Free trade agreements (FTA) between the UK and Australia and the UK and New Zealand came into force 31 May 2023. These agreements have opened the doors for UK practices to compete on equal terms for public procurement contracts, and relaxed visa restrictions to allow architects to work more freely and have more certainty over visa applications.
The agreements come soon after registration applications were being accepted under new mutual recognition agreements (MRAs) between the Architects Registration Board (ARB) in the UK and its counterparts in Australia and New Zealand, which will greatly simplify routes to local professional qualification status.
UK practices will now be able to bid for infrastructure and services contracts worth around £10 billion per year on an equal footing with Australian companies when they are procured by government agencies covered by the agreement. The FTA with Australia says that this is an unprecedented level of procurement access for overseas professional services companies.
The FTA with New Zealand, meanwhile, has similarly said that UK suppliers will have legally guaranteed, non-discriminatory access to a much wider range of government procurement opportunities than previously.
What does the FTA mean for the mobility of architects?
Mobility for architects between the three countries is about to improve dramatically, especially for younger architects.
From 1 July 2023, Australia will raise the age limit for Working Holiday visas from 30 to 35 years. From next year (1 July 2024), UK passport holders will be eligible to use these visas for up to three years (rather than two at present) without having to meet any specified work requirements. With the MRA in place, the new visa arrangements will help many more newly-qualified architects to gain professional experience as registered architects in Australia and New Zealand.
For UK practices with an office in Australia, ‘Intra-Corporate Transferees’ will be able to work there for up to four years, double the previous period allowed, and bring spouses and dependent children with them.
Meanwhile, professionals working independently (who will be classed as Contractual Service Suppliers), will have access to shorter-term work visas without being subject to its changeable skilled occupation list that might have previously restricted access.
UK architects will also find it easier to be employed by Australian practices because businesses will no longer have to prove they cannot find an Australian worker before sponsoring a visa for a UK professional.
New Zealand visa arrangements are similar, but not the same. The initial stay permitted for Intra-Corporate Transferees, for instance, is three years.
What happened with the mutual recognition agreement with Australia and New Zealand?
Last month saw the ARB’s MRA scheme for Australia and New Zealand opening to applicants. It provides a simplified pathway to registration along similar lines to ARB’s first MRA with its US counterpart the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). ARB has been free to negotiate MRAs following the UK’s exit from the EU.
UK to Australia or New Zealand applicants will need to have secured ARB-prescribed qualifications at Parts 1 to 3 and be registered with ARB, which will then issue a certificate of competence confirming both UK qualifications and registered status. This can then be submitted to Australian or New Zealand registration boards to start the local licensing process. There may be an additional interview or exam before the local licence can be issued, depending upon state or territory registration requirements.
The UK equivalent of Australia’s Working Holiday visa is the Youth Mobility Scheme. For Australians wanting to take advantage of the scheme in the UK, the age range will be increased from 30 to 35 and there will be an option to extend the stay up to three years. The change takes effect from 31 January 2024.
What does the FTAs mean for data management?
Director of Trade Policy and Policy at Ernst & Young LLP, George Riddell, says that provisions for the management of data are also a key additions to the FTA.
“Services providers and architects have had to rely on Teams, Zoom or WebEx over the course of the pandemic,” he says. “This has underlined how providing services across borders and digital trade are integral to each other.”
The digital trade chapter in the UK-Australia FTA includes core commitments from both countries, which include preventing the localisation of data, ensuring a high standard of protection of personal data as well as specific provisions reducing barriers to digital trade.
“The true value of the digital trade chapter will result from the regulatory dialogue that the FTA will establish between the UK and Australia,” George says. “This requires both sides to stay committed to cooperating on the development of future regulations and initiatives related to emerging technologies, data innovation and cybersecurity.”
Thanks to George Riddell, Director of Trade Policy and Strategy, Ernst & Young LLP.
Text by Neal Morris. This is a Professional Feature edited by the RIBA Practice team. Send us your feedback and ideas.
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