YOUTH MOBILITY SCHEME VISA

The Youth Mobility Scheme visa allows eligible young people from participating countries and territories, as well as certain categories of British national, to live and work in the UK for a temporary period.

Most successful applicants are granted permission for up to 2 years. Australian, Canadian and New Zealand citizens can, subject to the requirements, extend their permission once for a further year, giving them up to 3 continuous years under the Youth Mobility Scheme.

Unlike the Skilled Worker route, the Youth Mobility Scheme does not require a job offer, a sponsoring employer or a Certificate of Sponsorship. There is also no English language requirement under the Youth Mobility Scheme rules. Applicants are, however, subject to requirements relating to nationality or status, age, maintenance funds, previous participation in the scheme, children and suitability, together with additional requirements for certain countries.

The Youth Mobility Scheme is not a route to settlement. However, a person who holds a Youth Mobility Scheme visa may potentially switch into another immigration route from within the UK where the requirements of that route permit this. Time spent lawfully in the UK under the Youth Mobility Scheme may also be relevant to a future application based on 10 years’ Long Residence.

Initial Youth Mobility Scheme applications are applications for entry clearance and must be made before travelling to the UK under the route.

1. What Is the UK Youth Mobility Scheme Visa?

The Youth Mobility Scheme is intended as a cultural exchange route. It enables qualifying young people to experience life in the UK while generally being free to work, study and travel during the period for which their visa is valid.

A Youth Mobility Scheme visa holder can work in most occupations without being sponsored by their employer. They can also study and, subject to specific restrictions, undertake self-employment. They cannot access public funds and cannot work as a professional sportsperson, including as a sports coach.

The route differs significantly from sponsored work routes. An applicant does not need to secure employment before applying and is not tied to a particular employer once in the UK.

However, applicants should not assume that the route is available simply because they fall within the relevant age range. Eligibility depends on nationality or British national status, and some nationalities are subject to annual allocations, ballot requirements or additional documentary requirements.

2. Who Is Eligible for a Youth Mobility Scheme Visa?

The principal requirements depend on the applicant’s nationality or status.

Applicants Aged Up to 35

Citizens of the following countries must be 35 or under on the date of application:

• Australia;
• Canada;
• New Zealand; and
• South Korea.

The applicant must be at least 18 by the date on which their entry clearance becomes valid. Importantly, this means an applicant does not necessarily need to have reached their 18th birthday when the application itself is submitted.

For example, an eligible Australian national who is 17 may apply provided that the entry clearance will not become valid until they are at least 18.

Equally, an Australian, Canadian, New Zealand or South Korean applicant who is 35 on the date of application does not become ineligible merely because they turn 36 before their visa takes effect.

Applicants Aged Up to 30

Applicants from the other participating Youth Mobility Scheme countries and territories must generally be 30 or under on the date of application.

The same minimum-age rule applies: the applicant must be at least 18 on the date their entry clearance becomes valid. They can therefore apply before their 18th birthday, provided the visa will not become valid until they have reached 18.

Certain British Nationals

A person may also qualify if aged within the applicable range and they are a:

• British Overseas citizen;
• British Overseas Territories citizen; or
• British National (Overseas).

These applicants are not subject to the country-specific requirements in YMS 4.1 and YMS 4.2 of Appendix Youth Mobility Scheme.

Previous Participation in the Youth Mobility Scheme

An applicant for entry clearance must not previously have spent time in the UK under the Youth Mobility Scheme.

For this purpose, the definition of the Youth Mobility Scheme includes predecessor versions of the route, including the previous Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme and the former Working Holidaymaker route. Applicants with historic UK immigration permission should therefore check carefully whether an earlier stay affects their eligibility.

The position is different for Australian, Canadian and New Zealand nationals applying from within the UK for the permitted one-year Youth Mobility Scheme extension.

Children and the Youth Mobility Scheme

For an initial Youth Mobility Scheme application, the applicant must not have any child under 18 who either:

• lives with them; or
• is financially dependent on them.

This is an eligibility requirement applying to the applicant personally. It is separate from the rule that dependants cannot accompany a Youth Mobility Scheme migrant under this route.

Suitability Requirements

An applicant must not fall for refusal under Part Suitability of the Immigration Rules.

Part Suitability contains provisions dealing with matters such as criminality, deception, previous immigration breaches and other circumstances in which an application may or must be refused.

Whether a particular issue leads to refusal will depend on the relevant provision and the applicant’s individual circumstances.

