MANILA – The Australian Embassy in Manila said Friday the application for the “work and holiday visa” will open next year as Canberra agreed to include Filipinos in the new visa scheme.

The “new reciprocal work and holiday visa for Australians and Filipinos” was announced by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during his official visit to Manila on Sept. 8 as he and President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. sought ways to increase Philippine-Australian economic, cultural, and people-to-people links.

According to the Australian Department of Home Affairs, this type of visa allows eligible nationals aged 18 years to 30 years to have an extended holiday in Australia and do short-term work to help fund their trip; study for up to four months; or do three months of “specified subclass 462” work to become eligible for a second work and holiday visa.

One of the requirements is enough funding to support one’s self while in Australia.

The home affairs department said this could be about 5,000 Australian dollars (approximately PHP180,900) for the initial stay and additional cash enough to purchase a flight ticket to leave Australia at the end of the stay.

The work and holiday visa itself costs about 635 Australian dollars (approximately PHP22,974) and will give the holder at least 12 months of stay in Australia.

As of this posting, the Australian Embassy in Manila has yet to provide specific details on the application process for Filipino nationals.

It said it would come up with a factsheet by next week and that “applications will open next year at a date to be announced.”

Background on the visa scheme is available at https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/work-holiday-462/first-work-holiday-462. (PNA)