Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans that the changes in the UK-Australia Free Trade Agreement to eligibility terms and conditions for (a) Australia’s Working Holiday Maker and (b) the Youth Mobility schemes will be introduced.

The UK and Australia have agreed to enhance our respective Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) and Working Holiday (WH) programmes.

For Australian passport holders looking to take advantage of the UK’s YMS, the age range will be increased from 18-30 to 18-35 and they will have the option of extending their YMS visa for an additional year, taking the total length of stay in the UK from 2 to 3 years. These changes are set to be implemented on 31 January 2024.

From 1 July 2023, UK passport holders will be able to apply for an Australian WH visa between the ages of 18 and 35 years inclusive. From 1 July 2024, UK passport holders will be eligible to be granted up to three Working Holiday visas without having to meet any specified work requirements.