Apply Entry Clearance for Youth Mobility Scheme Visa UK

: Written by: Arshad Mahmood; Last Updated: 14 January 2026

You can apply for a Youth Mobility Scheme visa for the UK if you are between 18 and 30 years old and from a participating country or territory. Certain nationalities, e.g. Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Korea) may apply up to the age of 35. If you meet the eligibility requirements, you will be given a Youth Mobility Scheme visa to live and work in the UK for up to 24 months. This visa has replaced the Youth Mobility Scheme visa (T5).

The Youth Mobility Scheme visa category provides a cultural exchange programme that allows a person aged 18-30 (or 18-35 for some nationalities) from participating countries and territories to experience life in the UK for up to 2 years (or 3 years for some nationalities).

An application for a Youth Mobility Scheme visa is made in accordance with the requirements set out in Appendix Youth Mobility Scheme of the Immigration Rules. You cannot switch to a Youth Mobility Scheme visa from inside the UK, and the applicant must apply for an entry clearance from outside the UK.

Premium Solicitors, open 7 days a week and 365 days a year, are specialist UK immigration solicitors. The high quality of UK visa and immigration services provided by our best team of fully qualified and experienced SRA-regulated immigration solicitors is self-evident from the 5-star Google Reviews rating by 99% of our clients.

You can apply for a Youth Mobility Scheme visa if you:

want to live and work in the UK for up to 2 years (3 years if you are a national of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or South Korea)
are aged 18 to 30 (18 to 35 if you are a national of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or South Korea)
have £2,530 in savings
have certain types of British Nationality or are from certain countries or territories listed in the eligibility requirements

The Youth Mobility Scheme route is not a settlement route, meaning it does not lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). However, it is possible to switch from a Youth Mobility Scheme visa to another visa type from inside the UK, which may lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the UK. Dependants are not permitted on the Youth Mobility Scheme visa route.

Free Immigration Advice For Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) Visa UK

Our specialist team of immigration solicitors can provide one-off free immigration advice online regarding your application for a Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) visa. Ask a question online to our specialist team of immigration solicitors for free immigration advice online, or book an appointment online for detailed immigration advice and consultation with one of our immigration solicitors concerning your application for a Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) visa UK.

Requirements for the Youth Mobility Scheme Visa UK

A person applying for the Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) visa UK should meet the following requirements as set out in the Immigration Rules:

Valid Application: The applicant must submit a valid entry clearance application for a Youth Mobility Scheme visa from outside the UK in accordance with the requirements for a valid application as set out in Appendix Youth Mobility Scheme of the Immigration Rules.

Nationality Status Requirement: The applicant must be one of the following:

a British Overseas Citizen (BOC), British Overseas Territories citizen (BOTC) or British National (Overseas) often referred to as BNO; 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.

Country-Specific Eligibility Requirements: Where the applicant is a national of Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand or the Republic of Korea, they are not required to meet any country-specific eligibility requirements, but if they are applying for entry clearance, they must meet the financial requirements in YMS 5.1 to YMS 5.3.

Where the applicant is a national, citizen or rightful passport holder of one of the countries or territories listed in the following table of country-specific eligibility requirements, they must meet the requirements listed:


1	Hong Kong or Taiwan	The applicant must: a) have been issued with an invitation to apply in accordance with the invitation to apply arrangements set out in Appendix Youth Mobility Scheme: eligible nationals; and b) have made their application within any time limit specified on that invitation to apply.
2	San Marino	The applicant must provide a letter confirming the applicant is a suitable candidate for the Youth Mobility Scheme from the Directorate of Political and Diplomatic Affairs of the Republic of San Marino Department of Foreign Affairs that has been issued no more than 6 months before the date of application.
3	Iceland	The applicant must provide a Criminal Certificate for Private Use that has been issued no more than 6 months before the date of application.
4	India	The applicant must: (a) have been issued with an invitation to apply in accordance with the invitation to apply arrangements set out in Appendix Youth Mobility Scheme: eligible nationals; and (b) have made their application within the period of time specified in that invitation to apply; and (c) provide the unique application number for that invitation to apply; and (d) provide a local police certificate or a police clearance certificate that has been issued no more than 6 months before the date of application; and (e) hold a qualification equal to or above RQF level 6.
	Andorra	The applicant must provide a certificate of criminal records issued no more than 6 months before the date of application.
	Uruguay	The applicant must provide a Certificate of Judicial Records that has been issued no more than 6 months before the date of application.

The number of places allocated to nationals or citizens of the same country, or rightful holders of a passport issued by the same territory, must not have exceeded the annual total allocation of places for that country or territory as set out in Appendix Youth Mobility Scheme: eligible nationals.

