Post-Brexit youth mobility: What a new visa deal means for UK law, business and talent

MA law conversion student Maryam Ali reflects on the impact of the potential new visa deal

Since the UK’s departure from the European Union, the loss of freedom of movement has had a far-reaching impact particularly on young people seeking to study, work, or travel across borders. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government has recently pledged to “reset” EU relations, a diplomatic agenda that was first introduced under Rishi Sunak.

At the recent UK-EU summit in London on 19 May 2025, youth mobility was placed firmly on the table. On 18 April 2024, the European Commission proposed to allow both UK and EU citizens aged between 18 and 30 years old to be able to stay for up to four years in the destination country. They would be able to engage in a range of permitted activities such as work, studies, au-pairing, volunteering, or travelling.

However, the irony lies in the fact that freedom of movement was once a core part of EU membership, a key reason many young people voted to remain in the EU in 2016. Now, nearly a decade later, the UK is attempting to recreate a capped and time-limited version of that freedom for young people, through a visa scheme it originally proposed to enable them to live and work more freely. The UK has similar schemes with 11 countries including Australia, New Zealand and Japan, with people able to stay for up to three years depending on which country they are from.

Beyond the social and educational implications, this deal holds significant commercial weight. The decline in EU student numbers have hurt UK universities financially, and firms across sectors from legal to tech are grappling with skills shortages linked to reduced access to young international talent. A revived youth mobility pathway could signal a more globally open UK, boost the flow of early-career professionals, and enhance the country’s long-term competitiveness in a shifting geopolitical landscape. Germany and several other EU countries have already expressed support for the proposal, which, if enacted would be reciprocal, opening up opportunities equally for British and European youth. For global investors watching how Britain handles talent mobility, such a scheme could signal renewed openness and a more flexible labour market.

Yet, despite this renewed diplomatic momentum, the UK’s broader attitude toward immigration remains conflicted as this optimism is tempered by growing restrictions elsewhere in the immigration system. In May 2025, the government recently announced new British citizenship requirements for migrants. These plans include doubling the residency requirement for citizenship from five to ten years, alongside tougher English language tests for all visa categories, including adult dependents. While aimed at reducing net migration, such measures risk discouraging precisely the type of high-potential youth the UK aims to attract. The message is mixed: short-term talent may be welcomed, but long-term integration is becoming harder. Critics argue this undermines the UK’s appeal as a global hub for ambitious young Europeans, especially at a time when skilled sectors face labour shortages.

Barriers to mobility

This tightening of immigration policy not only reflects a more restrictive attitude towards mobility but also imposes significant financial burdens on young people seeking temporary opportunities in the UK. Those entering under youth mobility schemes now face rising visa fees, mandatory English language tests, and the Immigration Health Surcharge which currently stands at £1,035 per year. These cumulative costs risk deterring lower-income applicants, undercutting the stated goal of promoting equitable exchange and cultural mobility.

Moreover, the UK’s political framing of youth mobility as a backdoor to free movement has further complicated progress. Despite EU calls for a reciprocal agreement, successive UK governments have conflated youth mobility with freedom of movement fuelled by fears of undermining ‘Brexit red lines’. Even as Labour reaffirms its desire to strengthen EU ties, it has publicly ruled out freedom of movement. This reluctance reflects a broader pattern of misalignment with how the EU approaches international cooperation. While Brussels views youth mobility as a targeted, temporary mechanism akin to existing deals with Canada and New Zealand, the UK persists in seeking bilateral arrangements, contrary to the EU’s preference for bloc-wide agreements.

This misinterpretation risks not only delaying practical schemes for youth but also jeopardising the broader UK-EU ‘reset’ agenda. With youth mobility now entangled in domestic political symbolism, the absence of a structured, reciprocal agreement further restricts the cultural and professional opportunities available to young people on both sides.

