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7mo ago

UK and EU Finalize Youth Mobility Visa Scheme with Key Disagreements Unresolved

Negotiators agree on a capped, time-limited visa program for under-30s, but divisions persist over family dependents and benefit access.

Labour also pledged to reduce passport waiting times for Britons in its deal with the EU
The finer details of Starmer’s reset with the European Union have been put off until another day

Overview

  • The UK and EU have reached an agreement in principle on a youth mobility visa scheme capped at fewer than 100,000 entries annually.
  • The program will allow under-30s to live, work, and study in each other's territories, mirroring existing UK arrangements with non-EU countries.
  • Downing Street maintains red lines, rejecting EU proposals to include family dependents and grant access to benefits for visa holders.
  • Prime Minister Keir Starmer defended the deal, emphasizing that it does not reinstate free movement and aligns with Labour's immigration commitments.
  • Critics, including Conservative figures, argue the scheme could harm job prospects for young Britons, while projections suggest only a modest 0.3% boost to UK economic growth by 2040.