Youth Mobility Scheme Visa Application

The Youth Mobility Scheme visa is for young adults from certain countries who wish to experience life in the United Kingdom. Although this route does not lead to settlement, it is possible to switch to a route that does lead to settlement from within the UK.

This visa has replaced the Youth Mobility Scheme Visa (T5). 

If your application for a Youth Mobility Scheme visa is approved, then you will be permitted to enter and remain in the UK for a period of up to 24 months. You must not have previously spent time in the UK on the Youth Mobility Scheme route and be aged between 18 to 30 at the time of application, in addition to the requirements set out below.

During this period, you can enter and leave the UK at any time. If you turn 31 while in the UK, you can stay for as long as your visa is valid.

How to apply?

You must apply for and obtain entry clearance under the Youth Mobility Scheme route before arriving in the UK. To make a valid application for a Youth Mobility Scheme Visa, you will need to:

• Apply online from outside the UK
• Pay the Immigration Healthcare Surcharge (IHS) as part of your application
• You must provide your biometric information at a visa application centre to get a BRP Card or use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your identity documents – you will be told what you need to do when you apply. 
• If you are from Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea or Taiwan, you must be successfully selected in the Youth Mobility Scheme ballot before applying.

Youth Mobility Scheme Visa Requirements 

The exact requirements you will need to satisfy will depend on your circumstances. You can apply for a Youth Mobility Scheme visa if you:

• You are aged between 18 and 30 (or 18 and 35 for New Zealand nationals) on the date of the application;
• You have funds of £2,530, which you have held for 28 days within the 31 days before your application;
• You do not have any children under 18 who are living with you or are financially dependent on you;
• You have paid the visa application fee and Immigration Health Charge and provided any required biometric information;
• You are a citizen of Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Japan, India, Iceland, Monaco, Taiwan, the Republic of Korea, or San Marino or are a British Overseas citizen, British Overseas Territories citizen or British National (Overseas); or a national or citizen of a country or the holder of a passport issued by a territory, listed  in Appendix Youth Mobility Scheme: eligible nationals
• If you are a citizen of India, you hold an education qualification equal to or above RQF level 6 or have a minimum of three years’ work experience in a professional role equivalent to an eligible occupation listed in Appendix Skilled Occupations;
• You have not previously been in the UK on the Youth Mobility Scheme route;
• You have taken a tuberculosis test, if required;
• You do not fall for refusal under the general grounds for refusal.

Youth Mobility Scheme Financial Requirement

You must have funds of at least £2,530, which you have held for a 28-day period within the 31 days before your application. 

Youth Mobility Scheme Ballot (Invitation to Apply) Process

Invitation to apply requirements does not apply to nationals or citizens of Australia, Canada, Iceland, Monaco, New Zealand, San Marino, or where the applicant is a British Overseas Citizen, British Overseas Territories Citizen or British National (Overseas).

If you are a national, citizen or rightful passport holder of Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong (if you have a SAR passport), the Republic of Korea or India, you will need to apply for a ballot before applying for a Youth Mobility Scheme visa.

How the ballot system works – you must submit an expression of interest per the process published by the Home Office. They will then select at random those to whom an invitation to apply for entry clearance under the Youth Mobility Scheme relevant allocation is to be issued from the pool of those who have submitted an expression of interest.

Ballots typically open in January and July each year and are open for 48 hours. If you are successful in the ballot, you will have 30 days to submit your Youth Mobility Scheme visa application.

Youth Mobility Scheme Visa Application Documents 

The documents needed in your application will depend on your personal circumstances. You will need to provide a certified translation of any documents that are not in English. When you apply, you’ll need to provide evidence to support your application, such as:

• A valid passport or other documents that shows your identity and nationality 
• Bank statement(s) showing that you have at least £2530 in savings
• Your TB Test certificate if you are from a country where you have to take the test
• If you’re from Hong Kong, Japan, the Republic of Korea or Taiwan – you must provide a valid email from the Home Office confirming that you were successful in the Youth Mobility Scheme ballot. 
• If you’re from San Marino – you must provide a letter (dated within 6 months from the date of application) from the Directorate of Political and Diplomatic Affairs of the Republic of San Marino Department of Foreign Affairs, confirming that you are suitable for the Youth Mobility Scheme
• If you are from Iceland – you must provide a criminal records check certificate for someone from overseas otherwise known as Icelandic Criminal Certificate for Private Use
• If you are a national, citizen or rightful passport holder of India, you must :
  • have been issued with an invitation to apply to the Youth Mobility Scheme;
  • have made your application within the period of time specified on that invitation;
  • provide the unique application number for that invitation to apply;
  • provide a local police certificate or a police clearance certificate that has been issued no more than 6 months before the date of your application; and
  • either have a minimum of 3 years’ work experience in a professional role equivalent to an eligible occupation listed in Appendix Skilled Occupations and provide specified evidence of that qualification; or hold a qualification equal to or above RQF level 6 and provide specified evidence of that work experience.

Youth Mobility Scheme Quotas

There are quotas on the number of places available on the Youth Mobility Scheme each year from the participating countries. The allocation of places for 2022 is as follows:

• Australia – 30,000 places
• Canada – 6,000 places
• Hong Kong – 1,000 places
• Iceland – 1,000 places
• India – 3,000 places
• Japan – 1,500 places
• Monaco – 1,000 places
• New Zealand – 13,000 places
• Republic of Korea – 1,000 places
• San Marino – 1,000 places
• Taiwan – 1,000 places

There is no quota on the number of British Overseas citizens, British Overseas Territories citizens or British National (Overseas) citizens who may qualify for a Youth Mobility Scheme visa.

Conditions of Stay on the Youth Mobility Scheme Visa

You can study a course of your choice. However, unless you are a citizen of Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand or the Republic of Korea, you will be subject to the conditions of the Academic Technology Approval Scheme. This requires a certificate to study certain subjects in the UK at a postgraduate level.

You can work in most jobs. You cannot work as a professional sportsperson (for example, as a coach). You cannot extend your stay in this category, and you cannot claim any public funds. 

You can be self-employed and set up a company, provided your premises are rented, you do not have any employees, and your equipment is not worth more than £5000. 

You will not be permitted to access public funds.

Youth Mobility Scheme costs

The application fee is £298. You will need to pay the IHS surcharge to make a valid application; for 24 months.

How can we help

We pride ourselves on being a friendly and professional team. Call us at +442087575751 or use our enquiry form to get in touch with us to see how we can assist your Youth Mobility Scheme Visa Application. 

Frequently asked questions