The Australian Government recently announced the Australian Agriculture Visa, a stream of the Temporary Work (International Relations) Visa – Subclass 403. The Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia, David Littleproud has stated that “The [Australian Agriculture] visa will provide a long-term, reliable workforce for our critical industries…”
The Australian Agriculture Visa came into effect through amendments to the Migration Regulations 1994 on 30 September 2021. Due to COVID-19 and border restrictions, the number of temporary international migrants who previously travelled to supplement the workforce in Australia’s agricultural industries has significantly reduced. The Australian Agriculture Visa has been introduced in response to industry needs and to recommence international recruitment for skilled, semi-skilled and low-skilled workers across the meat processing, fishery, and forestry sectors.
The visa program and its regulations are being designed through industry consultation, with workers arriving in Australia through a phased approach subject to quarantine arrangements with state governments.
Implementation Phases
Phase 1
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Eligibility | Approved employers already part of the Pacific Australian Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme |
| Worker intake | Small cohort of agricultural workers |
| Dependent factors | Border restrictions, country readiness, availability of quarantine |
Phase 2
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Worker intake | Increased number of agricultural workers participating in the new subclass 403 visa stream |
| International reach | Expanded number of bilateral labour agreements with countries |
Recruitment Process
Phase 1 Recruitment
The Government will invite a small number of countries and Approved Employers who are already part of the Pacific Australian Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme to participate. This ensures the visa scheme commences with accredited and experienced stakeholders.
Phase 2 Recruitment
Details of the Phase 2 recruitment process will be published at a later date. An update will be provided once further information is released.
Eligibility Criteria
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Health Waiver | Public Interest Criteria 4005 |
| Australian Values Statement | Public Interest Criteria 4019 |
Key Questions
How do I apply?
The Government and the Department of Home Affairs are still developing the application process through industry consultation.
Is there a pathway to permanent residency?
Potential pathways to permanent residency are currently being determined.
How many visa places are available?
The number of visa places available is yet to be confirmed.
Further details will be updated on this page as information becomes available.
Participating Countries
The new Agriculture Visa will be made available to citizens from 10 countries in the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) region:
| Countries |
|---|
| Brunei |
| Cambodia |
| Indonesia |
| Laos |
| Malaysia |
| Myanmar |
| The Philippines |
| Singapore |
| Thailand |
| Vietnam |
