What does the new NZ/UK Free Trade Agreement mean for me? 

Well, potentially it could mean a lot! If you missed the golden window of applying for your Youth Mobility Scheme Visa by turning 31, we have good news for you.
The NZ and UK governments have recently agreed to enhance the YMSV by raising the eligible age limit, and extending the available length of stay.

Currently you can apply for this once in a lifetime opportunity if you are under 31, and you will be granted 2 years to live and work in the UK.

However looking ahead, the United Kingdom and New Zealand have agreed to the following reciprocal improvements:

• Extending the eligible age range for the visa from 18 – 30, to 18 – 35 years.
• Extending the length of stay allowed to three years (it is currently two years for New Zealand YMS visa holders in the United Kingdom, and 23 months for UK WHS visa holders in New Zealand).
• An extension to the length of time visa holders can work to three years (i.e. visa holders can work for the full duration of the visa).

• New Zealand will introduce an annual cap of 15,000 places for UK nationals applying under the WHS (there is currently no cap for the UK WHS).

The government site states these changes will only apply to applications made after implementation, suggesting if you have used or are part way through a 2 year visa, you will not have the option to ‘top up’ that visa.
There is no clear start date as yet unfortunately – however both sides have committed to the improved scheme being in place no later than 2024.

For official updates please visit https://www.gov.uk/youth-mobility

If you are eager to find out more about the Australia/UK free trade agreement, please click here to read our blog.

Click here for information on the AUS/UK Free Trade Agreement

Next Steps…

If you are interested in moving to the UK or NZ and haven’t yet registered with anzuk please click on the following link, and we can chat further about working and living in the overseas:

Or maybe you are interested in tuning into one of our Overseas Information Sessions. Please click below for our events page:

AUS