Professional support for eligible young adults applying to live and work in the UK under the Youth Mobility Scheme, including eligibility checks, ballot guidance, document review, extension advice and next-route planning.
Review nationality, age, savings, ballot rules, documents and whether you should plan extension or switching options before applying.
The Youth Mobility Scheme visa is a temporary UK immigration route for eligible young adults who want to live, work, study and experience life in the UK without needing an employer sponsor. It is often described as a working holiday style visa because it gives more freedom than many sponsored work routes, while still requiring strict eligibility, nationality, age, savings and document rules.
This route can be suitable if you are from a participating country or territory, or if you hold one of the eligible British nationality categories, and you want to spend up to 2 years in the UK. Australian, Canadian and New Zealand nationals may be able to extend the visa for one additional year, giving a total stay of up to 3 years.
At Immigration Visa Expert, we help applicants check whether they qualify, prepare the correct documents, avoid avoidable savings or timing errors, understand the ballot rules where relevant, and plan what may happen after the visa ends.
You may be able to apply if you meet the age requirement for your nationality or passport category, have enough savings, have not previously used the Youth Mobility Scheme, and do not fall within one of the refusal or exclusion points. This route is not open to every nationality, and some applicants must be selected in a ballot before they can apply.
The most common issues are applying under the wrong nationality category, misunderstanding the age rule, assuming that all countries use the same process, or providing financial evidence that does not meet the exact 28-day rule. A short eligibility review before applying can prevent a costly refusal.
The current 2026 allocation includes countries and territories such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, Andorra, Iceland, Monaco, San Marino, Uruguay, Hong Kong and Taiwan. India operates through the separate India Young Professionals Scheme route, and Hong Kong and Taiwan applicants must follow the Youth Mobility ballot process.
The age rule depends on where you are from. Some nationalities can apply if they are aged 18 to 35, while others remain in the 18 to 30 group. It is also important to check whether you must be 18 by the visa start date and whether your age is assessed at the application date.
| Age group | Eligible nationality or passport category | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| 18 to 35 | Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Korea | No ballot under the current GOV.UK Youth Mobility Scheme visa page. |
| 18 to 30 | Andorra, Iceland, Japan, Monaco, San Marino and Uruguay | No ballot for these nationalities under the current GOV.UK page. |
| 18 to 30 with ballot | Hong Kong SAR passport holders and Taiwan nationals | You must be selected in the Youth Mobility Scheme ballot before applying. |
| 18 to 30 British nationality categories | British Overseas Citizens, British Overseas Territories Citizens and British Nationals (Overseas) | No ballot is required for these categories under GOV.UK ballot guidance. |
| Country / territory | 2026 allocation |
|---|---|
| Andorra | 100 places |
| Australia | 38,500 places |
| Canada | 10,000 places |
| Hong Kong | 1,000 places |
| Iceland | 1,000 places |
| Japan | 6,000 places |
| Monaco | 1,000 places |
| New Zealand | 8,000 places |
| Republic of Korea | 5,000 places |
| San Marino | 1,000 places |
| Taiwan | 1,000 places |
| Uruguay | 500 places |
Hong Kong SAR passport holders and Taiwan nationals must usually enter and be selected in the Youth Mobility Scheme ballot before they can submit the visa application. The ballot is not a full visa application; it is a selection process that gives successful entrants permission to apply within a strict timeframe.
All 2026 Youth Mobility Scheme ballots have now closed. GOV.UK states that details of the next ballot in 2027 will be published on the official ballot page. The 2026 allocation was 1,000 places for Hong Kong and 1,000 places for Taiwan. If selected, applicants normally have 90 days to submit the visa application, pay the fee and complete biometrics or identity steps.
Japanese and South Korean nationals no longer need to enter the Youth Mobility ballot under the current GOV.UK ballot guidance.
We can check whether you need the ballot, review the timing and help you understand what to do if you are selected.
The document list looks short, but evidence problems are one of the most common reasons applicants need professional help. Your documents must match your nationality category, your finances must meet the exact timing rule, and any country-specific documents must be current and correctly formatted.
You will usually need identity evidence, financial evidence showing the required savings, TB evidence if applicable, certified translations where needed and any extra nationality-specific evidence. Hong Kong and Taiwan applicants need the Home Office ballot confirmation email. Andorra, Iceland, San Marino and Uruguay applicants have specific additional evidence requirements.
