Australia, Vietnam launch work and holiday visa

(VNF) - Australia and Vietnam will commence a reciprocal work and holiday visa arrangement from March 1^st.

Under the arrangement, young Vietnamese people aged between 18 and 30 will be permitted to travel to Australia for one year and undertake short-term work or studies. It will also allow young Australians to work and holiday in Vietnam.

Each year 200 eligible Vietnamese applicants will be granted visas to Australia and in return 200 Australians will be permitted to enter Vietnam.

Mr. Craig Chittick, Australian Ambassador to Vietnam, expressed his delight on the latest outcome in the Vietnam-Australia bilateral cooperation.

“Young Vietnamese and Australian citizens now have the opportunity to apply for a unique cultural exchange experience. This will increase understanding between the peoples of our two countries, and contribute greatly to our economic, security and innovation partnerships”, he said.

Every year 200 Vietnamese candidates will qualify for a visa to Australia and a similar number of Australian citizens will also be eligible for entry into Vietnam under the reciprocal arrangement. (Credit: VNA)

According to the Department of Overseas Labour (DOLAB) under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA), the agreement was signed between the two sides on March 18^th, 2015, aimed at facilitating citizens from both countries to have the chance to participate in cultural exchanges, mutual experience learning and strengthening comprehensive cooperation.

Every year, each party will provide up to 200 visas to citizens of the other permitting them to remain in its territory for a period of 12 months from their date of first arrival. Visa holders under the programme will be permitted to use their visas for multiple exit and entry in the country during their stay.

Visa holders must abide by the laws and regulations of the receiving party, while not violating the terms of entry. They will be allowed to work for the 12-month duration of their stay, but for no longer than six months with any one employer, and study for up to four months.

Vietnamese citizens participating in the program must meet a number of conditions on health, financial ability, educational level, foreign language skills and personal record, and be introduced by the MOLISA.

MOLISA will grant letters of recommendation for Vietnamese citizens who have spotless background checks in accordance with the law; have graduated from tertiary education or have completed at least two years of a formal university; and have not joined similar programs in Australia previously.

Requesting documents for letters of recommendation include a declaration form for letters of recommendation; a valid passport; a university diploma or certificate from the university candidates have completed at least two formal school years; and a judicial history card No. 1 as specified in point A, paragraph 1, Article 41 of the 2009 Law on Judicial Records issued by a competent authority within six months.

Within 20 working days, citizens must have submitted a dossier directly or sent it via postal service to the DOLAB. Within ten working days from the date of receiving complete dossiers, the department will send letters of recommendation to citizens. The referrals will be valid for a period of 60 days from the date of issue.

Following its commencement on March 1^st, the work and holiday visa programme will re-open on July 1^st every year.

For more information on conditions of the visa and how to apply, citizens can visit the following web pages of the Australian Embassy Vietnam, Australia’s Department of Immigration and Border Protection and Vietnam’s DOLAB./.

( Compiled by VNF )