Australia demands equal immigration rights to EU citizens after Brexit
Australia and other Commonwealth countries are demanding that their citizens should be granted the same rights as Europeans to live and work in the UK after Brexit, ahead of post-Brexit trade talks.
Australian foreign minister Julie Bishop said her colleagues in government would be disappointed if the UK put more restrictive immigration conditions on Australian citizens than on those expected to be placed on arrivals from the European Union.
Currently, Australians coming to Britain for work have to obtain a tier-two visa which allows them to stay for up to five years. They are only eligible for one if they have already been offered a skilled job and can prove that they are sponsored by their employer, while they must also have a minimum of £945 in savings and usually have to earn over £25,000 a year.
Commonwealth members, especially Australia, New Zealand and Canada have warned the British government and Prime Minister Theresa May that the proposed plans could discriminate against their citizens.
Should Commonwealth citizens be given the same rights as EU citizens in the UK?
