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Youth Mobility Scheme: EU Countries

Asked by Steve DarlingLiberal DemocratCabinet OfficeTabled Answered 19 May 2026UIN 1518

The question

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Minister will discuss routes for British citizens to be employed in the EU in the longer term with his EU counterpart; for example, whether it would be possible for youth mobility participants to transfer onto other visa routes such as Skilled Worker Visas, without a legal gap in EU residence.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds

UK nationals who wish to work in the EU are subject to the immigration requirements of the relevant Member States. This Government is committed to ensuring opportunities for British citizens to live, work, study, and travel across the European Union. That is why at the 2025 UK-EU Summit, we agreed to negotiate a balanced youth experience scheme with the EU. We have agreed that any scheme will be capped, subject to a visa requirement, as well as time-limited. We have been clear that the scheme should be in line with the UK’s existing schemes, such as with Australia and New Zealand. The exact parameters of the scheme are subject of ongoing negotiations.

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