Educational impact

The post-Brexit landscape has significantly altered the dynamics of youth mobility and talent pipelines between the UK and the EU. The UK’s exit from the Erasmus+ programme, a cornerstone of educational exchange, has been particularly impactful. Its replacement, the Turing Scheme, lacks the reciprocity and established infrastructure of its predecessor, offering no funding for incoming EU students and presenting increased costs and administrative hurdles for UK students seeking placements abroad. Conversely, EU students now face full international tuition fees of up to £38,000 per year alongside visa and healthcare surcharges. This has contributed to a dramatic decline in EU student numbers as new EU undergraduate entrants to UK universities fell by nearly 70%, from approximately 40,000 pre-Brexit to just 13,000 in 2023. More broadly, total EU student enrolments dropped to 28,905 in 2022–23, the lowest since 2008–09.

These changes have had tangible effects on university enrolments and finances. The University of Cambridge, for example, saw a 52% drop in EU undergraduate acceptances post-Brexit. EU students, who once made up 20% of postgraduate cohorts in some institutions, now comprise just 5%. This has led to an estimated £40 million annual loss in tuition revenue for Cambridge alone, and similar shortfalls across the sector. These Brexit-related losses have come at a time when universities are already under acute financial strain: TRAC data shows a £1.7 billion deficit in publicly funded teaching in 2023-24.

These changes underscore the financial toll of reduced EU mobility. At the same time, the sharp fall in EU student numbers has diminished the cultural and academic diversity that EU students bring affecting the international vibrancy of UK campuses.

However, the first UK-EU summit was held in London on 19 May 2025, which the Prime Minister announced its commitment to work towards rejoining the Erasmus+ programme, and with discussions focusing on mutually agreeable financial terms and alignment with the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework. The British government also set out in a tender notice a contract of between £20-24million for an 18-month period starting in July 2026, aimed at securing a private provider to administer the UK’s participation in the Erasmus+ exchange scheme.

Industry impact

Beyond academia, the reduced inflow of EU students and young professionals has disrupted talent in sectors like technology, finance, and law, which previously relied on a steady supply of multilingual, mobile graduates. The financial services sector alone has lost around 40,000 jobs to EU cities since 2016. Similarly, UK law firms and tech companies report difficulty accessing the EU talent pool, with EU citizens now comprising a much smaller share of new UK hires. If the scheme is implemented it could revitalise the UK’s appeal to young European talent and strengthen cross-border professional networks, all while contributing to economic growth and sectoral resilience.

Small and medium-sized enterprises form a vital part of the UK economy and often rely heavily on the flexibility and skills of young migrant workers to fill crucial roles, particularly in sectors like hospitality, retail, and technology. Immigration restrictions and the lack of a comprehensive youth mobility scheme create additional challenges for SMEs by limiting access to this valuable talent pool. Without easier mobility pathways, SMEs may struggle to recruit and retain young workers, impacting their growth and innovation potential. This highlights how immigration policy changes can have ripple effects beyond large corporations and affect smaller businesses that are essential to local economies.

More broadly, the UK faces the risk of human capital flight where talented young professionals, both domestic and European, choose to build their futures in countries with more accessible pathways.

Brexit has notably impacted UK law firms and sectors like technology, finance, and SMEs by restricting the mobility of early-career talent between the UK and EU. Prior to Brexit, approximately 40,000 solicitors under 35 in England and Wales regularly engaged in EU secondments and training programs, but increased visa costs and lengthy processing times have caused many firms to suspend these valuable cross-border rotations. Leaders like Richard Atkinson, previous President of the Law Society, highlight that young lawyers now miss out on significant professional and financial benefits from EU placements. A Financial Times report underscores that complex and expensive visa processes deter EU employers from recruiting in the UK, often pushing them to hire within the EU instead, whereas a renewed Youth Mobility Scheme could transform this landscape by facilitating access to early-career talent and enhancing the UK’s international competitiveness.

In summary, a renewed UK-EU youth mobility scheme offers significant benefits, including revitalizing cultural exchange, supporting the talent pipeline in key sectors, and strengthening diplomatic ties. However, political reluctance and ongoing immigration challenges pose risks to its success. Ultimately, the scheme’s outcome will be crucial for the UK’s global competitiveness and the opportunities available to young people on both sides.

Maryam Ali is currently studying a part-time Master’s in Law (conversion). Having previously completed a BA in English, she developed an interest in how ideas and creative works are expressed and protected, shaping her enthusiasm for intellectual property and human rights law, particularly in exploring how legal frameworks safeguard creativity and individual rights.