Asked by: Lord Aberdare (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the merits of introducing a new youth-group digital visa application process for those under the age of 18 wishing to visit the UK.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
There are no current plans to introduce a youth-group visa application process specifically for those aged under 18.
Separately, as part of an overall agreement on migration reached with France during the March summit between the Prime Minister and the French President, we have committed to easing travel between our two countries for schoolchildren on organised trips. Work is now under way to operationalise these arrangements.
The Home Office is also developing a border and immigration system which is “digital by default”.
This will see physical and paper-based products and services replaced with accessible, easy to use online and digital services. This will provide applicants with an easy online application process, including providing biometrics and establishing or verifying identity using their smartphones.
The transition towards eVisas is already underway, with millions of customers already receiving digital evidence of their immigration permission and using this to enter and live in the UK.
This will be supported by clearer, accessible guidance and content on gov.uk making it simpler and more intuitive for people to understand if they are eligible for a visa, what steps they need to take to apply and, if granted, the conditions of their stay in the UK.
Asked by: Lord Aberdare (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to negotiate bilateral youth mobility schemes with countries across Europe to ensure UK travel businesses can hire UK citizens for critical tourism roles overseas.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
The UK remain open to negotiating new Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) arrangements with other countries and territories including EU Member States. However, as each YMS is subject to a bilateral, reciprocal arrangement which also provides benefit to UK nationals, with the details agreed between the relevant parties, we are unable to disclose the status of negotiations as they occur.