made changes to the work restrictions of the Working Holiday (Subclass 417) and Work and Holiday (Subclass 462) Visa to assist bushfire-affected communities.

The 417 and 462 visa are both subject to condition 8547, meaning the holder can only work for the same employer for 6 months. Changes have been made to ensure 417 and 462 visa holders will be able to assist with bushfire recovery, without breaching the conditions of their visa.

Changes

• The time a Working Holiday Maker can work with the same employer has been extended from six months to twelve months for those assisting with bushfire recovery efforts. Before working beyond six months, you should seek advice regarding your specific circumstance to ensure the change is applicable to your circumstances.

• The definition of specified work has been revised for the Work and Holiday Maker (subclass 462) visa to ensure construction work in a disaster-declared area is captured.

• Paid and volunteer disaster recovery work in areas declared impacted by the recent bushfires will count towards the “specified work” needed to apply for a second or third year 417 or 462 visa. Bushfire recovery work must be undertaken in specified local government regional areas affected by bushfires occurring after 31 July 2019 and before 1 March 2020.

Should you be an Employer, or a Visa Holder impacted by the above, we recommend you contact one of our Consultants for specific advice and consulting.

Disclaimer: The information provided herein is of a general nature only and does not constitute immigration advice. For more detailed and case specific information or advice, please contact SCA Connect.