Young Japanese anxious as Australia slows working holiday visa processing time

Under political pressure to take a harsher stance on immigration, Australia’s home affairs minister has confirmed that the country has slowed application processing times for its popular working holiday visa program, unsettling young Japanese applicants who have their hearts set on sampling the Australian lifestyle.

Over the weekend, minister Tony Burke confirmed the visas were being handled “more slowly than they were previously.” He did not comment in detail on the reason behind this.

Re-abroad, which operates a website for Japanese student exchange programs and working holidays, received inquiries from would-be applicants, asking how it would impact them and whether they should change their destinations.