UK ‘to raise youth mobility cap to 80,000 a year’ to unlock EU talks

Ministers have raised the cap on the number of young people who can live and work in the UK, in a major olive branch to unlock talks with the EU ahead of a summit this month, it has been reported. The two sides have long discussed a youth mobility scheme which would allow 18 to 30-year-olds to work and study in the UK in exchange for removing border checks on food and drink exports. According to The Sunday Times, ministers will now allow up to 75-80,000 young people to travel across for up to three years under the youth mobility scheme. Previously, the UK had set a limit of 50,000 although the EU had pushed for a higher figure towards 100,000. The two sides are expected to reach an agreement before a UK-EU summit on 20 November. Follow The i Paper’s live blog for the latest updates. UK ‘to raise youth mobility cap to 80,000 a year’ to unlock EU talks Sort: November 1, 2026 8:09 amUK ‘to raise youth mobility cap to 80,000 a year’ to unlock EU talks Ministers have raised the cap on the number of young people who can live and work in the UK, in a major olive branch to unlock talks with the EU ahead of a summit this month, it has been reported.The two sides have long discussed a youth mobility scheme which would allow 18 to 30-year-olds to work and study in the UK in exchange for removing border checks on food and drink exports.According to The Sunday Times, ministers will now allow up to 75-80,000 young people to travel across for up to three years under the youth mobility scheme. Previously, the UK had set a limit of 50,000 although the EU had pushed for a higher figure towards 100,000. The two sides are expected to reach an agreement before a UK-EU summit on 20 November.