If you’re an agriculture worker from the Pacific or Southeast Asian region looking to move to Australia, you’re in luck. To address a labour deficit, the Australian government will launch a new agriculture visa program targeted at workers from that area. They have pledged to provide participants in the program with options for pathways to permanent residency, including regional settlement.
Here’s everything you need to know to familiarise yourself with immigration to Australia as a farmer.
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What Is the New Agriculture Visa in Australia?
As farmers and agriculture workers are in demand down under, Australia is launching the Australian Agriculture Visa (AAV) program. It builds on already-existing government initiatives and is being developed to solve labour shortages in the agricultural sector. It’s a long-term investment in Australia’s labour force that aims to boost its agricultural and primary industries.
The goal is to attain a value of $100 billion in the farming sector by 2030. It is a branch of the subclass 403 Temporary Work (International Relations) visa. In other words, this programme will be a fast track to immigrating to Australia as a farmer.
A small number of Southeast Asian nations, including Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, have begun negotiations with Australia. Following the conclusion of discussions, recruitment will begin as soon as details are resolved. Additionally, the visa program will enhance the current Pacific Australia Labour Mobility program (PALM scheme).
The PALM initiative will continue to be the principal plan for addressing the shortfall of agricultural workers. The agriculture visa is a sponsored visa program with decent worker rights and approved employers.
The system will complement the existing Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme. The PALM scheme will continue to be the major scheme for addressing agricultural labour shortages, including for this harvest. Various visa options that the Department of Home Affairs provides will be available.
Vietnam has so far agreed to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Some Southeast-Asian partners interested in taking part in the AAV program are negotiating with Australia; the state of some of these discussions is progressed. The Australian authorities will make specific announcements in due course.
More information is available here.
Who Is Eligible for an Agriculture Visa in Australia?
Candidates can only submit their applications abroad and not inside Australia. They’re not allowed to bring family members; they must be unaccompanied. Applicants must achieve an IELTS score of 4 or equivalent as approved by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
When applying, they must be a citizen of a participating country other than Australia and reside in that nation. Also, only people aged 21 or above can send an application. Another requirement stipulates that the candidate must have the qualifications or experience necessary to start the job as outlined in the Offer of Employment.
Only candidates who have received a job offer from an employer that is a Temporary Activities Sponsor (TAS) are entitled. And that TAS must have been approved by the DFAT to participate in the offshore visa application process. There are also health and character requirements, and the applicant must have health insurance for their stay in Australia.
You’re probably wondering how to get an agriculture visa in Australia.
The Australian government has planned to prioritise the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) program to build a stronger Pacific family. Australia is devoted to developing relationships with the Pacific region. Therefore, the previous administration’s Australian Agriculture Visa (AAV) program will be incorporated into the PALM scheme.
The PALM scheme will continue to be a crucial initiative for addressing the lack of agricultural workers. To participate in the PALM scheme, citizens of participating nations must apply to their country’s labour sending organisation. They can also find contacts for their labour-sending unit or check out the how to apply page.
Here are the nine Pacific islands that are part of the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme (Timor-Leste is also recognised):
Fiji
Kiribati
Nauru
Papua New Guinea
Samoa
Solomon Islands
Tonga
Tuvalu
Vanuatu
Is There a Way to Get Permanent Residency in Australia Through the Australian Agricultural Immigration Visa?
The AAV will offer a long-term trustworthy workforce to support the continued expansion of Australia’s vital agricultural industries. The Australian government has committed to providing participants in the program with choices for pathways to permanent residency, including regional settlement. This entails more design work and consultation that the Department of Home Affairs leads.
The Australian authorities will announce avenues for permanent residency in due time.
In addition to the country’s current visa schemes, the AAV program will benefit Australia’s crucial industries, especially the agricultural sector. Employers who qualify may hire people for seasonal positions lasting up to nine months. They can also fill vacancies with a longer term of one to four years through the PALM program for unskilled, low-skilled, and semi-skilled jobs.
Do you need help getting a visa? or do you have any questions? Book a free consultation today. UIS Australia can also assist you in getting other types of visas, like family visas, business visas, tourist visas, or student visas, to name a few. We also offer job search services.
