Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to support young people via the expansion of shared visa schemes.

Rules were laid in parliament to extend the YMS arrangements with New Zealand from 29 June. The eligible age range for the scheme will increase from 18-30 to 18-35. In addition, the scheme for New Zealand nationals will be extended from two years to three years through the ability for YMS visa holders to make a one-year in-country extension. Similar provisions will be afforded to young British nationals through New Zealand’s Working Holiday scheme.

Further, The UK and Australia signed a side letter on mobility in December 2021 alongside the UK-Australia Free Trade Agreement, setting out commitments on their respective Youth Mobility Scheme and Working Holiday Maker programmes.

The UK and Australia will make changes to these schemes so that they are available to people aged 18 to 35 years for a total stay of up to 3 years. Australia will also remove the requirement for UK nationals on their programme to undertake specific types of work.

Both sides agreed to implement these changes within two years of entry into force of the Free Trade Agreement and will jointly decide on a date for these commitments to come into effect.

The Government remains open to negotiating YMS arrangements with other countries and territories. However, we are unable to disclose the status of negotiations as they occur. Further details of additional YMS agreements will be announced once they are concluded.