James Skinner
James is the Founder & Chief Executive of
CANZUK International in Vancouver, Canada
The UK Government are reviewing the expansion of visas for Australian and New Zealand nationals, according to senior sources within the UK Civil Service.
The expansion would build upon visa provisions negotiated under the Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (AUKFTA) and the New Zealand-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (NZUKFTA), and provide greater eligibility for Australian, New Zealand and British citizens to live and work in each others’ countries.
At present, UK, Australian and New Zealand nationals can live and work in each others’ countries for a period of up to three years, providing they are aged 35 and under.
At present, UK, Australian and New Zealand nationals can live and work in each others’ countries for a period of up to three years, providing they are aged 35 and under.
However, senior bureaucrats within the UK Civil Service are being tasked to review expanding these provisions, effectively reducing age restrictions and time limitations on work and resident visas.
“The Government are aware of the positive feedback received from improving eligibility for Australian and New Zealand nationals as part of the AUKFTA and NZUKFTA agreements,” confirmed the source within the Civil Service. “Given the close relations of these countries, there is interest in building on this so more [Australian, New Zealand and British nationals] are eligible for working visas.”
“There needs to be an extensive review, but the ambition is to explore these visas becoming applicable for those aged under 40-45, maybe even 50, and increasing their validity to five years. All three nations have skills-needs, and we have trade deals in place, so the next logical step is to see how we can build on those and solve our respective workforce challenges”.
The insight from the Civil Service comes shortly after the UK Government recently announced the expansion of its Youth Mobility Scheme for Canadian and Australian nationals, and both Australia and the UK announced a new visa pilot program for professionals in innovation and with specified skillsets.
CANZUK International looks forward to progressing these conversations with the UK Civil Service and continually expanding visa provisions for Canadian, Australian, New Zealand and British nationals under future CANZUK initiatives.
“The Government are aware of the positive feedback received from improving eligibility for Australian and New Zealand nationals as part of the AUKFTA and NZUKFTA agreements,” confirmed the source within the Civil Service. “Given the close relations of these countries, there is interest in building on this so more [Australian, New Zealand and British nationals] are eligible for working visas.”
“There needs to be an extensive review, but the ambition is to explore these visas becoming applicable for those aged under 40-45, maybe even 50, and increasing their validity to five years. All three nations have skills-needs, and we have trade deals in place, so the next logical step is to see how we can build on those and solve our respective workforce challenges”.
The insight from the Civil Service comes shortly after the UK Government recently announced the expansion of its Youth Mobility Scheme for Canadian and Australian nationals, and both Australia and the UK announced a new visa pilot program for professionals in innovation and with specified skillsets.
CANZUK International looks forward to progressing these conversations with the UK Civil Service and continually expanding visa provisions for Canadian, Australian, New Zealand and British nationals under future CANZUK initiatives.
Heading photo: No.10 – Flickr
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