Prime Minister Boris Johnson has just signed a trade deal with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison in what he says “marks a new dawn in the UK’s relationship with Australia”. This historic deal promises to eliminate tariffs on all goods between the two countries, meaning British products will be cheaper to sell into Australia and vice-versa.
So, apart from cheaper TimTams and Vegemite, what other benefits will British people see from this new free trade deal?
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Will it be easier to move to Australia?
Yes… well, for under 35s at least.
The new deal brings good news for young people hoping to move to Australia for work. Currently, it is fairly tricky to obtain an Australian working visa, particularly if your job does not fall into Australia’s list of “skilled occupations” that are in demand.
You will need to be sponsored by an Australian employer (i.e. already have a job offer) to obtain the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa. Additionally, your Australian employer must be able to prove that an Australian national could not be hired for the job in question.
The new deal brings good news for young people hoping to move to Australia for work.
With the proposed trade deal, however, companies will be able to sponsor British people for this visa, whether they feel an Australian could be hired or not.
What’s more, the deal also proposes changes to the Youth Mobility Scheme and Working Holiday Visa. At the moment, British citizens aged between 18 and 30 can live and work in Australia for 12 months with a Working Holiday Visa. If you want to stay longer than this, you need to prove that you have done at least three months of regional or farm work specified by the Australian Government. But under the new deal, the Working Holiday Visa age limit with be increased to 35, and the total length of stay without regional/farm work will be increased to three years.
Other proposed visa changes:
- It will be easier to obtain a visa for those working in the agricultural sector and agribusiness
- Visas are being considered for young people involved in innovation across industry, culture and the arts
I’m over 35; will it be any easier for me to move to Australia?
We hope so! Although the deal primarily mentions younger people, the UK and Australia are still in discussion about creating an even stronger collaboration between the two countries. So, easier mobility for all could definitely be on the cards.
What about buying property? Can I buy in Australia without going through FIRB?
Investment in general should be easier
Potentially. Australia will still screen certain investments; however, the threshold will be higher. This essentially means fewer UK investments will be screened and reviewed by the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB). Property has not been specifically mentioned yet, but investment in general should be easier.
When will these changes be introduced?
Over the next five years.
Australian property can be pricey, but you could double your purchase power by sharing the cost; read our Guide to Buying with Family to find out more.