3. Youth Mobility Scheme Countries and 2026 Allocations

The annual allocations in force for 2026 are as follows:

Country or Territory	2026 Allocation
Andorra	100
Australia	38,500
Canada	10,000
Hong Kong	1,000
Iceland	1,000
India*	3,000
Japan	6,000
Monaco	1,000
New Zealand	8,000
South Korea	5,000
San Marino	1,000
Taiwan	1,000
Uruguay	500

*India remains included within Appendix Youth Mobility Scheme and its eligible-national allocation provisions. However, the public-facing route for Indian nationals is the India Young Professionals Scheme, which has its own ballot and additional eligibility requirements. Indian nationals should therefore refer to the separate India Young Professionals Scheme requirements rather than relying on the general Youth Mobility Scheme application process described on this page.

Annual allocations can change. Applicants relying on a country allocation should therefore check the position applicable to the year in which they intend to apply.

4. Country-Specific Youth Mobility Scheme Requirements

Some participating nationalities must satisfy additional requirements.

Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand and South Korea

Nationals of Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand and South Korea are not subject to additional country-specific eligibility requirements under YMS 4.2, although they must still satisfy the other requirements of the route, including the applicable financial requirement for an initial application.

Hong Kong and Taiwan

Applicants relying on a Hong Kong SAR passport or Taiwanese nationality must have been issued with an invitation to apply under the Home Office’s invitation arrangements and must apply within the period specified in that invitation.

San Marino

A San Marino applicant must provide a letter from the Directorate of Political and Diplomatic Affairs of the Republic of San Marino Department of Foreign Affairs confirming that they are a suitable candidate for the Youth Mobility Scheme.

The letter must have been issued no more than 6 months before the date of application.

Iceland

An Icelandic applicant must provide a Criminal Certificate for Private Use, known as a Sakavottorð, issued no more than 6 months before the date of application.

Andorra

An Andorran applicant must provide an Andorran certificate of criminal records issued no more than 6 months before the application date.

Uruguay

A Uruguayan applicant must provide a Certificate of Judicial Records issued no more than 6 months before the application date.

India

Indian nationals use the separate India Young Professionals Scheme application process.

Among other requirements contained within Appendix Youth Mobility Scheme, an Indian applicant must have an invitation to apply, provide the relevant invitation number, provide the required police certificate and hold a qualification at or above RQF level 6. 

5. Do You Need to Enter a Youth Mobility Scheme Ballot?

Most Youth Mobility Scheme applicants do not need to enter a ballot.

Under the current arrangements, a ballot is required for:

• Hong Kong applicants relying on an SAR passport; and
• Taiwanese applicants.

Japanese and South Korean nationals no longer need to enter a ballot and can apply directly if they satisfy the relevant requirements. Certain British nationals eligible under the scheme are also not required to enter a ballot.

Indian nationals are subject to a different ballot under the India Young Professionals Scheme.

Youth Mobility Scheme Ballots

As at 13 August 2026, all Youth Mobility Scheme ballots for 2026 have closed.

The Home Office has stated that information about the next ballots in 2027 will be published subsequently. Applicants should therefore not assume that the dates used in 2026 will necessarily apply in 2027.

For the 2026 Youth Mobility Scheme, Hong Kong and Taiwan each had an allocation of 1,000 places. Most places were allocated through the first ballot, with the remaining places allocated during the July ballot.

What Happens After a Successful Ballot?

A successful ballot selection does not itself grant a visa. It gives the individual an opportunity to make a Youth Mobility Scheme application.

Under the 2026 arrangements, successful applicants were required to submit the application, pay the visa fee and complete the required biometric process within the period specified by the Home Office. The general published ballot guidance provided a 90-day period following a successful selection.

Applicants should always follow the deadline contained in their individual invitation.

6. Youth Mobility Scheme Financial Requirement

An applicant for initial entry clearance under the Youth Mobility Scheme must have at least £2,530 in available funds.

The applicant must have held the required amount for a continuous period of at least 28 days. The final day of that 28-day period must fall within the 31 days immediately preceding the date of application.

The financial evidence must satisfy the requirements of Appendix Finance.

The purpose of the requirement is to show that the applicant has sufficient funds available to support themselves after arriving in the UK. The £2,530 is therefore separate from the money required to pay the visa application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge.

The financial requirement does not apply in the same way to an Australian, Canadian or New Zealand national applying from within the UK for their permitted Youth Mobility Scheme extension: YMS 5.1 to YMS 5.3 are expressly disapplied to an application for permission to stay under the route.

7. Documents Required for a Youth Mobility Scheme Visa

The documents required will depend on the applicant’s nationality and individual circumstances.

