The United Kingdom and Japan have decided to expand the mobility schemes for young people, the British Embassy in Tokyo has announced.
This implies that more young nationals from the UK and Japan will be able to work and live in each other’s country through the young mobility visas.
More specifically, the number of young Japanese nationals eligible to apply for the Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) has increased to 6,000 as of January 31.
The number of young British nationals who can apply for the Working Holiday Scheme (WHS) in Japan will also rise to 6,000, starting from April 1 this year.
The British Embassy further revealed that Japanese citizens aspiring to obtain the YMS visa are no longer required to register their interest through a ballot. They can now submit their applications at any time as long they meet the eligibility criteria.
Commenting on these announcements, the British Ambassador to Japan, Julia Longbottom CMG, said the partnership between the UK and Japan is stronger than ever.
Schemes like the Youth Mobility Scheme and Working Holiday Scheme offer life-changing opportunities that open doors and minds, and it is wonderful to see them growing.Julia Longbottom CMG, British Ambassador to Japan
Meanwhile, the UKVI Head of Region for Asia Pacific, Michael Lutz, expressed satisfaction regarding the expansion of visa schemes.
More young Japanese people will have the opportunity to live and work in the UK and forge life-long connections while strengthening the enduring links between our two countries.Michael Lutz, UKVI Head of Region for Asia Pacific
The British Embassy noted that over the years, thousands of young British and Japanese people have had the opportunity to travel, work, and explore each other’s countries and cultures through these visa programs.
The youth mobility programs were established under the Hiroshima Accord, a global strategic partnership between the UK and Japan, jointly announced by both Prime Ministers in May last year.
According to the British Embassy, the increase in these YMS and WHS schemes represents a significant accomplishment in the long-standing commitment of the UK and Japan to promote people-to-people exchange between the two countries.
In addition to Japan, in June last year, the UK expanded young mobility visas with Australia. Earlier that year, Australia eased its criteria on working holiday visas for citizens of the UK by increasing the holiday visa age limit for the latter’s citizens. Source
