Agriculture Visa In Australia
Many people ask the question “Is there such a thing as an agriculture visa for Australia?”. The answer is yes, there are two different visas that give people permission to live in Australia and work in the agricultural industry. Let’s find out which of these visas is right for you and how to get one.
An agriculture visa allows a foreign resident to stay in Australia for a specific length of time as part of an approved program. This visa is applicable for anyone wishing to fill temporary work positions and have the intention of returning home to another country at the end of their stay in Australia. This type of visa was made available so that organizations in rural areas can increase their productivity while simultaneously maintaining farm workers they already have employed, but who were not permanent residents.
If planned properly, the migration to Australia can provide a new environment for the family and children to grow in. When you are looking for employment, you should realize that there are many careers and they are all flourishing. The most common of them would be the fact that you need an agricultural work visa.
How to join the PALM scheme as a worker?
Citizens of participating countries must apply to join the PALM scheme through the labour sending unit in their country. They can also find contacts for their labour sending units or visit the ‘how to apply‘ page for workers.
No payments or gifts are required to join the PALM scheme. Costs may be incurred for flights and other expenses once successful applicants have been placed in jobs in Australia. These costs are paid upfront by the employer and reimbursed later by the worker once they start earning a wage.
Visit the official PALM scheme website for more information.
What sectors and skills are covered by the Agriculture Visa program?
The Agriculture Visa program will support the recruitment of employees across a range of agriculture sectors, including horticulture, dairy, wool, grains, fisheries (including aquaculture) and forestry, including support services and primary processing.
The program will target skilled, semi-skilled and low-skilled employees within specified occupations across these sectors. In the initial phase, recruitment will focus on lower-skilled occupations, and this will be expanded as the program evolves.
Employees must have the experience and/or qualifications to commence work at the skill level and occupation for which they are recruited (where relevant).
What are the requirements for being employed under the Agriculture Visa program?
Initial applications from workers to participate in the Agriculture Visa program will need to be completed offshore. Applicants must meet the following criteria to be able to participate in the Agriculture Visa program:
- have the necessary skills to perform in the occupation in which they are being employed (where relevant);
- have minimum English language skills (International English Language Testing System (IELTS) average band score of 4.0 (or equivalent), or higher when the specific occupation requires it;
- be unaccompanied (participants will not be able to bring family members); meet the minimum age requirement of 21 years of age with no maximum age requirement;
- meet the criteria for the grant of an Australian Agriculture Worker stream visa, including:
- being sponsored to Australia by a Temporary Activities Sponsor (TAS) who is
- an employer approved by DFAT to participate in the program;
- being supported by DFAT to participate in the program;
- meeting all character and health requirements; and
- having adequate health insurance for the period of stay in Australia.