The Hon Peter Dutton MP, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection and Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection
A new reciprocal Work and Holiday arrangement with Vietnam will enable up to 200 young Australians and 200 young Vietnamese to experience each other’s culture through a new exchange programme.
The Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Peter Dutton and Vietnam’s Minister and Head of the Government Office Mr Nguyen Van Nen today signed a work and holiday Memorandum of Understanding between Australia and Vietnam.
Mr Dutton said the agreement is just one of several that the Governments will sign this week.
Mr Van Nen is accompanying the Prime Minister of Vietnam H.E. Mr Nguyen Tan Dung during his official visit to Australia from 16-18 March as a guest of the Commonwealth Government.
‘Our two countries have a strong and positive relationship and this arrangement will further foster people-to-people links between the two countries,’ Mr Dutton said.
‘The new arrangement will increase opportunities for young adults between 18 and 30 to experience a new culture whilst being able to work and study for a year.’
Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Senator Michaelia Cash said over the coming months, both countries will be working closely to implement the necessary legal and administrative processes to bring the new visa into effect.
‘This is a great opportunity for young people to experience a once-in-a-lifetime cultural exchange while at the same time strengthening links between our two countries,’ Minister Cash said.
Vietnam is the latest country to have a reciprocal work and holiday visa arrangement with Australia.
Similar agreements already exist with Israel, Portugal, Spain, Greece, Poland, Argentina, Bangladesh, Chile, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Thailand, Turkey, the United States and Uruguay.
The Work and Holiday visa differs from a Working Holiday visa as it requires applicants to have the support of their government, hold or be studying towards tertiary qualifications and to speak functional English.
