Even though the British Labour Party previously said there were no plans to establish a so-called youth visa deal with the EU, making it easier for Europeans between 18 and 30 to work and travel in the UK, this might soon change.
Since Brexit, it has become increasingly difficult for Europeans to work and study in the United Kingdom. The EU has been attempting to boost cooperation with the UK on the matter ever since and ahead of a summit to “reset” EU-UK relations on 19 May, more than 60 British Labour MPs are now insisting on a youth visa with the EU relations minister Nick Thomas-Symonds. According to the MPs, a mutual deal – subject to a time limit and a cap – would “extend new cultural, educational, and economic opportunities to young people in the UK.”
My government was elected to deliver change.
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Originally, the EU had already proposed such a visa in April 2024 to Rishi Sunak’s government. That proposal allowed people between 18 and 30 to apply for a visa lasting up to four years in order to work, study, train or volunteer. There was no cap on the number of visas included. EU applicants were not supposed to pay an NHS surcharge and should be allowed to pay the same university tuition fees as British students, instead of the higher fees applied since Brexit.
However, if a youth visa between the UK and the EU is to be put in place, chances are the conditions will be slightly different than those initially proposed. According to the BBC, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is arguing for visas to be limited to one year. If so, EU citizens who take part in the scheme would not show up in official immigration figures. Moreover, a cap on the number of youth visas issued would probably be included.
“Discussing the ongoing negotiations to strengthen the UK-EU partnership, they both agreed that good progress had been made. They asked their teams to continue their important work in the coming weeks, with the aim of delivering as ambitious a package as possible at the first UK-EU summit next month,” a Downing Street spokesperson said after a meeting between British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen preparing for the summit on 19 May.
Other youth visas available in the UK
At the moment, young people from 12 non-EU countries such as Japan and Uruguay are allowed to study or work in the UK for up to two years if they obtain a dedicated visa. Those arriving from Australia, Canada or New Zealand are allowed to extend their stay to three years. However, the visas are subject to annual quotas depending on the applicant’s country of origin and those applying need to have at least £ 2,530 in savings. An annual NHS surcharge of £ 776 for students and £1,035 for workers is also demanded.
