Australia’s government has temporarily suspended its Working Holiday Visa program for Chinese nationals, a spokesperson for the Department of Home Affairs confirmed. This decision, which also affects citizens of India and Vietnam, introduces a lottery-style bid system for the financial year ending June 2025.

As per VisaGuide.World, the suspension of Chinese applicants is part of an intake halt while new changes are being implemented. This adjustment comes amidst a larger context where, as of March 2023, over 136,600 Working Holiday Visas were active in Australia.

Australia’s Working Holiday Visa program allows internationals aged 18 to 30 to stay and work in Australia for up to 12 months, with extensions possible under specific conditions. The program includes two visa subclasses: the Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417) and the Work and Holiday Visa (subclass 462). Subclass 462 requires a letter of support from the applicant’s home government and certain educational qualifications, unlike subclass 417.

In addition to these changes, Australia plans to introduce a new visa aimed at attracting exceptionally talented workers, replacing a controversial investor migrant program. This initiative, announced in the annual budget by Treasurer Jim Chalmers, aims to attract skilled talent worldwide. However, the center-left Labour government faces calls to manage migration carefully following a post-pandemic surge. According to Australia’s Bureau of Statistics, overseas migration contributed a net gain of 518,000 people to Australia’s population in the year ending June 30, 2023, the highest since records began.

These changes reflect Australia’s evolving immigration policies, balancing the need for skilled workers with concerns about population growth and resource management.