Fast track to a working holiday

The Home Office is removing employment restrictions on the 'Working Holidaymaker Scheme' to encourage young people from Commonwealth countries to participate in the scheme.

The Working Holidaymaker Scheme has been in operation for decades. It allows young people to enter the UK from the Commonwealth for up to two years, provided they have been able to support themselves and has restricted their employment opportunities to part time and, mainly casual, work.

However, after lengthy consultation the Home Office has decided to update and extend the scheme. It has made a number of changes which include:

• raising the upper age limit from 27 to 30;
  
• removing employment restrictions; and
  
• after 12 months in the UK, if they meet the necessary criteria, participants will be allowed to "switch" status, letting them take up work permit employment.

Home Office view

Announcing the changes, Home Office Minister, Beverley Hughes, said: "Since the scheme was introduced, many thousands of young people have taken this opportunity to spend a two year holiday in the UK, while being able to work part-time to help support themselves. We are keen to encourage young people from all parts of the Commonwealth to take part, and enjoy the cultural exchange benefits, just as many young British people benefit from reciprocal schemes in other Commonwealth countries. These changes are designed to update the scheme and make it more accessible.

"The changes to the scheme will also help to provide more of the flexible labour that our economy and businesses need. The UK needs legal migrants who do many vital jobs and contribute to our economy and society. At the same time we are firmly tackling abuse of the immigration and asylum system and cracking down on illegal working.

"We consulted with a range of organisations about how this scheme could be amended and we are very pleased with the feedback we received from the consultation, indicating high levels of support for our proposals."

A Home Office spokesman told UKTECH that this was not connected with the fast track visa scheme, where certain criteria have to be met before work permits are awarded. In the case of the Working Holidaymaker Scheme, the existing restrictions relating to employment have been removed in order to provide all young people from the Commonwealth with the opportunity to visit and work in the UK.

In the past, they have been limited to part-time work or only permitted to work for one year out of the two year 'holiday'. The previous exception to this has been areas of employment where there has been a special need such as the health service.

Consultation

The Home Office undertook a comprehensive review of the Working Holidaymakers Scheme with more than 80 organisations including legal and immigration organisations, sport and industry bodies, employers and unions, responding to the consultation exercise.

One of the changes which gained support was the abolition of restrictions on employment. A Home Office spokesperson explained to UKTECH that this would encourage young people who were less affluent to come to the UK and would maintain the special rights and relationship the UK has with citizens from the Commonwealth. However, the onus was still on the individuals to be able to support themselves and, if required, find employment and pay tax and National Insurance.

A further alteration to the scheme is that young people will be able to 'switch' status after 12 months if they meet the necessary criteria, to take up work permits, rather than have to return to their home country and reapply for entry on a work permit visa.

These changes will come into force on 25th August for new applications. The lifting of work permits and the 'switching' provisions come into effect immediately for existing working holidaymakers. Approximately 40,000 working holidaymakers enter the UK each year.