Increase to eligible age for Ireland-Australia Working Holiday Programme
Press release
30 October 2018Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Simon Coveney, T.D. and Australian Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, the Hon David Coleman MP, have agreed an increase to the eligible age to participate in the Working Holiday Programme between Ireland and Australia.
The Minister of State at the Department of Finance and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Patrick O’Donovan, T.D, announced the move during an official visit to Australia today.
Speaking about the agreement, the Tánaiste said:
“From 1 November 2018, the age limit for Irish and Australian citizens wishing to avail of the Working Holiday Programme will increase by five years, to 35 years of age. The purpose of this programme is to promote cultural exchange and strengthen people-to-people links by creating opportunities for young people to travel. This extension of the eligible age not only allows a more diverse group of people to avail of this scheme, but also helps to strengthen those links between our two countries even further.”
Minister of State O’Donovan added:
“Since the Working Holiday Programme began in 1975, it is estimated that more than 275,000 young Irish people have spent up to two years in Australia under this scheme. In 2017 alone, some 8,653 visas were issued to Irish citizens under the Working Holiday Programme. The agreement to extend the age eligibility on a reciprocal basis underscores the wide-reaching success of this programme to date.”
ENDS