Ask us to review your bank evidence, nationality documents, ballot confirmation, translations and supporting evidence before you submit.
A Youth Mobility Scheme visa allows you to work in most jobs, study, enter and leave the UK while the visa is valid, and experience life in the UK without being tied to a sponsoring employer. This flexibility can make it attractive for young professionals who want UK work experience before deciding their longer-term plans.
There are limits. You cannot work as a professional sportsperson, access public funds, or include family members on the same application. Self-employment is allowed only within specific restrictions: business premises must be rented, equipment must not be worth more than £5,000 and you must not have employees.
The current Youth Mobility Scheme visa application fee is £340. Applicants also usually need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, shown by GOV.UK as usually £776 per year for this route, and show that they have the required personal savings.
The Home Office fees and Immigration Health Surcharge are separate from any professional advice fees, biometric appointment costs, TB tests, translations, travel costs or other third-party expenses. Fees can change, so they should be checked again before applying.
| Cost item | Current position |
|---|---|
| Application fee | £340 |
| Immigration Health Surcharge | Usually £776 per year |
| Savings requirement | At least £2,530, unless the rules change before applying |
| Extension application fee | £340 for eligible Australia, Canada and New Zealand applicants |
| Extension IHS | £776 for the additional year |
| Professional fees | Separate from Home Office fees, IHS, biometrics, translations, TB tests and third-party costs |
The earliest you can usually apply is 6 months before you travel. After the online application, identity verification and document submission are completed, GOV.UK states that applicants usually receive a decision within 3 weeks.
You may need extra time if you need a biometric appointment, if there are no local visa application centre appointments, if documents require translation, if a TB test is needed or if UKVI asks for further checks.
Only Australian, Canadian and New Zealand nationals can currently apply to extend a Youth Mobility Scheme visa. The extension is for one additional year and can only be used once. You must be in the UK, hold valid Youth Mobility permission and apply before your current visa expires.
GOV.UK says eligible applicants should apply no more than 28 days before their current visa expires. Extension applications have their own fee and Immigration Health Surcharge, and you should not travel outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until a decision is made.
| Extension point | Practical meaning |
|---|---|
| Who can extend? | Only Australia, Canada and New Zealand nationals under the current GOV.UK rules. |
| How long? | One additional year after the original 24 months. |
| When to apply? | No more than 28 days before the current visa expires. |
| Decision time | Usually within 8 weeks. |
| Travel restriction | Do not travel outside the UK, Ireland, Channel Islands or Isle of Man while waiting for a decision. |
If you are from Australia, Canada or New Zealand, we can review your eligibility and timing before you submit your extension application.
The Youth Mobility Scheme visa does not directly lead to indefinite leave to remain. It is a temporary route designed for cultural exchange, work experience and travel rather than long-term settlement.
However, the route can still be part of a wider UK immigration plan. Some applicants may later switch into a route that can lead to settlement, such as Skilled Worker, Global Talent, Family Visa or another eligible category. If staying long term is your goal, you should plan early and not wait until the final weeks of your visa.
Speak to an expert immigration visa adviser before your visa expires so you can understand possible switching routes and long-term settlement planning.
A Youth Mobility Scheme application can look simple, but problems often arise from wrong age category, incorrect savings evidence, missing ballot confirmation, country-specific documents or poor timing.
We can help with eligibility checks, ballot timing, document review, extension support and next-route planning before your application is submitted.
We provide practical immigration support for Youth Mobility Scheme applicants who want to reduce avoidable refusal risks and submit a clear, well-timed application. Our support can be limited to a document check or extended to full application guidance.
We can also help applicants think ahead. If your aim is to remain in the UK after the Youth Mobility Scheme ends, early advice can help you understand possible routes such as Skilled Worker, Global Talent, family, study or other immigration categories.
| Service | What we check or prepare |
|---|---|
| Eligibility consultation | Check whether you qualify under the correct nationality, age, savings and suitability rules before you apply. |
| Ballot support | Help for Hong Kong SAR and Taiwan applicants with eligibility checks, ballot timing and next steps after selection. |
| Document checking | A focused review of bank statements, identity documents, TB evidence, translations and any country-specific documents. |
| Full application support | End-to-end preparation of your online application and evidence bundle with practical guidance before submission. |
| Extension review | Support for Australia, Canada and New Zealand nationals applying for the permitted one-year extension from inside the UK. |
| Future route planning | Advice on switching before expiry if you want to remain in the UK long term through a settlement route. |
The Youth Mobility Scheme visa is a temporary UK work and travel route for eligible young adults from participating countries, territories and British nationality categories. It allows successful applicants to live and work in the UK for up to 2 years, or up to 3 years for eligible Australian, Canadian and New Zealand nationals who extend.
