[category]
[title]
Moving to Europe is a rite of passage for many Australians in their mid-20s and early 30s (well, everyone except the ones who take the mainstream path straight to London). It usually starts with a one-way ticket, the hope you’ll land a job and plans to “just stay for 12 months” – but before you know it, a few years have flown by and visa stress eventually sends you on a plane back home. In hopeful news, visa restrictions could soon be a thing of the past, with the European Union floating a two-way proposal that could allow Australians to live and work freely across the EU’s 27 member states.
This week, NewsWire reported that Brussels is pushing for the two-way mobility scheme as part of renewed efforts to finalise a long-awaited free trade agreement between Australia and the EU. According to its sources, the Albanese government is considering the proposal, with the scheme pitched as a way to help fill labour shortages in both countries.
So, how would the new EU-Australia labour mobility scheme actually work? The finer details haven't been finalised, but under the proposal, Aussies will supposedly be allowed to live and work across EU countries – including France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain – for up to four years, without needing to secure a job beforehand. Importantly, it would override the current working holiday visa agreements that limit Australians’ ability to live and in Europe, while also opening up potential pathways to longer-term settlement.
The proposal would work both ways, meaning EU citizens relocating to Australia would be offered the same rights – a win-win for everyone!
Australia has been negotiating a free trade agreement with the EU since 2018 and came close to sealing the deal in 2023, before it collapsed over disagreements around agricultural access and Europe’s strict protections on geographical product names, including prosecco and feta. No timeline for the negotiations has been announced, but we’ll keep you updated with any new info.