An applicant will normally need to provide:

• a valid passport or other acceptable document establishing identity and nationality;
• evidence showing that the £2,530 maintenance requirement has been met;
• a tuberculosis certificate where Appendix Tuberculosis applies; and
• a certified translation of any document that is not in English or Welsh.

Additional country-specific evidence may also be required. This can include criminal record certificates for Andorra, Iceland or Uruguay, the prescribed San Marino letter, or evidence of a successful ballot selection for Hong Kong and Taiwan.

It is important to distinguish between the legal requirements of the route and the evidence required to demonstrate that those requirements are satisfied. An otherwise eligible application may encounter difficulty if mandatory country-specific evidence is omitted, out of date or not in the required form.

Applicants with previous adverse immigration history or other suitability issues may also need to address those matters carefully within the application.

8. How to Apply for a UK Youth Mobility Scheme Visa

An initial Youth Mobility Scheme application must be made online from outside the UK.

The process will normally involve the following stages:

1. Check that your nationality or British national status is eligible and that you meet the relevant age requirements.
2. If you are subject to a ballot requirement, obtain a valid invitation to apply before submitting the visa application.
3. Ensure that you have held the required £2,530 for the relevant 28-day period.
4. Obtain any country-specific documents required for your nationality.
5. Complete the online Youth Mobility Scheme application.
6. Pay the application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge.
7. Prove your identity, either through the method specified by UK Visas and Immigration or by attending a visa application centre where required.
8. Provide the supporting evidence requested for the application.
9. Await the Home Office decision before travelling to the UK under the Youth Mobility Scheme.

The earliest an applicant can normally submit their visa application is 6 months before their intended travel date.

Applicants from Hong Kong or Taiwan must additionally ensure that their application is submitted within the period permitted by their ballot invitation.

9. Youth Mobility Scheme Visa Fees and Immigration Health Surcharge

As at 13 August 2026, the Youth Mobility Scheme application fee is £340.

Applicants must also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge. The current rate applicable to the Youth Mobility Scheme is normally £776 per year.

For a standard two-year Youth Mobility Scheme grant, this means the Immigration Health Surcharge will normally amount to £1,552.

An applicant should therefore ordinarily expect the following principal Home Office charges:

Charge	Current Amount
Youth Mobility Scheme application fee	£340
Immigration Health Surcharge for 2 years	£1,552
Total principal Home Office charges	£1,892

These charges are separate from the £2,530 maintenance requirement.

Fees and Immigration Health Surcharge rates can change, so the amounts should be checked immediately before an application is submitted.

For an eligible Australian, Canadian or New Zealand national applying for a one-year extension, the current application fee is £340 and the Immigration Health Surcharge for the additional year is £776.

10. Youth Mobility Scheme Visa Processing Time

The Home Office currently states that an applicant will usually receive a decision within 3 weeks after they have applied online, proved their identity and provided their documents.

Processing time may take longer where, for example, additional information is required, documents need to be verified or further consideration of the applicant’s circumstances is necessary.

Applicants should therefore avoid making non-refundable travel arrangements which depend upon a visa being granted by a particular date.

An application to extend Youth Mobility Scheme permission from within the UK, where available to an Australian, Canadian or New Zealand citizen, currently has a published decision time of up to 8 weeks.

11. How Long Does a Youth Mobility Scheme Visa Last?

A successful initial Youth Mobility Scheme applicant can be granted entry clearance for up to 2 years.

During the period for which the visa is valid, the holder may leave the UK and return. Turning 31 after the visa has been granted does not curtail the permission already granted. The same principle applies to those who qualified under the age-35 limit and subsequently turn 36.

Australian, Canadian and New Zealand nationals may potentially remain for a total continuous period of 3 years by obtaining the permitted one-year extension.

Other Youth Mobility Scheme nationalities cannot extend under this route beyond the initial grant.

12. Can You Extend a Youth Mobility Scheme Visa?

Only Australian, Canadian and New Zealand citizens can currently extend their Youth Mobility Scheme permission.

The extension:

• is for one additional year;
• can only be obtained once;
• must be applied for from within the UK;
• requires the applicant to have or last have been granted the relevant Youth Mobility Scheme permission; and
• results in a maximum continuous Youth Mobility Scheme period of 3 years.

The Home Office advises eligible applicants to apply no more than 28 days before their existing visa expires.

An applicant should remain in the UK, Ireland, Channel Islands or Isle of Man while the application is pending. Leaving that area before a decision can affect the application.

