# Australia considers visa caps for British backpackers seeking longer stays

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/australia-plans-clampdown-on-boozy-brit-backpackers-working-in-bondi-bars-with-pm-holding-talks-with-burnham-on-making-them-toil-in-the-outback-instead/
- Published: 2026-11-02T10:49:06+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-02T11:12:52+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16258301/Australia-plans-clampdown-boozy-Brit-backpackers-working-Bondi-bars-PM-holding-talks-Burnham-making-toil-Outback-instead.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: Business, Culture, Markets, Travel, UK, World

## Key points

- Australia plans talks on tightening British backpacker visa rules.
- Nearly 80,000 UK working holiday visas were granted in 2024-25.
- Proposed third-year places would fall to 5,000.

## Summary

Australia is considering tightening visa rules for British backpackers, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese planning to discuss the issue with Andy Burnham. Albanese says many UK visitors are staying in Sydney’s coastal suburbs and taking city hospitality jobs instead of doing regional work, which he says can distort the local jobs market.

A 2023 arrangement lets UK citizens avoid the regional-work requirement that applies to many other backpackers seeking to extend their stay. More than 47,000 British working holiday visas were granted in 2023-24, rising to nearly 80,000 the following year. Proposed ballots would cap second-year places at 45,000 and cut third-year places from 31,000 to 5,000; first-year visas would remain uncapped. Regional businesses, including tourism operators in Cairns, rely on backpackers for temporary work.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.