What’s New? UK and EU Introduce ‘Youth Experience Scheme’ in Post-Brexit Reset Deal

On 19 May 2025, the UK and EU announced a new proposal known as the Youth Experience Scheme (“YES”), marking a significant step toward rebuilding relations in the post-Brexit era. The initiative would allow young UK nationals to travel, work, volunteer, or study in EU countries for a limited period and EU nationals would receive the same benefit.  

What is the Youth Experience Scheme?

The YES initiative is designed to facilitate temporary migration for young people aged 18 to 30 (potentially up to 35), allowing them to live, work, or study in each other’s territories under reciprocal arrangements. The scheme draws inspiration from the UK’s existing Youth Mobility Scheme (“YMS”), which already operates with countries like Australia and Canada. Like the YMS, YES seeks to balance opportunities for cultural exchange with controlled migration.

How does the current UK Youth Mobility Scheme work?

The current YMS permits individuals aged 18 to 30 (and in some cases up to 35) to live and work in the UK for up to two years. Participating countries include Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Korea, Andorra, Iceland, Japan, Monaco, San Marino, and Uruguay.

Applicants from certain countries, such as Hong Kong and Taiwan, must first be selected through a ballot system. Additionally, applicants are required to show they have savings of at least £2,520.

Another similar route is the India Young Professionals Scheme—a bilateral arrangement between the UK and India—where applicants are again chosen via a ballot process.

What could we expect from the YES?

Although there is still a lot to be agreed, the YES proposal is expected to allow successful applicants to stay in the UK for up to 2 years or even longer. The scheme is likely to include an annual cap on the number of participants (potentially 70,000) and will not provide applicants with access to public benefits. There would be reciprocal arrangements for UK nationals in EU countries.

YES would be welcome news for many UK employers who are wanting to hire international talent, especially after the publication of the Immigration White Paper which proposes further restraints on inbound economic migration.  

Whilst we don’t have the finer details and/or timescales for this proposal, it does reflect a notable change of direction: the mere fact that the UK is negotiating with the EU of these proposals’ signals openness and willingness from both regions to rebuild trade relations and migration post-Brexit.

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