UK Youth Mobility Scheme: Eligibility, Costs, and How to Apply in 2026

The UK Youth Mobility Scheme allows eligible young adults aged 18–35 from participating countries to live, work, and study in the UK for up to two years — three years for Australian, Canadian, and New Zealand nationals — without needing a job offer or a sponsoring employer.

At a glance:

• What it is: a two-year (sometimes three-year) UK visa for young people from eligible countries, with no job offer required.
• Who can apply: nationals aged 18–30 (18–35 for Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Korea) from around 14 participating countries and territories, including the new India route.
• Cost: £340 for the visa, plus £776 a year for the Immigration Health Surcharge, plus at least £2,530 in savings you need to show (not spend).
• How: apply online via GOV.UK once you meet the age, nationality, and savings rules — or, for ballot countries, once you’ve been selected.

What Is the UK Youth Mobility Scheme?

You’ll sometimes see it called the ‘Youth Mobility Visa,’ but its official name is the Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) — the term used on GOV.UK and in your own paperwork. It’s a temporary work-and-travel route, not a path to settlement: time on it doesn’t count towards indefinite leave to remain, and you can’t switch onto it from inside the UK once you’re on another visa.

While you hold it, you can work in most jobs, look for work, study, and travel in and out of the UK freely, all without an employer sponsoring you. Two restrictions apply across the board: you can’t work as a professional sportsperson or coach, and you can’t claim public funds such as Universal Credit or housing benefit.

The headline change for 2026 is the addition of India to the scheme, through a separate ballot route explained below.

Who Is Eligible for the UK Youth Mobility Scheme in 2026?

Eligibility comes down to your nationality and your age on the date you apply. Most participating countries and territories set the cut-off at 30; a handful raise it to 35.

The table below reflects GOV.UK’s current country list, including the ballot-only routes for Hong Kong SAR, Taiwan, and India.

If you’re a national of Hong Kong SAR, Taiwan, or India, you can’t apply directly — you need to enter a ballot first. For Hong Kong SAR and Taiwan, the Home Office runs two ballots a year, each offering 1,000 places per nationality: a roughly 48-hour registration window opens, and successful entrants are chosen at random and notified by email.

Once you’re selected, you have 90 days to submit your full application, pay the fees, and attend a biometrics appointment. India’s version, the India Young Professionals Scheme, works on the same ballot principle but adds two further requirements: a police clearance certificate and a qualification at RQF level 6 or above (roughly a bachelor’s degree). Ballot dates change yearly, so check GOV.UK before you plan around one.

A few conditions rule you out regardless of nationality: you can’t apply if you have a dependent child under 18, and you can’t use the scheme twice — it’s a one-time route. It also doesn’t lead to settlement, so if you’re hoping to build a longer-term life in the UK, you’ll eventually need to switch to a different visa (more on that later).

Financial Requirements for the Youth Mobility Scheme

How much money do you need? GOV.UK asks you to show at least £2,530 in your own name, held continuously for 28 days within the 31 days before you apply. The money needs to be in a personal account — a joint account with a parent or partner won’t satisfy the requirement.

Your bank statement or savings book must show your full name, the account number, a balance that doesn’t dip below £2,530 across the 28-day window, and the date it was issued. This is a savings threshold, not money you hand over: you keep it, and it simply demonstrates you can support yourself while you settle in.

How Much Does the UK Youth Mobility Scheme Cost in 2026?

Budget for three separate figures: the one-off visa application fee, the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), and the savings you need to show but don’t spend. Here’s the current breakdown, verified against GOV.UK.

Extending into a third year as an Australian, Canadian, or New Zealand national means budgeting for an extra year of the surcharge (£776) plus the extension fee — check the current figure on GOV.UK, since Home Office fees change periodically.

And if your income or savings are in another currency, check the live GBP exchange rate before you apply, since the financial requirement and fees are both set in pounds.

How to Apply for the UK Youth Mobility Scheme: Step by Step

Step 1: Confirm Your Eligibility — and Enter the Ballot If You Need To

Check your nationality, age, and savings against the criteria above. If you’re from Hong Kong SAR, Taiwan, or India, register during the ballot’s registration window and wait for the outcome before doing anything else — you can’t submit a full application without an invitation. Everyone else can move straight to gathering documents.

Step 2: Gather Your Documents

You’ll need a valid passport and proof of your £2,530 in savings, plus a TB test certificate if you’re moving for over six months from a country on the UK’s testing list. Several nationalities have extra paperwork on top of this:

Step 3: Complete Your Online Application

Apply through the Youth Mobility Scheme visa page on GOV.UK. Since the UK’s move to eVisas, you won’t receive a passport stamp or a physical Biometric Residence Permit — your immigration status is stored digitally, and you’ll need a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account to view it and generate a share code whenever you need to prove your status.

Step 4: Pay the Fees

Pay the £340 application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge (£776 a year, charged upfront for the full length of your visa) by debit or credit card as part of the online application.

Step 5: Prove Your Identity

Depending on your passport, you’ll either verify your identity through the UK Immigration: ID Check app by scanning your passport with your phone, or book an appointment at a Visa Application Centre to give your fingerprints and photo.

Step 6: Wait for a Decision

GOV.UK doesn’t publish one fixed processing time specifically for Youth Mobility Scheme applications — check the current standard visa processing times on GOV.UK before you apply, so you can plan realistically and avoid booking anything non-refundable until your visa is confirmed.

What Happens After Your Youth Mobility Scheme Visa Is Approved?

