Written question asked by Sarah Smith (Labour) on Tuesday, 23 June 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 25 June 2026. It was answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds (Labour) on Friday, 17 July 2026 on behalf of the Cabinet Office.

Visas: Reciprocal Arrangements

Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of an equitable mobility arrangement, separate to the Freedom of Movement arrangement, between the UK and the EU.

Answer: This Government is committed to ensuring opportunities for young British citizens to live, work, study, and travel across the European Union. That is why at the 2025 UK-EU Summit, we agreed to negotiate a balanced youth experience scheme with the EU, providing an invaluable form of cultural exchange. We have agreed that any scheme will be capped, subject to a visa requirement, as well as time-limited, ensuring any impact of the scheme is controlled. This will give young people the opportunity to travel, work and study overseas. The exact parameters of the scheme are subject to ongoing negotiations.

Secondary information