Work and holiday agreement for Australia and Bangladesh

Young people from Australia and Bangladesh now have the opportunity to work in each other’s countries through a work and holiday arrangement that came into effect today (December 31). University-educated Australian and Bangladesh travellers who are aged between 18 and 30 will now be able to work and holiday in the other country for up to 12 months.

The work and holiday visa differs from a working holiday visa as it requires applicants to have the support of their government, have or be studying towards tertiary qualifications and to speak functional English. Bangladesh has become the latest country to have a reciprocal work and holiday visa arrangement with Australia, joining a number of other countries, including Chile, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Turkey and the United States.

Feedback on these arrangements has been positive and these places are quickly filled each year. There will be an annual limit of 100 work and holiday visas for both countries but this figure will be reviewed each year. This new arrangement is an investment in future relations with Bangladesh and will also help develop links between people in both countries.