Australians -- Working Holidays in Indonesia

Working and holidaying in Indonesia for Australian citizens has become, at least in the regulatory sense, easier. The Minister of Law and Human Rights has issued Regulation No. M.HH-04.GR.01.06 of 2009 to facilitate the issue of limited stay visas to Australian citizens based on a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Governments of Indonesia and Australia on 3 March 2009.

The regulation has been issued in order to set out the immigration facilities that are to be offered within the framework of these special limited stay visas.

The limited stay visa is to be applied for in Australia and if granted is valid for a period of 12 months. The visa will allow the holder to work in the education, tourist, health, social, sport, and cultural sectors in a non-ongoing manner. Those employed on this type of visa can be so in either a voluntary or paid capacity.

There is a quota set as to the number of visas that can be issued, this quota is 100 per calendar year (1 July through 30 June). It is unfortunate that the quota is set at such a small number because with the right marketing this scheme could be a real winner. However, the scheme is a reciprocal one and the quota limit for Indonesians permitted to avail themselves of a working holiday opportunity in Australia is also restricted to 100 successful applications.

The visas are also subject to strict conditions:
a. The main purpose is to holiday;
b. The applicant is aged between 18 and 30;
c. The applicant holds, at least, a certificate at academy level or is two years into a higher education qualification;
d. The applicant holds a recommendation certificate from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship in Australia;
e. The applicant is functionally literate in Indonesian;
f. The applicant holds a return air ticket and has a minimum of AUD 5000 in the bank; and
g. The applicant has not been a participant in the working holiday scheme previously.

There are fees to be paid for making an application for this visa type. The fees have not been set yet, but it would be expected that this type of visa will incorporate the visa-on-arrival fee.

It is expected that the Director General of Immigration will issue all necessary subsidiary regulations as required to implement this regulation. It is important to note that the Minister of Justice Regulation No. M.02-IZ.01.10 of 1995 remains in force. However, where there are any conflicts between this regulation and the Minister of Justice regulation, then this regulation prevails.

This is a good move for both countries as it will go a long way to maintaining current relationships and fostering a new and deeper understanding and appreciation of each other's cultures and ways of life.

The "10-Pound Pom" Returns...

I have always thought the term was "10-quidder". My old man was a 10-quidder. What his motivations or reasons might have been in deciding to pack it all up in his homeland and head to the land downunder are irrelevant, but the rest, as they say, is history.

The original scheme was one adopted as a means of "encouraging" migrants from the United Kingdom to take a punt on heading to Australia in the period after the Second World War. And, the scheme ran through until the 1960s when my old fella made the fateful decision. A decision, I am sure, that he does not regret.

Ten quid at this point in time is the equivalent of about AUD 21. To qualify a person wanting to purchase a ticket must have a valid working visa in order to be able to work in Australia, and be willing to fly Qantas. The idea is that this is a way of boosting tourism to, and then within, Australia. I am not so sure that it will considering there are only 150 of these 10-quid tickets available on a first in, first served basis.

The tickers will be sold from STA Travel centers throughout the UK from 5 August 2009. However, seeing there are only 150 tickets available, they are not expected to last long. The expectation is the tickets will only last a few hours before being sold out. I am guessing that with some 35,000 Poms expected to gain working holiday visas that 150 tickets might only last a matter of minutes.

There are some additional conditions besides the visa one. Particularly, travel can only occur between 15 August 2009 through 30 September 2009 and 1 November through 30 November 2009. And, travelers can fly into Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, and Brisbane.

Those that miss out on the 10-quid tickets will get the next best Qantas special which is STG 679 of the equivalent of about AUD 1,400.

For anyone reading this in the UK and who has a valid working holiday visa and is yet to get a ticket to travel, then this might be the perfect opportunity to camp out and get a super cheap flight on Qantas to the land downunder and get your working holiday underway.

For anyone interested in learning more, there is a website, see www.statravel.co.uk/10poundpom.