Spain and New Zealand extend holiday and work program for young people | Society

New Zealand and Spain announced the expansion of a bilateral holiday and work visa scheme, which will now benefit around 2,000 young people a year.

The extension of the agreement was published this Wednesday by the portal of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who met with Spanish President Pedro Sánchez in Madrid the previous day.

The migration program, previously estimated at around 200 annual visas, allows young Spaniards between the ages of 18 and 30 to stay in the maritime country for one year and work there for a maximum of six months.

New Zealanders visiting Spain will experience the same conditions.

“These changes reflect the strength of the relationship between Spain and New Zealand,” Ardern said, according to a statement released by her office today.

The bilateral meeting between the leaders of Spain and New Zealand was held on the sidelines of the ongoing NATO leaders’ summit in the Spanish capital.

Ardern also plans to meet in Madrid with her counterparts from Australia, South Korea and Japan.

New Zealand and Spain have adopted an action plan to strengthen cooperation on specific projects for the conservation of seabirds, including the threatened Antipodean albatross, whose migratory patterns cover areas of both countries.

The leaders also agreed on the benefits of a future free trade agreement between the EU and New Zealand, condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine, agreed to a global partnership of values, and committed to work closely in the areas of strengthening democracy, stability and humanity. Rights and the Rule of Law.