More people will be able to think about a new life Down Under from this weekend as a major change to Australian visa rules comes into force. From Saturday, July 1, there will be a change to the age limit on the Working Holiday Via.
It will mean that anybody from the UK who is aged 18 to 35 can live and work in Australia for up to three years. Previously, the age was capped at 30.
It could appeal to many UK workers, with Tourism Australia saying that new research has found that 45% of people aged 25 to 34 wish they had taken a gap year when they had the chance. Close to half of people in the age range (43%) were considering working abroad to advance their careers, reports the Liverpool ECHO.
The higher minimum wage than the UK, coupled with an unemployment rate that remains near its lowest since the mid-1970s, also makes Australia an attractive option. The 2,800 hours of sunshine annually contributes to why weather (30%), lifestyle (27%) and new experiences (23%) were among the top reasons people from the UK choose to live and work abroad, according to the research.
Sally Cope, Tourism Australia’s regional general manager for the UK and northern Europe, said the five-year age range increase presented a "world of openings to young professionals and also offers an incredible lifestyle, with Australia ready to welcome them".
