Key Facts

• The trade deal took effect in mid-2023 and exempted British working-holiday visa holders from regional-work requirements for visa extensions.
• The deal also raised the age limit for British applicants from 30 to 35.
• Australian government data show that visas issued to British backpackers rose from 47,200 in 2023–24 to just over 77,000 in 2025–26.
• British backpackers made up almost a quarter of the 323,000 working-holiday visas issued in the previous year, according to the article.
• Some Cairns businesses say fewer British backpackers now seek work in the region, with many choosing major cities such as Sydney instead.
• Working-holiday visa holders from most other countries must complete 88 days of specified regional work to qualify for a second year and six months for a third year.
• Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he had raised changing the rules with UK counterpart Andy Burnham, and that discussions would continue.
• The National Farmers Federation says about 52,000 working-holiday visa holders work in horticulture each year and welcomed the talks, while noting that agricultural labor shortages extend beyond the UK deal.