TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

Indonesians, Australians exchange visa program

Young Indonesian university graduates could from next year be allowed to apply for a one-year Australian work and holiday visa, pending an agreement by both governments, an Australian Embassy official said Thursday

Lilian Budianto (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Fri, December 19, 2008

Change text size

Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone

Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
Indonesians, Australians exchange visa program

Young Indonesian university graduates could from next year be allowed to apply for a one-year Australian work and holiday visa, pending an agreement by both governments, an Australian Embassy official said Thursday.

Only applicants aged 18-30 would be eligible, and Australian youths would also be extended the same privileges in Indonesia.

Australian Embassy spokeswoman Jenny Dee said the reciprocal work and holiday visa would take effect as soon as the relevant administrative arrangements by each country had been finalized.

"The signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two countries has yet to be confirmed but is expected to take place in the near future," she said.

The new visa differs from a working holiday visa because it requires each applicant to obtain the support of the government, hold or be studying for a tertiary qualification, and have a good grasp of the language of the host country.

"This visa arrangement will allow young people from both countries to experience living in different countries," Australian Ambassador Bill Farmer told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

Besides Indonesia, a number of other countries also have similar work and holiday visa arrangements with Australia, including the United States, Bangladesh, Chile, Turkey and Thailand.

Both governments have proposed an annual quota of 100 work and holiday visas that will be reviewed annually.

The visa initiative, first announced back in August, was on the agenda during the ninth ministerial meeting between the two countries in Canberra on Nov. 12.

There are around 16,000 Indonesians studying in Australia at present, and around 300,000 Australian tourists visit Indonesia each year.

Around 16,000 Australians currently live in Indonesia.

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.

Share options

Quickly share this news with your network—keep everyone informed with just a single click!

Change text size options

Customize your reading experience by adjusting the text size to small, medium, or large—find what’s most comfortable for you.

Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone

Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!

Generating Questionnaires

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
We appreciate your feedback.