Where the applicant is a British Overseas citizen (BOC), British Overseas Territories citizen (BOTC) or British National Overseas (BNO), YMS 4.1 to YMS 4.2 of Appendix Youth Mobility Scheme of the Immigration Rules do not apply.

Age Requirement: An applicant for entry clearance must be:

a national of Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the Republic of Korea aged 35 or under on the date of application; or
aged 30 or under on the date of application if a national of other participating countries.

Not Previously Lived In The UK Under Youth Mobility Scheme Visa: The applicant must not have previously been in the UK under the Youth Mobility Scheme visa.

Suitability Requirements: The applicant must not fall for refusal under Part Suitability of the Immigration Rules.

Financial Requirement: The applicant must have £2,530 in funds and demonstrate that they have maintained the required level of funds for a 28-day period, as specified in Appendix Finance. Also, the applicant must not have any children under 18 who are living with them or financially dependent on them.

Tuberculosis Test Certificate Requirement: A person applying for entry clearance under the Youth Mobility Scheme must, if Appendix Tuberculosis applies, provide a valid medical certificate confirming that they have undergone screening for active pulmonary tuberculosis and that tuberculosis is not present.

Youth Mobility Scheme Ballot

You must be selected in the Youth Mobility Scheme ballot before you can apply for your visa if you are from:

Hong Kong, if you have a SAR passport
Taiwan

You do not need to enter the ballot if you are a British overseas citizen, British overseas territories citizen, or British national (overseas).

India Young Professionals Scheme

The India Young Professionals Scheme visa allows Indian citizens aged 18 to 30 to live and work in the UK for up to 2 years. You must be selected in the India Young Professionals Scheme ballot before you can apply for this visa. To enter the ballot, you must declare that you are eligible for the India Young Professionals Scheme visa for the UK. You can apply for an India Young Professionals Scheme visa for the UK online after being successful in the India Young Professionals Scheme ballot and receiving an invitation letter to apply for the visa under the scheme. The invitation letter will specify a deadline for visa application under the scheme, typically within 90 days of receipt. You must travel to the UK within 6 months of your visa application. You will usually get a decision on your visa application within 3 weeks of your biometrics enrolment date at the visa application centre in India. Read More

How To Enter The Ballot?

Ballots typically open in January and July each year. You can enter the ballot by sending an email. Only one ballot entry per person is allowed; duplicates will not be counted.

Ensure you meet all visa eligibility requirements before entering the ballot. Ballots will be open for 48 hours. All emails Home Office UKVI receives within this 48-hour period will be entered into the ballot. You will receive an automated confirmation of your entry.

Most applicants are usually chosen during the January ballot and the remaining places are allocated in the July ballot.

Period and Conditions Of Grant

The applicant will be granted either:

entry clearance for up to 2 years; or
permission to stay for a period, meaning the period of permission (including the original permission to enter) granted under the Youth Mobility Scheme totals 3 continuous years.

The grant will be subject to all the following conditions:

no access to public funds; and
work permitted, subject to the following employment conditions:
- no employment as a professional sportsperson (including as a sports coach); and
- no self-employment, except where the following conditions are met:
  - the person has no premises which they own, other than their home, from which they carry out their business; and
  - the total value of any equipment used in the business does not exceed £5,000; and
  - the person has no employees.
study is permitted subject to the ATAS condition in Appendix ATAS.

Specialist Youth Mobility Scheme Visa Solicitors

Our immigration solicitors are specialists in youth mobility scheme visa entry clearance applications from outside the UK. As one of the best immigration solicitors, we have an excellent track record of helping clients obtain Youth Mobility Scheme visa entry clearance. Our highly experienced and fully qualified immigration solicitors can provide fast, friendly, reliable, and fixed-fee immigration advice and legal representation for your youth mobility scheme visa entry clearance application from outside the UK.

The high quality of UK visa and immigration legal services provided by our best team of immigration lawyers is self-evident from the 5-star Google Reviews rating by 99% of our clients. Our London-based immigration solicitors are available 7 days a week, 365 days a year, offering unwavering dedication and exceptional legal support for a wide range of UK visa and immigration cases. Our team of highly regarded immigration solicitors brings together more than 6 decades of collective, specialised expertise in successfully handling UK visa and immigration applications.

Meet Our Team of immigration solicitors in London

At Premium Solicitors, our strength lies in the expertise, dedication, and unwavering commitment of our London immigration solicitors. We understand that immigration matters are life-changing events, and our team is here to guide you through every step of the Youth Mobility Scheme visa process with professionalism and care.

Our team comprises a diverse group of immigration solicitors, each bringing extensive experience and expertise. We are united by a shared goal: to deliver the highest level of legal support and advocacy tailored to your immigration needs.