On 29 September 2011 an exchange of letters was conducted between Representative Siao-Yue Chang and Mr David Campbell, Director of the British Trade and Cultural Office in Taipei, formalizing Taiwan’s inclusion in the UK’s Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS), effective from 1 January 2012.
Each year the scheme will provide 1,000 visas to Taiwanese youths between the ages of 18 and 30, so that they can gain professional experience or pursue privately-funded studies in the UK. Similarly, Taiwan will provide reciprocal opportunities for up to 1,000 British young people each year. Participants of the YMS will be able to conduct full or part time work; carry out voluntary activities; or study in their target countries for a period of up to two years, and in doing so will be able to gain an insight into the cultures, societies and lifestyles of the UK and Taiwan respectively.
Taiwan currently also operates youth mobility schemes with New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Canada, Germany and South Korea, but the UK is the only country to permit Taiwanese participants stays of up to two years.
Taiwan is the 6th country to be privileged with membership to the UK’s YMS, and is the only other East Asian country aside from Japan to be included in the scheme. As such the signing of this agreement is a clear indication of the strength of Taiwan-UK bilateral relations, and a key milestone in their development.
