Apply for a Youth Mobility Visa

The duration of the visa is two years – three for New Zealand citizens (from 29 June 2023)

You can apply for the scheme as soon as you reach the age of 18.

No, you cannot extend your visa beyond the two / three years.

While living in the UK, you can do any type of work that complies with UK or European Union laws, directives and regulations. If you have a degree in medicine or dentistry from UK institution that is a UK recognised or listed body and holds a sponsor licence under the Student category of the PBS, you may work as doctor or dentist in training. You also have the ability to work self-employed, as long as you do not own premises where business is conducted, other than your home (although you may rent premises for the purpose of self-employment); the total value of the equipment you use in your business is no more than £5000 and you can have no employees. You also have the opportunity to study in the UK.

While living in the UK, you cannot use public funds. You can also not work as a professional sportsperson or (in most instances) as a doctor or dentist in training. These require you to apply for a different visa category.

The areas listed in Appendix Youth Mobility Scheme to the Immigration Rules are: Australia, Canada, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, South Korea, Iceland, India, San Marino and Taiwan

You must provide a current passport or travel ID, a bank statement showing you have at least £2,530 in savings and your tuberculosis test results if you are from a country where you have taken the test. If you are from Hong Kong or the Republic of Korea, you must get a certificate of sponsorship before you apply. Once you have received this certificate, you have three months to apply for your Youth Mobility visa.

You cannot bring dependants with you, the visa is solely for the applicant.

You must have £2,530 in savings. It costs £244 to apply to the scheme. You’ll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application.

You can apply for a new visa in various different categories. You can apply for an Ancestry visa, if you have a UK-born grandparent. Another option is applying for a Skilled Worker visa if you have been offered a job or sponsorship opportunity. If you apply for one of these visas, you will need to return to your country and apply there. There is also the possibility of applying for an Ancestry dependant visa if your partner has an Ancestry visa.

A partner visa may be an option if your spouse or long-term partner is British or has settled status (indefinite leave to remain) in the UK. Unmarried partners must be able to prove at least 2 years’ cohabitation, in the UK, overseas, or a combination of the two. However, do check that you can meet all the requirements in this category, including that you and your partner can meet the minimum income requirement of £18,600.

You can also apply for a visa if you are in a relationship with or married to an EU citizen with settled or pre-settled status.

If your application is refused, you may apply for an administrative review if you feel that the decision contains an error. You should get in touch with an expert immigration solicitor if this is the case. 

Indian nationals became eligible for Youth Mobility visas from 1 January 2022. As well as standard requirements based on age, funds held etc, they must also prove they either:

• Hold a qualification at degree level or above (minimum RQF level 6); or
• Have at least 3 years’ work experience in a professional role capable of being sponsored under the UK’s skilled worker rules

The government has not yet published details of the ballot arrangements it will use for Indian applicants – we will confirm these as soon as they are known.