You may be able to apply if you are from an eligible country or territory, meet the relevant age limit, have at least £2,530 in savings, have not previously used the route, and do not have children under 18 living with you or children you are financially responsible for.
Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Korea are listed by GOV.UK as 18 to 35 countries for the Youth Mobility Scheme. The age rules look at whether you are 18 or over when the visa starts and 35 or under when you apply.
Andorra, Iceland, Japan, Monaco, San Marino and Uruguay are listed under the 18 to 30 group. Hong Kong SAR passport holders and Taiwan nationals are also in the 18 to 30 group but need a successful ballot selection before applying.
Yes. Hong Kong SAR passport holders and Taiwan nationals must be selected in the Youth Mobility Scheme ballot before they can apply. All 2026 Youth Mobility Scheme ballots have now closed. GOV.UK states that details of the next ballot in 2027 will be published on the official ballot page. The 2026 allocation was 1,000 places for Hong Kong and 1,000 for Taiwan.
No. GOV.UK ballot guidance says Japanese and South Korean nationals no longer need to enter the Youth Mobility ballot and can apply at any time if they meet the route requirements.
Indian nationals use a different route called the India Young Professionals Scheme visa. India appears in the allocation appendix because it has its own invitation arrangements, but applicants should not treat the standard Youth Mobility page as the India route.
You normally need to show at least £2,530 in your bank account. The money must usually have been available for at least 28 consecutive days, and day 28 must be within 31 days before the date of application.
Common documents include a valid passport, bank evidence showing the required savings, TB test results if required, and certified translations for documents not in English or Welsh. Some applicants need additional country-specific evidence, such as a ballot confirmation email, criminal record certificate or official government letter.
The current application fee listed by GOV.UK is £340. Applicants also usually pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, currently shown on GOV.UK as usually £776 per year for this route, and must meet the savings requirement.
Yes. You can work in most jobs. You cannot work as a professional sportsperson, and self-employment is restricted: your business premises must be rented, equipment must not be worth more than £5,000 and you must not have employees.
Yes. You can study in the UK on this route, although some courses may require an Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate.
You cannot include family members on your Youth Mobility Scheme application. Family members must qualify and apply separately. You also cannot apply if you have children under 18 who live with you or children you are financially responsible for.
Only nationals of Australia, Canada and New Zealand can currently apply to extend a Youth Mobility Scheme visa. The extension is for one additional year, must be made from inside the UK while holding valid Youth Mobility permission, and can only be used once.
If you are eligible to extend, GOV.UK says you should apply no more than 28 days before your current visa expires. You must not travel outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you receive a decision.
No. The Youth Mobility Scheme visa does not directly lead to indefinite leave to remain. If you want to stay in the UK long term, you should take advice before your visa expires about whether you can switch into a route that may lead to settlement.
You may be able to switch into another eligible route before your Youth Mobility visa expires if you meet the requirements of that route. Common examples include Skilled Worker, Global Talent, Family Visa or Student routes, depending on your circumstances.
If your Youth Mobility Scheme application is refused, check the decision letter and refusal reasons promptly. The Immigration Rules provide for Administrative Review of a Youth Mobility Scheme refusal under Appendix AR. Depending on the reason for refusal and the evidence available, a fresh application may sometimes be more appropriate, so the decision should be reviewed before taking the next step.
These related guides can help Youth Mobility applicants plan their next step in the UK.
Plan a longer-term UK work route if you receive a sponsored job offer.
Explore study options if you want to move into UK education before or after Youth Mobility.
Understand post-study work options if you complete an eligible UK qualification.
Compare HPI if you graduated from an eligible global university.
Consider Global Talent if your profile fits leadership or promise in an eligible field.
Plan your long-term UK residence and settlement strategy.
If you are planning to apply for a Youth Mobility Scheme visa, our team can review your eligibility, savings evidence, ballot position, documents and longer-term UK visa planning before you submit.
