UK concerned about possible changes to backpacker visa
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has not denied that the UK has raised concerns about the prospect of British backpackers being forced to work in regional areas.
The UK is concerned about potential changes to the backpacker visa program in Australia, which has seen a significant increase in British citizens taking advantage of favorable conditions. A 2023 fair trade deal has led to a sharp rise in the number of UK backpackers in Australia, from 47,238 in 2023/24 to 79,412 in 2024/25. The Labor party is considering imposing regional work requirements on British backpackers to make the scheme less attractive and reduce migration numbers.
Australia and the UK could face diplomatic tensions if the UK pushes ahead with these potential policy changes. British citizens on Working Holiday Maker visas can live in Australia for up to three years without work requirements, while others must work in regional or remote areas to extend their visas. The UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood was expected to raise the issue during a Five Eyes meeting in Sydney, but Tony Burke, the Australian Home Affairs Minister, did not deny that the matter had been discussed.
The policy changes are part of a broader crackdown on immigration to meet Labor's target of reducing net overseas migration to 225,000 by 2028.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
