The UK Government has proposed that the existing Youth Mobility Visa be extended on a reciprocal basis to EU nationals.
The UK’s Youth Mobility Visa allows 18-30 (and some 18-35) years olds from certain countries to apply for a two year visa with no work or study restrictions. It is a self-sponsored visa and the only requirement aside from nationality is to show savings of £2,530. The visa can only be granted once in a lifetime but does not lead to settlement in the UK.
If a deal is agreed, younger UK nationals would be able to work across EU countries for two years, and younger EU nationals would be able to work in the UK for two years.
The Youth Mobility Visa is two year visa available to 18 to 30 year olds from the following countries:
It is available to 18 to 35 year olds from the following countries:
Applicants need only show their passports and savings of £2,530 to apply for a two year visa which grants an unrestricted right to work and study. However, time spent on this visa does not count towards the Indefinite Leave to Remain residence requirement. At the end of their stay, applicants can apply to switch into another visa type such as Skilled Worker if they are eligible.
The proposed expansion of the scheme between EU nationals is welcome news for young people and employers. In particular, those in the retail, hospitality, construction and tourism sectors will welcome the easier access to younger workers without the need to sponsor nor pay high application fees. The Youth Mobility Visa is also useful for internships and some graduate schemes.
We await to see the details, but this is a significant policy change from the UK government which rejected the idea when it was proposed by the EU Commission in 2024. At that time, the UK government preferred to pursue bilateral agreements with individual EU member states but has now shifted to an EU wide approach.
For a deeper discussion on the above, please reach out to your Vialto Partners point of contact, or alternatively:
Lyudmyla Davies
Partner (Solicitor)
Ian Robinson
Partner
Andrea Als
Director (Solicitor)
Tom Marsom
Director (Solicitor)
Lucy Vaux
Senior Manager (Solicitor)
Awale Olad
Senior Manager
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