The European Council has given the go‑ahead for talks on a post‑Brexit youth visa scheme, marking a major step in restoring mobility between the UK and the EU.
New post‑Brexit youth visa scheme approved
EU leaders have endorsed opening negotiations to determine how many visas will be issued, eligibility criteria and visa duration. The aim is to allow 18‑ to 30‑year‑olds to live and work across the Channel for a short period. This boost in youth mobility has been praised as opening “more opportunities for a whole generation of young Brits”.
Campaigners welcomed the development: “The EU deciding to formally start talks on a Youth Experience Scheme is a massive step forward for young people in the UK,” – Alfred Quantrill, Young European Movement UK.
The scheme promises to restore opportunities for work, study and travel that have diminished since Brexit, replacing freedom of movement with a targeted, temporary framework.
What the UK government confirms
Downing Street has clarified that participants will:
- Be ineligible for state benefits
- Not bring dependants
- Pay the immigration health surcharge to access the NHS
Labour ministers have insisted this is no return to pre‑Brexit openness, but rather a controlled youth visa scheme.
Britain already operates similar programmes with 13 other countries—such as Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Iceland, Uruguay, Hong Kong and Taiwan. These allow 18- to 30‑ or 35‑year‑olds to live and work in the UK for up to two years.
But a deal with the EU carries greater significance, or as one campaigner put it: “Whether you call it a Youth Experience Scheme or Mobility Scheme, it amounts to the same – more opportunities for a whole generation of young Brits who have seen their chances of working and studying abroad shrinking for a decade.”
This initiative comes shortly after a YouGov poll revealed widespread “Bregret”, with most Britons reportedly wishing for closer ties, even re‑joining the EU.
What does this mean going forward?
| Next Steps | Details |
|---|---|
| Negotiation phase | Determine visa numbers, eligibility and conditions |
| Implementation | Launch of UK‑EU youth visa scheme for early 2026? |
| Broader impact | Potential restoration of Erasmus+, apprenticeships, and internships |
As talks progress, this post‑Brexit youth visa scheme could become a defining legacy of the current UK‑EU relationship, offering young people modern, flexible opportunities without traversing the political debate of full membership.