Unlike the initial application, the £2,530 financial requirement and the restriction in YMS 5.3 concerning children under 18 do not apply to an application for permission to stay under the Youth Mobility Scheme.

13. Work, Study and Self-Employment on a Youth Mobility Scheme Visa

The Youth Mobility Scheme provides comparatively broad permission to work in the UK.

Employment

A Youth Mobility Scheme visa holder can work in most jobs.

They do not need their employer to hold a sponsor licence merely because they are working under the Youth Mobility Scheme, and their immigration permission is not tied to a specific employer.

However, employment as a professional sportsperson, including as a sports coach, is prohibited.

Self-Employment

Self-employment is permitted only within specific limits.

The Immigration Rules require that:

• the person does not own business premises, other than their home, from which they carry out the business;
• the total value of equipment used in the business does not exceed £5,000; and
• the person has no employees.

A Youth Mobility Scheme holder who intends to establish a more substantial business should therefore consider whether another immigration route would be more appropriate.

Study

Study is permitted under the Youth Mobility Scheme.

However, study is subject to the Academic Technology Approval Scheme, or ATAS, condition where applicable. ATAS can apply to specified areas of postgraduate-level study and research.

Whether an ATAS certificate is required depends on matters including the course and the individual’s nationality. A number of Youth Mobility Scheme nationalities — including Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea — are currently among the nationalities exempt from the ATAS requirement.

Public Funds

Youth Mobility Scheme permission is subject to a condition of no access to public funds.

14. Can You Bring a Partner or Children on a Youth Mobility Scheme Visa?

No. The Youth Mobility Scheme does not provide a route for a partner or child to apply as the dependant of a Youth Mobility Scheme visa holder.

A partner who wishes to come to the UK would need to qualify for immigration permission independently in their own right under an available route.

The same principle applies to children: there is no Youth Mobility Scheme dependant-child category. Appendix Children does not include the Youth Mobility Scheme among the routes under which a child can apply as a dependant.

There is a further restriction at the initial application stage. An applicant cannot qualify for Youth Mobility Scheme entry clearance if they have a child under 18 who either lives with them or is financially dependent upon them.

If a Youth Mobility Scheme visa holder has a child while living in the UK, the child’s nationality and immigration position should be considered separately. The birth of a child in the UK does not create a Youth Mobility Scheme dependant route.

15. Switching From the Youth Mobility Scheme to Another UK Visa

A Youth Mobility Scheme visa holder may be able to switch into another immigration category from within the UK, provided that the requirements of the new route allow an in-country application.

One common example is the Skilled Worker route.

The current Skilled Worker rules prohibit switching from a number of specified categories, such as Visitor, Short-term Student and Seasonal Worker permission. Youth Mobility Scheme permission is not included in that prohibited list. A Youth Mobility Scheme visa holder can therefore potentially switch to Skilled Worker from within the UK if they satisfy the Skilled Worker requirements, including sponsorship, an eligible role and the applicable salary and other requirements.

Other routes may also permit switching depending on the applicant’s circumstances.

Someone who intends to remain in the UK beyond their Youth Mobility Scheme permission should therefore consider their long-term immigration strategy before their existing permission expires. A switch may involve materially different requirements concerning sponsorship, salary, qualifications, relationships, endorsement or other matters.

16. Does the Youth Mobility Scheme Lead to Settlement?

The Youth Mobility Scheme is expressly not a route to settlement.

This means that completing two or three years under the Youth Mobility Scheme does not by itself entitle a person to indefinite leave to remain.

However, a Youth Mobility Scheme visa holder may later switch into a route which does lead to settlement, such as Skilled Worker, Global Talent or another qualifying route, provided they meet the relevant requirements.

The rules governing the later settlement route determine which periods of immigration permission count towards its own qualifying period. Applicants should not assume that time spent on the Youth Mobility Scheme will count towards a five-year settlement period under a subsequent route.

Separately, time spent lawfully in the UK with Youth Mobility Scheme permission can potentially count towards the 10-year Long Residence route. Appendix Long Residence permits lawful residence with permission on most immigration routes, subject to specified exclusions and the separate continuous-residence requirements. Youth Mobility Scheme permission is not among the categories excluded from the qualifying period.

Long Residence is a distinct immigration route with its own eligibility, continuous-residence, English language, Life in the UK and suitability requirements.

17. Youth Mobility Scheme Visa Refusals and Administrative Review

A Youth Mobility Scheme application may be refused where the Home Office is not satisfied that the validity, suitability or eligibility requirements have been met.

