Key points at a glance
- At Reeds Solicitors LLP, our Immigration Law team can advise and represent you on Youth Mobility Scheme visa applications, including eligibility, the ballot process, and extensions.
- We can assess whether you qualify, help you prepare your application and financial evidence, and advise on your options once your visa is in place.
- Our Immigration Solicitors are ranked highly in the Legal 500 2026 and Chambers and Partners 2026.
The Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) visa allows young people from a defined list of participating countries and territories to live and work in the UK for up to two years. It’s one of the more flexible visa categories available, since it does not require a job offer, employer sponsorship, or a specific skill level. Many holders use the visa to travel, work in a variety of jobs, or gain UK experience before deciding on their longer-term plans.
Eligibility depends entirely on your nationality and the process differs depending on which country you are from. Some nationalities can apply directly, while others must enter a ballot for a limited number of places each year. Understanding which category applies to you, and the timing involved, is often the first hurdle in a YMS application.
Who can apply for a Youth Mobility Scheme visa?
The Youth Mobility Scheme is open to citizens of Andorra, Australia, British Nationals (Overseas), Canada, Iceland, India (through the India Young Professionals Scheme, which is closely related and often referenced alongside YMS eligibility), Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, San Marino, South Korea, Taiwan, and Uruguay. British Nationals (Overseas) status holders and citizens of Hong Kong and Taiwan can also apply through a separate ballot allocation, subject to annual quotas set for each participating country.
Applicants must usually be aged 18 to 30. Citizens of Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Korea may apply up to age 35. You need to show you have at least £2,530 in personal savings, held for a consecutive 28-day period, with the 28th day falling within 31 days of your application date.
You cannot bring dependent children with you on this visa. You can be accompanied by a partner if they separately qualify for their own visa.
The ballot process
For nationalities where demand exceeds the annual quota, places are allocated through a ballot rather than on a first-come, first-served basis. If you are entering a ballot country’s allocation, you register during the relevant entry period and, if selected, you are given a limited window in which to submit your full visa application. Missing this window generally means having to wait for the next ballot round.
Not all participating countries operate a ballot. These countries, including Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, currently allow direct applications without a ballot, subject to the annual quota not being exhausted. Presently Countries that operate a ballot system are Hong Kong and Taiwan.
It’s worth checking the current position for your specific nationality, as arrangements can change from year to year as new bilateral youth mobility agreements are negotiated.
Visa duration, extensions, and working conditions
The Youth Mobility Scheme visa is granted for up to two years. Citizens of Australia, Canada, and New Zealand can extend their visa for a further year, but only once, taking their total stay to a maximum of three years. Other nationalities currently cannot extend beyond the initial two years.
Visa holders can work in most types of employment, be self-employed (subject to certain limitations), or set up as a director of a company, though there are some restrictions, including limits on working as a professional sportsperson. The visa cannot be used to settle permanently in the UK and does not lead directly to Indefinite Leave to Remain.
Application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge
From 8th April 2026, the application fee for a Youth Mobility Scheme visa is £340. You will also need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, charged at the reduced rate of £776 per year. For the standard two-year visa, this comes to £1,552, making a total cost of around £1,892 before any extension.
If you extend your visa (where your nationality allows this), you will need to pay a further £340 application fee and an additional year of the Immigration Health Surcharge.
Contact:
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How Reeds Solicitors Can Help
Youth Mobility Scheme applications are usually straightforward on paper, but the ballot process, the strict financial evidence timing, and the differences between participating countries can catch people out. Missing a ballot window or submitting financial evidence outside the permitted dates can mean a lost opportunity for that year.
At Reeds Solicitors, we advise on the specific requirements and timelines that apply to your nationality so that you do not miss a critical deadline.
We confirm your eligibility based on your nationality, age, and personal circumstances, and advise you on whether you need to enter a ballot or can apply directly.
For nationalities subject to a ballot, we advise you on registration timing and help you prepare so that you are ready to submit a complete application within the window given if you are selected.
We check that your savings evidence meets the strict 28-day holding requirement and the specific timing rules for this visa category, helping you avoid a common and easily avoidable reason for refusal.
We complete and review your visa application, advise on identity verification through the UK Immigration: ID Check app or a visa application centre appointment, and manage the process through to a decision.
If your nationality allows an extension, we advise on the process and timing for extending your visa. We also advise on what options may be available to you if you want to remain in the UK longer term after your Youth Mobility Scheme visa expires.
Frequently Asked Questions
The scheme is open to citizens of Andorra, Australia, British Nationals (Overseas), Canada, Hong Kong (SAR passport holders), Iceland, India (through the India Young Professionals Scheme, which is closely related and often referenced alongside YMS eligibility), Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, San Marino, South Korea, Taiwan and Uruguay. British Nationals (Overseas) and citizens of Hong Kong and Taiwan can also apply through a separate ballot allocation.
From 8th April 2026, the application fee is £340. You will also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge at the reduced rate of £776 per year, meaning £1,552 for the standard two-year visa, bringing the total to around £1,892.
You need to show at least £2,530 in personal savings, held for a consecutive 28-day period, with the 28th day falling within 31 days of your application date.
Where demand exceeds the annual quota for a particular nationality, applicants register during a specific entry period and are selected by random ballot. Selected applicants are given a limited window to submit their full visa application. Not all participating countries use a ballot; this depends on demand relative to the quota for each nationality.
Citizens of Australia, Canada, and New Zealand can extend their visa for one further year, up to a maximum stay of three years. Other nationalities currently cannot extend beyond the initial two-year grant.
No. You cannot bring dependent children on this visa. A partner can accompany you, but only if they separately qualify for and hold their own visa.
No. The Youth Mobility Scheme visa does not lead directly to Indefinite Leave to Remain. It’s a temporary route intended for young people to live and work in the UK for a limited period. If you want to remain longer term, you would need to switch into a different visa category that leads to settlement.
Most participants need to be aged 18 to 30 at the time of application. Some nationalities, including Canadian citizens, have an extended age range up to 35 under their specific bilateral agreement with the UK. We advise on the exact age range that applies to your nationality.
No. The Youth Mobility Scheme visa must be applied for from outside the UK. If you are already in the UK on a different type of visa, such as a Student visa, you cannot switch into the Youth Mobility Scheme category while remaining in the country. You would need to leave the UK and apply from abroad, and there is no guarantee you would be selected if your nationality is subject to a ballot.
Yes, in most cases. While you cannot extend a Youth Mobility Scheme visa (except for citizens of Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, who can extend by one year), you can generally switch from within the UK into another eligible category before your current visa expires, such as the Skilled Worker visa, Innovator Founder visa, a Student visa, or a family visa, provided you meet the requirements of the new route. You must submit your new application before your Youth Mobility Scheme visa runs out, and your partner or dependants would need to apply separately, since they cannot switch automatically with you.
No. Time spent on a Youth Mobility Scheme visa does not count towards the qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain. If you switch into a route that does lead to settlement, such as the Skilled Worker visa, your settlement qualifying period generally starts from the date of your new visa, not from when you first arrived on the Youth Mobility Scheme.
The Youth Mobility Scheme is a valuable opportunity, but the ballot timing and eligibility rules vary by nationality and can change from year to year. Our immigration team at Reeds Solicitors can advise you on the current position for your country and help you put together a strong application.
You can contact us through the Reeds Solicitors contact page on our website, by calling 0333 240 7373, or by emailing [email protected].
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