Australia to start offering work visas to Indian citizens from October 1 under trade pact
The Hindu
India Australia trade agreement boosts mobility with 1,000 work and holiday visas annually for Indian citizens.
Australia will begin offering up to 1,000 work and holiday visas each year to Indian citizens from October 1, as part of its commitment under the India-Australia interim free trade agreement.
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, who concluded his three-day visit to Australia, said that this move will facilitate mobility and deepen people-to-people connect.
The India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA) came into effect from December 2022.
“During the visit, happy to learn that Work and Holiday visa, a key commitment under India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement will be operational from 1st October 2024 which will facilitate mobility and deepen people-to-people connect,” Mr. Goyal said in a post on ‘X’ on Thursday (September 26, 2024).
Under the ECTA, Indian nationals aged 18-30 years can apply for a one-year visa to work, study, and travel across Australia.
Australia would annually grant up to 1,000 multiple entry work and holiday visas for a temporary stay of 12 months to Indian citizens who meet the eligibility requirements under the Australian legislation.
The two sides are now negotiating to expand the scope of the existing ECTA to a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA).
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