Member Update: Backpacker Visa Update

Member Update: Backpacker Visa Update

The current understanding is that Working Holiday Maker (WHM) visa processing times may now extend to around three months. For farm businesses preparing for harvest, planting and other time-critical activities, this is creating significant challenges.

To help address urgent cases, the NFF has worked with the Department of Home Affairs to establish a process for identifying workers whose visa applications may be considered for priority processing.

What information is required?

If you have a genuine, urgent workforce need, please provide:

• Farm business name
• Farm contact email address
• Estimated date employment commences
• Name of visa applicant
• Date of birth of visa applicant
• WHM visa application reference number

PPSA will collate eligible requests from members and provide them to the NFF at 2pm each (work) day, which will consolidate submissions from across the industry and forward them to the Department of Home Affairs.

Please complete this form:
Application for Fast-Tracked Working Holiday Maker Visa applications – Fill out form

Important information

This process is intended for genuine, urgent cases where:

• the worker has already applied for a WHM visa;
• they have been identified for agricultural work on a specific farm; and
• their timely arrival is critical to business operations.

Submission through this process does not guarantee expedited processing or visa approval. All applications remain subject to the Department of Home Affairs’ assessment processes, visa requirements and processing capacity.

This arrangement has been established in good faith between industry and government. To ensure it remains available to agriculture, members are asked to only submit cases that genuinely meet the agreed criteria.

Continuing to advocate for agriculture

While this process may assist with urgent workforce needs, it is not a long-term solution. Australian agriculture relies on access to both skilled and unskilled overseas workers, who make an important contribution not only to farm businesses but also to regional communities and local economies.

The NFF and industry organisations, including SADA and PPSA, will continue advocating for workforce and migration settings that recognise agriculture’s unique needs and support the long-term sustainability of regional Australia.

If you believe you have a case that meets the criteria, please contact us as soon as possible.