New Hope for EU–UK Youth Exchange?

IAPA welcomes the announcement that Great Britain and the European Union have committed to developing a “balanced youth experience” scheme as part of a broader post-Brexit reset of relations.

What Is Being Proposed?

According to a draft document, the proposed agreement would create a dedicated visa route enabling young people from the UK and all 27 EU member states to:

• Work 

• Au Pair

• Study

• Volunteer

• Travel

…in each other’s countries for a limited period, with participant numbers to be mutually agreed.

As expressed in Article 13 of the official statement:

“Therefore, the European Commission and the United Kingdom should work towards a balanced youth experience scheme on terms to be mutually agreed. The scheme should facilitate the participation of young people from the European Union and the United Kingdom in various activities, such as work, studies, au-pairing, volunteering, or simply travelling, for a limited period of time. It should provide a dedicated visa path and ensure that the overall number of participants is acceptable to both sides.”

Why This Matters for Au Pairs

This is a promising development that could revitalize cultural exchange and make it possible once again for young people from the EU to work in the UK as au pairs—something currently only possible for nationals from a few countries like Canada, Australia, or New Zealand under the Youth Mobility Scheme. 

It is expected that those participating under this scheme—such as au pairs—would need to meet similar requirements to those from these countries, such as proving sufficient funds (2530 Pounds) and receiving at least the UK minimum wage.

Uncertainty Remains

While the announcement is encouraging, key details are still unknown, including:

• How long the negotiation process will take

• What the final terms of the agreement will be

• Whether au pairs will be explicitly included

It’s also expected that the UK will want to avoid the scheme being viewed as free movement “through the back door”. As such, quotas or caps may be introduced, potentially limiting the number of participants. However, the time-limited nature of the scheme already sets it apart from pre-BREXIT free movement rights.

IAPA’s Continued Advocacy for Youth Mobility

Since Brexit, IAPA has been actively engaging with the EU Commission, the European Parliament with a petition, and the UK government to advocate for the return of reciprocal youth mobility.

We strongly support initiatives that expand safe, well-regulated pathways for young people to explore the world, gain cultural understanding, and contribute meaningfully to host communities.

Therefore, we sincerely hope this new scheme will allow more young people from Europe and the UK to meet, learn, and grow together—and that au pairs will be a clear part of this opportunity. And that that negotiations and implementations will not take too long.

We’ll keep you posted on further developments.

Read the full statement on “A renewed agenda for European Union – United Kingdom cooperation Common Understanding”