If you’re looking to fill a few vacancies in your workplace, you’re in luck. From 1 July it’s going to be easier to boost your resources with working holiday makers from the United Kingdom (UK), plus you’ll have more chance of finding experienced workers. That’s because Australia and the UK have introduced new arrangements under the Working Holiday Maker (WHM) program and Youth Mobility Scheme. Part of the new Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (Australia-UK FTA), UK passport holders aged 18 to 35 years can now apply for a Working Holiday visa (subclass 417).* Furthermore, they have until midnight (Australian Eastern Standard Time) on the day before their 36th birthday to lodge their application. With the eligible age range increasing from 18–30 years to 18–35 years, this new arrangement should provide you with more opportunities to attract the skills you need. Specified Work Scrapped In other positive news, the requirement for visa holders to demonstrate at least three or six months of ‘specified work’ before being granted a second or third subclass 417 visa no longer applies to UK passport holders. From 1 July 2024, UK passport holders can choose to apply for a first, second or third subclass 417 visa at any time, as long as they meet the eligible age requirement. Neither is there a need for them to stay in Australia for three years in a row or to be on Australian soil when they lodge their application. Desperate to bring a former worked back from the UK? You’re also in luck. If a UK passport holder spent one or two years in Australia on a subclass 417 visa before the new arrangements commence, they too can apply for the remaining visa(s) – just keep in mind, the maximum stay in Australia remains three years. Need Help with Sorting Out a Visa? Despite these relaxed rules and Australia’s streamlined visa processing arrangements, applying for a visa can take time and is a complicated process. At the Ayers Group, our experts in migration can help you bring the resources you need to Australia faster. We can advise you on eligibility for working visas, arrange pre-approval and even lodge your application. Give us a call today.