On February 20, 2024, Austrian Ambassador Petra Schneebauer and United States Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Lee Satterfield signed a Professional Development and Cultural Exchange Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Austria and the United States, to establish a Working Holiday Program (WHP). Read the full Joint Statement on Expanding Exchange Opportunities Between the United States and Austria.

The exchange program promotes mutual understanding by offering young Austrian and U.S. citizens the opportunity to get to know the culture, everyday life and working world in the other country. Young people between the ages of 18 and 30 can (co-)finance their stay of up to 12 months by taking up paid employment and using the educational facilities in the partner country.

"As a convinced transatlanticist, strengthening our strategic partnership with the U.S. has always been a matter close to my heart. Austria and the U.S. not only share common interests, but also a strong foundation of values. I am delighted that our Working Holiday Program will further strengthen this foundation in the coming years," said Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg.

"In particular, apprentices in companies with locations abroad will benefit from the Working Holiday Program, as it will make it much easier for them to travel between company locations. For apprentices in general, this is also the first step in laying the ground work for opportunities in the U.S. I am especially pleased about this aspect of the program. The WHP gives young people the opportunity to think outside the box in every respect and to gain experience abroad across the board. We can be a rather proud that Austria is the only EU country to have reached such an agreement with the U.S.," said Austrian State Secretary for Youth and Civil Service Claudia Plakolm.

Photos: Austrian Embassy Washington