Potential issues include:

• exceeding the applicable age limit at the date of application;
• failing to demonstrate the required £2,530 funds;
• failing to maintain those funds for the required period;
• previous participation in the Youth Mobility Scheme;
• having a child under 18 who lives with or is financially dependent on the applicant when making an initial application;
• failing to obtain a required ballot invitation;
• applying outside the validity period of an invitation;
• failing to provide a mandatory country-specific document; or
• refusal under Part Suitability.

Where a Youth Mobility Scheme application is refused, Appendix Youth Mobility Scheme expressly provides for Administrative Review.

Administrative Review is principally concerned with whether the original decision involved a Home Office caseworking error. It is not simply an opportunity to remake an unsuccessful application with evidence that could and should have been provided originally.

For a refusal of an entry clearance application, the normal Administrative Review deadline is currently 28 calendar days from receipt of the refusal decision.

For a refusal of an in-country application for permission to stay, such as an eligible Youth Mobility Scheme extension application, the normal deadline for a person who is not detained is 14 calendar days from receipt of the decision.

Whether it is better to seek Administrative Review or make a fresh application will depend on the reason for refusal, whether the Home Office has made an error, whether the underlying defect can now be corrected and whether the applicant remains eligible to make another application.

Legal advice should therefore be sought promptly following a refusal.

18. Frequently Asked Questions: UK Youth Mobility Scheme

Do I Need a Job Offer for a Youth Mobility Scheme Visa?

No. There is no requirement to have a UK job offer before applying for a Youth Mobility Scheme visa. The route permits successful applicants to work in most jobs after they arrive in the UK, subject to the restrictions contained in the Immigration Rules.

Do I Need a UK Employer to Sponsor Me?

No. The Youth Mobility Scheme is not a sponsored work route. You do not need a Certificate of Sponsorship or a Home Office-licensed employer in order to qualify for the visa.

Is There an English Language Requirement for the Youth Mobility Scheme?

No. Appendix Youth Mobility Scheme does not impose an English language test or qualification requirement. Applicants must instead satisfy the nationality or status, age, financial, suitability and other applicable requirements of the route.

Can I Apply for a Youth Mobility Scheme Visa Before I Turn 18?

Yes, potentially. You must be at least 18 on the date your entry clearance becomes valid, but you do not necessarily need to have reached 18 on the date you submit the application. You must also satisfy the applicable upper age limit on the date of application.

Can I Apply at 30 or 35 if I Will Have a Birthday Before the Visa Starts?

Yes. The relevant upper age limit is tested on the date of application. A person subject to the age-30 limit can therefore apply while aged 30 even if they turn 31 before the visa begins. The equivalent position applies to applicants subject to the age-35 limit.

Which Nationalities Need a Youth Mobility Scheme Ballot?

Under the current Youth Mobility Scheme arrangements, Hong Kong SAR passport holders and Taiwanese applicants require successful ballot selection before applying. Indian nationals use a different ballot under the India Young Professionals Scheme. All 2026 Youth Mobility Scheme ballots have now closed.

Can I Bring My Partner on a Youth Mobility Scheme Visa?

Your partner cannot apply as your Youth Mobility Scheme dependant. They would need to qualify independently for permission to enter or stay in the UK under another immigration route.

Can I Apply for the Youth Mobility Scheme if I Have Children?

For an initial application, you cannot qualify if you have a child under 18 who lives with you or a child under 18 for whom you are financially responsible. The restriction in YMS 5.3 does not apply to an eligible Australian, Canadian or New Zealand citizen making the permitted in-country extension application.

Can I Extend My Youth Mobility Scheme Visa?

Australian, Canadian and New Zealand citizens can currently extend Youth Mobility Scheme permission once for an additional year, giving a maximum continuous period of 3 years. Other participating nationalities cannot extend under the Youth Mobility Scheme.

Can I Switch From a Youth Mobility Scheme Visa to a Skilled Worker Visa?

Yes, potentially. Youth Mobility Scheme permission is not among the categories currently prohibited from switching into the Skilled Worker route. You must nevertheless meet all of the Skilled Worker requirements, including sponsorship, an eligible job and the applicable salary requirements.

Does Time on a Youth Mobility Scheme Visa Count Towards ILR?

The Youth Mobility Scheme does not itself lead to indefinite leave to remain. Time under the route will not necessarily count towards the route-specific settlement period of a visa you later switch into. However, lawful Youth Mobility Scheme residence can potentially contribute towards 10-year Long Residence, subject to all of the requirements of that separate route.