- Under a new trade deal, living and working across Europe could become easier than ever for Australians.
- While the deal remains under negotiation, a reciprocal agreement could see Aussies able to stay and work in Europe for up to four years.
- Exact details remain to be confirmed; however, a new agreement between Australia and the EU could be announced “very quickly”.
We all know and love the Schengen Visa, but for many of us, a mere 90 days of travel and no working rights isn’t enough to experience everything the European continent has to offer. Now, under a proposed new agreement between Australia and the European Union, living and working long-term in Europe could become a significantly more straightforward prospect.
First reported by NewsWire, the European Union has floated a broader free trade agreement with Australia that would let Aussies live and work across member states with far fewer hoops. The headline play is labour mobility, and under the framework being discussed, Australians could move to EU countries for work without locking in a job beforehand.
Details remain to be officially confirmed, but stays of up to four years (and potential pathways beyond that) could become the new norm. The possible deal would also be a two-way street, with EU citizens scoring similar access to Australia.
Canberra is reportedly taking it seriously, not only because of the obvious lifestyle appeal, but because the scheme could ease domestic skills shortages by attracting EU talent trained to comparable standards. Given the current state of the housing market, trades like construction have been called out as obvious wins for Australia.
As is always the case with sweeping migration schemes of this kind, there’s more at play than simply sipping spritzes on the beach. It’s part of the larger EU–Australia free trade agreement discussions that began in 2018 and almost concluded in 2023, before stalling on specifics around agriculture and Europe’s tight grip on protected names (yes, “prosecco” and “feta” were sticking points).
Kevin Hogan, the Deputy Leader of the National Party and the Shadow Minister for Trade, Investment and Tourism, told Sky News he expected “we’re going to see the EU-Australia deal done very quickly,” while expressing his party’s desire not to “sell out” Australian farmers. “I think it might be done within the next month or so”.
What does it mean right now? Negotiations are ongoing – nothing signed, nothing guaranteed. But the fact that labour mobility is firmly on the table hints at a cultural pivot. Especially for younger Aussies looking to stretch their legs beyond our boundless plains, working across continents might soon be less of a gamble.
