A VISA concession for Australian and New Zealand shearers working in the United Kingdom has been extended for the 2026 shearing season, the UK’s Minister for Migration & Citizenship Mike Tapp has confirmed.

The Home Office had earlier this year decided a visa concession for overseas shearers that has operated since 2011 would not be available, but lobbying by the UK wool and shearing industry and MPs has temporarily reversed the decision.

In a 9 March letter to Home Affairs Select Committee chair Dame Karen Bradley, Mr Tapp said he had made a ministerial authorisation under Schedule 3, Part 4, paragraph 17 (4) of the Equality Act 2010 – Equality (Temporary employment as a sheep shearer) Authorisation 2026.

Mr Tapp said since 2011, the Home Office has operated a concession allowing non-visa nationals to take up temporary employment in the UK as sheep shearers for a period of up to three months during the peak shearing season, which runs from April to June.

“This concession exists to ensure that sufficient numbers of skilled shearers are available to carry out shearing that is essential to animal welfare.

“To be eligible, shearers must hold a contract from a sheep farmer or shearing contractor confirming that they are travelling to the UK to provide sheep shearing services,” he said.

“The shearers are granted Leave Outside the Immigration Rules.”

Mr Tapp said it is estimated that about 75 shearers used the concession last year, the majority of whom were nationals of Australia and New Zealand.

“These individuals possess the required skills and seasonal availability required to meet the needs of the UK sheep shearing industry.

“The ministerial authorisation relates to the approach the Home Office takes in determining eligibility for this concession,” he said.

“The concession is available only to non-visa nationals.

“The proposed approach will remain in place until 1 October 2026 and it ensures that the purpose of the concession is upheld, whilst also maintaining the integrity of the route.”

In a Facebook post on March 5, UK MP Simon Hoare said shearing is vital for sheep welfare helping to reduce heat stress and flystrike.

“The Home Office must reverse its decision in the interests of animal welfare and UK sheep farmers.”

His latest post was victorious.

National Association of Agricultural Contractors chief executive Jill Hewitt told Sheep Central she had just heard that the Home Office has agreed to allow the concession for another year.

“Shearers can start booking their tickets.

“We are just figuring out the process for entry but the doors will be open!”

UK National Sheep Association policy manager Michael Priestley said the NSA welcomed the government’s ability to change and listen to industry, particularly the NAAC.

“It is reason to be cheerful, yes.

“We hope the current arrangement can continue,” he said.

“It stands to reason that if we feared for animal welfare with a shortage of shearers, then the ability to get shearers in on a visa should allay this fear.”

Mr Priestley said more money for training will not solve the fact that shearing professionally to a high level is a seasonal and therefore a global career to a degree, and a younger person’s game due to its physicality and the need to work abroad. He said many of the people undergoing shearer training in the UK are committed to sheep on their own farms, UK lambs are often not shorn before being sold and the growth in shedding sheep numbers is likely to continue as farms look to limit work and labour cost of shearing and dagging.

Shearing Contractors Association of Australian secretary Jason Letchford welcomed the visa concession reinstatement.

“Even if we are temporarily losing workers, it is a good outcome for everyone.”

Mr Letchford has maintained that ‘continuity of work’ is the key to the competitiveness of the wool harvesting industry, to attract and retain quality workers globally.