The new visa rule that could hit British backpackers

British backpackers could be forced to work in rural areas in Australia under a potential renegotiation of a post-Brexit trade agreement.

The Australian prime minister said he was open to reconsidering the visa exemption which was introduced in 2024.

Anthony Albanese said he has spoken to Andy Burnham about renegotiating parts of the trade deal, after admitting that the current deal has caused Britons to take up hospitality jobs in Sydney and Melbourne, rather than in more rural areas – creating worsening labour shortages in regional and remote towns.

Currently, British citizens on a working holiday-maker visas can stay in Australia for up to three years without any specific work requirement.

This is a deal for Britons alone as backpackers from other countries must undertake work in regional areas to qualify for a visa extension after their first year.

However, in September, major changes were announced where those who qualify to stay a second year will have to enter a ballot with a cap of 47,000.

For the third year, the ballot will be limited to just 5,000 people.

Mr Albanese told the Australian parliament that he had discussed the impact of the UK free trade agreement with tourism operators and publicans earlier this month.

According to The Times, he said: “Because at the moment, people unlike backpackers from other areas of the world who have to spend time in regional Australia, at the moment those UK backpackers are arriving in very large numbers, much greater than they were previously to that arrangement being in place.”

The proposal comes as Australia toughens its immigration rules, as it was announced in September that foreign students would be banned from bringing their families to the country.

The new rules also prevents international students from staying in the country indefinitely, as the revision states that for foreign students to get their visas renewed for longer stays, they students will now be required to choose a higher qualification to study for.

Announced by home minister Tony Burke, the changes come at a time when high immigration rates are becoming a political flashpoint in the country.

Under the new rules, all visitor visas will carry a “no further stay” provision preventing holders from remaining in Australia while applying for another visa category such as partner visa. The changes will not apply to working holidaymakers from the UK as agreed under the bilateral free trade agreement.