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Australia has agreed to fast-track certain visa applications for overseas workers needed urgently for the upcoming harvest season, as farmers face labour shortages.
The temporary arrangement will prioritise Working Holiday Maker (WHM) visa applicants who have already applied for a visa and have a specific agricultural job that requires their timely arrival.
Applications will remain subject to assessment by the Department of Home Affairs, and fast-tracking does not guarantee visa approval.
Australia’s wheat, barley and canola harvests are due to begin in the coming weeks, with farms in regional areas relying heavily on overseas workers for harvesting and fruit-picking jobs.
Under the new arrangement, farming organisations will identify the most urgent cases and submit them for priority processing.
The National Farmers’ Federation said some applications could be processed within days.
The Australian government has also placed agriculture among the priority sectors for certain skilled visa applications under new processing directions that took effect on September 19.
However, the move does not create a new general “agriculture visa”. Australia’s official information says the previous Australian Agriculture Visa is no longer available as a visa product.
