台英青年交流計畫（YMS）2012年1月1日上路

我國與英國政府經過長期努力與協商，已就「臺英青年交流計畫（Youth Mobility Scheme, 簡稱YMS）」的內容達成協議，並於2011年9月29日由英國貿易文化辦事處David Campbell代表與我駐英國代表張小月在臺北及倫敦完成換函，雙方並同意自2012年1月1日起生效實施這項計畫。
透過這項計畫，雙方每年將提供1,000個名額給年齡介於18歲至30歲的青年多次入境簽證，透過全時工作、打工、從事志工或自費遊學等方式，兩國青年可以深入體驗彼此的文化內涵，以增進對不同社會與生活的瞭解，進而拓展國際視野。

駐英國台北代表處一向重視台英青年交流工作的推動，希望透過這項計畫，讓更多的英國青年有機會到台灣來實地體驗我國風土民情、學習華語，進而提升雙邊青年的友好交流及相互瞭解。

英國是繼紐西蘭、澳洲、日本、加拿大、德國與韓國之後，第7個與我國簽署類似協定的國家；對英國而言，我國是繼日本之後，第2個參與英國青年交流計畫的東亞國家，也是全球第6個獲得英國此項特殊待遇的國家。更值得一提的是，在上述7個與我國簽署打工度假協定的國家中，英國是唯一同意我國青年在該國停留效期可長達2年的國家。

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.

The governments of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the United Kingdom (UK) have completed an exchange of letters, which implement Taiwan’s inclusion in the UK’s Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS). The Taipei Representative Office in the UK hence encourages young British people who would like to expand their global perspectives and experience different customs and culture to make use of this scheme to visit Taiwan.

The two sides have agreed to implement the scheme as of 1 January 2012. This Office will accept applications for YMS visas from 3 January 2012. For further details regarding applications for a YMS visa, please visit the visa page in the Consular Affairs section indicated on the left hand side of this website.