Statistics from the Australian immigration department show that an average of 2,700 are now leaving the UK each month compared to 1,750 three years ago. The number applying for working holiday visas has dropped from 27,000 a year in 2006 to 13,062.

It looks increasingly likely that South Africa will not be accepted into the UK’s Youth Mobility Scheme, which replaces the popular Working Holidaymaker Visa on 27 November.

A new hi-tech centre for e-Borders will be based in Manchester, and by 2010 staff there will monitor almost every foreign passenger travelling in and out of Britain.

The Government’s electronic border system - e-Borders - will see every passenger being counted in and out of Britain by 2010 and checked against immigration and security watch-lists by 2014.

From next February, employers who hire illegal workers could face a maximum fine of £10,000 for each illegal worker found at a business.

The Home Office has announced changes to the working holidaymaker (WHM) scheme that will come into effect today.

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