Young South Africans' care-free days of pulling pints and earning pounds may be numbered, as the United Kingdom’s Border Agency and Home Office plans to abolish the popular Working Holidaymaker Scheme and replace it with the Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS).

This new scheme is part of the largest overhaul of UK immigration policies in 40 years, with all immigration to the UK set to be judged on a points-based system similar to the one currently used by Australia.

"The UK conducted a wide-ranging review of all of the routes for overseas nationals to come to the UK for work or study purposes," says Apsara McNaught, official spokesperson for the British High Commission. "Over 80 different routes for entering the UK are gradually being replaced with the points based system which has just five tiers."

The Home Office has not declared a final date for the switch to the Youth Mobility Scheme, but the British High Commission expects it to be in November or December this year. "The Working Holidaymaker visa category will continue to be available until the new scheme is introduced," said Ms McNaught.

"Those interested in a holidaymakers’ visa equivalent would fall into tier 5 which allows temporary workers and youth entry to the UK to satisfy non-economic objectives," says Marc Whitmill, general manager of Youth Discovery Programmes. However, it seems likely that South African travellers will not be eligible for the YMS visa.

"The Statement of Intent clearly says that countries need to meet qualifying criteria relating to the level of immigration risk posed, the country’s return arrangement policy and reciprocal opportunities for UK nationals,” says Mr Whitmill

It is this last point that's proving to be most problematic, as South Africa does not offer a working holidaymaker scheme for British (or other) nationals and Home Affairs is unlikely to institute such a system in time.

"We have explained the new scheme and criteria for countries to join," says Ms McNaught. "We await the response of the South African government."

"All things considered, it is looking very unlikely that South Africa will qualify for the new system. All young South Africans between the ages of 18 and 30 wishing to apply for a two year working holidaymakers’ visa for the UK should do so immediately,” urges Mr. Whitmill.

This sentiment was echoed by Angela Lansdell, Director of Smooth Landings Arrival Assistance: “We are recommending that anyone thinking of going on a gap year to the UK apply for their Working Holiday Visa as soon as possible. This advice extends not only to Working Holiday Visa applications, but to all immigration categories for the UK."

6936 South Africans (out of 9049 applicants) received Working Holidaymaker visas in 2007, and the visa change could have a significant impact on the youth travel market.

"Youth travellers tend to go directly to the British High Commission approved visa company," says Shannon Oddie, marketing manager for Student Flights. "But it is the flights, accommodation and side trips of this travel experience that is an integral part of our business."

"If the visa falls away we will almost certainly feel the loss of this business."

However, Sean Hough, MD of youth travel specialist STA Travel is confident the change will have little effect on their business.

"I don't think the impact is going to be that great," he says. "There are still many routes of entry into the UK, and the YMS is only designed to keep out those who want to go over and work and come back with their pockets lined with pounds, not genuine travel-gappers.

"We've gone out and looked for really good working holiday programs in other parts of the world and we've got much greater diversity of product now, and genuine gappers want that," says Mr Hough.

This article originally appeared in Travel Industry Review.

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