Starting October 1, Australia will provide up to 1,000 work and holiday visas annually for Indian citizens, enhancing mobility and strengthening ties under the India-Australia Economic Cooperation Agreement.
New Delhi: Beginning October 1, Australia will offer up to 1,000 work and holiday visas each year to Indian citizens. This announcement follows the commitment made under the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA).
Highlights
- Australia will grant up to 1,000 work and holiday visas yearly to Indian citizens from October 1, 2024.
- The initiative aims to enhance mobility and strengthen people-to-people connections under the India-Australia Economic Cooperation Agreement.
- Ongoing negotiations seek to expand the current agreement into a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA).
During his recent three-day visit to Australia, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal highlighted this initiative, stating it will improve mobility and strengthen ties between the two nations. Goyal shared the news on X, expressing his satisfaction with the implementation of this key agreement.
The ECTA, which took effect in December 2022, allows Indian nationals aged 18 to 30 to apply for a one-year visa. This visa will enable them to work, study, and travel across Australia.
Eligible Indian citizens can apply for multiple-entry visas for a temporary stay of 12 months, provided they meet Australian requirements.
Goyal also noted that discussions are ongoing to expand the ECTA into a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA). This would further enhance trade relations, with both countries aiming for AUD 100 billion in bilateral trade by 2030.
Additionally, during Goyal’s visit, meetings with businesses from both countries were held in Sydney, focusing on strengthening trade and investment.
In related news, the Indian Ministry of Commerce announced the sixth session of the India-Egypt Joint Trade Committee took place in New Delhi on September 16-17, 2024. Here, both nations explored various areas for enhancing bilateral cooperation in trade, including sectors like pharmaceuticals, engineering, and electronics manufacturing.