Working and traveling in Austria is no longer a dream: up to 50 visa slots to open by the end of this year

▲ Hallstatt Town, Austria. (Photo/From Wikimedia Commons)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Good news for those dreaming of working and traveling in Austria. On the 19th, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the Taipei Representative Office in Austria and the Austrian Office in Taipei have signed a "Joint Statement on the Youth Working Holiday Program," opening up 50 visa slots, with implementation expected by the end of 2014 at the earliest.

Austria becomes the 13th country in the world to sign a working holiday agreement with Taiwan. Upon mutual agreement, both sides will issue working holiday visas valid for six months to eligible applicants, with each side offering a quota of 50 visas. The program is designed for young people aged 18 to 30 who wish to travel while earning money through short-term work to fund their trip. Austria is an industrialized, tech-savvy nation with a thriving tourism industry and rich cultural heritage. There are approximately 370 Taiwanese students currently studying in Austria. This working holiday initiative is also expected to enhance bilateral cultural and educational exchanges.

▲ Vienna, Austria. (Photo/Provided by Paul)