What is the Youth Mobility Visa and How Does it Work?

By Leena Chouhan | Immigration Notes | 2025

The Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) visa is a hidden gem in the UK immigration landscape – and for once, the name tells you exactly what it is.

The YMS is a route for young people to live, work, and explore the UK for up to two years (or three, if you’re lucky enough to be from Australia, Canada or New Zealand). Think of it as the UK’s way of saying, “Come hang out for a bit – no strings attached.”

It’s simple, flexible, and ideal for those early-career years – no job offer needed, no sponsor and no pressure to start a career. Nevertheless, it’s not for everyone – it’s limited to a select group of nationalities. Certainly, there are annual caps and ballot systems to navigate for starters.

Here’s everything you need to know.

The Essentials necessary for the Youth Mobility Visa

📍 What is it?

The Youth Mobility Visa is a temporary visa for young people (18–30 or 35 for some countries) to live, work, and study in the UK. It’s usually valid for 2 years with no sponsorship required.

🛂 Who can apply?

You must be a citizen of one of 13 listed countries or a qualifying British overseas nationality. Here’s a snapshot of 2025 quotas:

Country	Places
Australia	42,000
Canada	10,000
New Zealand	9,500
India	3,000
Japan	6,000
South Korea	5,000
Taiwan, HK, etc	1,000 or fewer

⚠️ Ballots apply for India, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. You can’t apply unless you’re invited.

Key Requirements ✅

🎂 Age

You must be 18–30, or up to 35 for Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Korea.
If you apply at 17, you’ll need to wait until your 18th birthday to enter.
You can stay even if you turn 31 (or 36 for Australia, Canada, NZ and S Korea) after your visa is granted.

💸 Money

You’ll need to prove you have £2,530 in savings held for at least 28 days before applying. Any personal bank account is fine, as long as the funds are available instantly.

India: The Special Rules 🇮🇳

India joined the scheme in 2022, but it’s a separate, more complex route called the Indian Young Professionals Scheme.

To qualify, Indian citizens must:

Enter and win a ballot
Hold a degree-level qualification (RQF 6+)
Provide a police clearance certificate (less than 6 months old)
Apply within the specified invitation window using a unique application number

Ballots are typically run twice a year. The first for 2025 is already closed; the next is expected mid-year.

**What You Can’t Do** 🚫

You can’t apply twice – if you used the visa before, that’s it.
You can’t have dependent children under 18 who live with or rely on you.
You can’t work as a professional sportsperson or coach.
You can’t run a business with employees or a shopfront – only simple, small-scale self-employment is allowed.

Conditions & Extension Rules 📎

2 years stay – unless you’re Australian, Canadian or Kiwi, in which case you can extend for 1 more year.
No public funds – this is a self-supported visa.
You can work, travel, or study, but not for courses needing an ATAS certificate.
Switching visas is allowed – e.g., to a Skilled Worker visa, if you get a job offer later.

Cost 💷

Fee Type	Amount
Application fee	£319
Immigration Health Surcharge (2 yrs)	£1,552 (£776/year)
Total	£1,871

It’s a lower-cost option compared to most UK work or study visas.

Refusals & Pitfalls

Applying twice (after using one) will lead to refusal.
Applications without correct financial evidence or police checks (India only) will be refused.
Missing the ballot window (for India, Taiwan, Hong Kong) means you can’t apply until the next round.

Final Word

The Youth Mobility visa is a beautifully simple route for young adventurers – but it’s also quite strictly rule-bound. If you’re eligible and ready, the process is refreshingly manageable.

But don’t skip the fine print – ballots, financial evidence, and eligibility quirks can trip people up. And remember, there’s no do-over once you’ve used it.

For More information:

For more information contact Leena Chouhan, Head of Immigration at Taylor Hampton Solicitors Immigration Department: Always be aware that Home Office regulations are changing on a continuous basis so it is best to work with professionals at all times. Contact Leena on 0044207 427 5972