You won’t get a passport stamp or a physical visa vignette. Instead, your approval arrives as an eVisa — a digital record of your identity and immigration status, held in your UKVI account. You’ll use it to generate a share code whenever you need to prove your right to work or rent, whether that’s for a new employer or a landlord, with no physical document changing hands.

You’ll need a National Insurance (NI) number to work and pay tax correctly — you can apply for one online once you arrive, and you don’t need it before you start a job. Employers will ask for your eVisa share code as proof of your right to work, so it’s worth setting up your UKVI account and generating a code as soon as you land.

Getting a basic handle on how UK taxes and National Insurance work before your first payslip lands can save you a few surprises.

Opening a UK bank account early makes everyday life easier. Digital-only banks such as Monzo and Starling are often more accessible for new arrivals than high-street banks, since they typically ask for less UK-specific proof of address to get started.

Because you’ll have paid the Immigration Health Surcharge, you can register with the NHS and access most healthcare in the same way a resident would — it’s worth understanding the UK healthcare system before you need it.

Many arrivals book short-term accommodation for the first few weeks while they search for something permanent, using platforms such as Rightmove, Zoopla, Airbnb, or Booking.com.

Living costs vary by location — London and the South East tend to be the most expensive, while cities in the North of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland are generally more affordable.

Reading up on what to know before moving to the UK can help you plan the practical side of your first few weeks.

Making the Most of Your Time in the UK

You can work in most roles without a sponsoring employer, switch jobs freely, and take on more than one role at a time. Self-employment and freelancing are allowed too, within set limits: your business has to run from home rather than owned premises, your equipment can’t be worth more than £5,000 in total, and you can’t employ anyone. If you’re weighing up freelance work, it’s worth reading about how to start freelancing while living in the UK before you commit.

The Youth Mobility Scheme doesn’t lead to settlement, so if you want to stay longer, you’ll need to switch visa category before yours expires. If you find an employer willing to sponsor you, its worth understanding the Skilled Worker Visa process as it is the most common route onward. If you’d rather keep studying, the UK Student Visa lets you stay enrolled on a longer course.

Managing money across two countries is part of adjusting to life abroad, and many Youth Mobility Scheme holders send money home to family or cover costs from before they moved. Comparing exchange rates and transfer fees between providers is worth doing before you settle on one.

Frequently Asked Questions About the UK Youth Mobility Scheme

Which countries are eligible for the UK Youth Mobility Scheme, and what are the age limits?

You can apply if you’re a national of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or South Korea aged 18–35, or of Andorra, Iceland, Japan, Monaco, San Marino, Uruguay, Hong Kong SAR, Taiwan, or India aged 18–30, plus British Overseas Citizens and British Overseas Territories Citizens. Hong Kong SAR, Taiwan, and India applicants must also win a ballot first.

How much does the UK Youth Mobility Scheme visa cost in total?

The visa application fee is £340, and the Immigration Health Surcharge is £776 a year, charged upfront — £1,552 for a standard two-year visa, bringing your total to £1,892. You’ll also need to show, but not spend, at least £2,530 in savings held for 28 days before you apply.

Can I extend my Youth Mobility Scheme visa?

Only Australian, Canadian, and New Zealand nationals can extend, for one additional year, making a maximum stay of three years. Applicants from every other eligible country or territory, including South Korea, can’t extend the Youth Mobility Scheme visa itself and would need to switch to a different visa category instead.

Do I need a job offer to apply for the UK Youth Mobility Scheme?

No. Unlike work visas such as the Skilled Worker Visa, the Youth Mobility Scheme doesn’t require a job offer or a sponsoring employer before you apply — you can look for work, or set up as self-employed within the scheme’s limits, once you arrive.

Can I bring my partner or children on a Youth Mobility Scheme visa?

No, the Youth Mobility Scheme doesn’t allow dependants to be included on your application. Partners and children would each need to apply separately for their own visa — for example, a dependant visa linked to a different route, or the Youth Mobility Scheme themselves if they qualify in their own right.

How does the Youth Mobility Scheme ballot work?

If you’re from Hong Kong SAR, Taiwan, or India, you register during a roughly 48-hour window (twice a year for Hong Kong SAR and Taiwan) and places are allocated at random. If you’re selected, you get 90 days to submit your full application, pay the fees, and complete biometrics.

Can I switch to another visa from inside the UK while on a Youth Mobility Scheme visa?

In many cases, yes. Common routes include the Skilled Worker Visa, if you find a sponsoring employer, or the Student Visa, if you enrol on an eligible course — check the specific switching rules for your target visa on GOV.UK, since not every route allows an in-country switch.

Key Takeaways

• The Youth Mobility Scheme gives eligible 18–30 (or 18–35) year-olds up to two years in the UK — three for Australian, Canadian, and New Zealand nationals — without needing a job offer.
• Budget roughly £1,892 for the application fee and health surcharge combined, plus £2,530 in savings you need to show but don’t spend.
• Your approval arrives as a digital eVisa rather than a passport stamp, so you’ll need a UKVI account to prove your status.
• You can work, freelance within set limits, or study — self-employment is allowed as long as you keep it home-based, equipment-light, and staff-free.
• Only Australian, Canadian, and New Zealand nationals can extend their stay by a further year.

Home Office figures cited by the Migration Observatory show just over 24,000 Youth Mobility Scheme visas were granted in 2024, led by Australian, New Zealand, and Canadian nationals — so you’d be joining a well-established route, even with 2026’s changes.

If you’re weighing up longer-term options later, the Skilled Worker Visa and Student Visa routes above are the two most common next steps. And if you’re sending money home while you settle in, Remitly is glad to help you compare exchange rates and fees.

Last reviewed: September 2026