UK Youth Mobility Scheme visa (YMS) 2025 Complete Guidance

What is the Youth Mobility Scheme? 

Youth Mobility Scheme is a temporary route designed as a cultural exchange scheme for eligible young people to live, work and travel in the UK. Some nationalities must enter a ballot first. Certain nationalities can extend in-country to a total of 3 years. 

Who is the Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) for?

You must be a national of a country/territory listed in the eligible nationals schedule (or a BOC/BOTC/BNO).

The countries and territories listed in Appendix Youth Mobility Scheme: eligible nationals of the Immigration Rules are:

• Andorra
• Australia
• Canada
• Hong Kong
• Iceland
• India 
• Japan
• Monaco
• New Zealand
• Republic of Korea
• San Marino
• Taiwan
• Uruguay

What are the Age Limits?

An individual applying for entry clearance from the following countries must be aged 30 or under on the date of application:

• Andorra
• Hong Kong
• Iceland
• India
• Japan
• Monaco
• San Marino
• Taiwan
• Uruguay

If the individual applying for entry clearance is from the following countries, they must be aged 35 or under on the date of application:

• Australia
• Canada
• New Zealand
• Republic of Korea

What are the Country-Specific Requirements?

Where the applicant is a national or citizen of Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand or the Republic of Korea, no country specific eligibility requirements apply. Most applicants simply need prove nationality and meet the financial requirements subject to meeting other validity and suitability requirements. However, specific nationalities have extra requirements:

Hong Kong & Taiwan

The applicant must both:

• have been issued with an invitation to apply in accordance with the invitation to apply arrangements 
• have made their application within any time limit specified on that invitation to apply

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.

Iceland

The applicant must provide a Criminal Certificate for Private Use (known in Icelandic as Sakavottorð) that has been issued no more than 6 months before the date of application

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 (known as a Certificado de Antecedentes Judiciales) that has been issued no more than 6 months before the date of application

India

You can read more details about the India Young Professionals Scheme here.

The applicant must

• have been issued with an invitation to apply in accordance with the invitation to apply arrangements
•  have made their application within the period of time specified on that invitation to apply
• provide the unique application number (UAN) for that invitation to apply (you must verify the UAN against the ballot list)
• provide a local police certificate or a police clearance certificate that has been issued no more than 6 months before the date of application
• hold a qualification equal to or above RQF level 6 (Bachelor’s degree or above)

Do I need a Invitation to Apply (Ballot) to apply for Youth Mobility Scheme Visa? 

Whether you need a ballot depends on your nationality. The Youth Mobility Scheme uses an “invitation to apply” (ballot) for Hong Kong, India and Taiwan nationals.

The Home Office periodically invites expressions of interest from eligible nationals and sets, at its discretion, how many rounds will run, how many places are available in each round, and any monthly caps. You may submit only one expression of interest per window, and only for the country or territory of which you are a national/citizen or the rightful holder of a passport.

From the pool received, the Home Office selects candidates at random and keeps a record of those invited. If you are selected, your invitation will be time-limited: it will specify the deadline to file your visa application (and provide biometrics), and late submissions are normally not accepted. 

What if I miss the Invitation (Ballot) Window?

If you miss the deadline, you normally need to wait for a future ballot/invitation. Limited discretion for late submissions exists in narrowly defined, evidenced circumstances.

How to Enter the Youth Mobility Scheme Ballot?

Applicants from Hong Kong and Taiwan need to enter the ballot before applying for a Youth Mobility Scheme visa. There are usually ballots in February and July every year. The majority of applicants tend to be chosen during the February ballot and the remaining places allocated in the July ballot. Unsuccessful applicants can apply again if they still meet the eligibility requirements.

Ballots will be open for 48 hours. All emails received by the Home Office within this 48 hour period will be entered into the ballot. Applicants will get an automated reply confirming entry.

All emails must be in English.

The subject line of the email must include applicant’s name, date of birth and passport number in the format: Last name First name – DD/MM/YYYY – passport number. (Example subject line: Wong Janet – 31/03/2000 – 123456789)

The body of the email must include applicant’s

• name
• date of birth
• passport number
• mobile phone number

Emails received without this information or not in this format will not be considered. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified within two weeks of the ballot closing.

Applicants have 90 days to submit their applications, pay the visa fees and provide their biometric information at a Visa Application Centre.

Applicants normally get a decision within three weeks of attending their biometric appointments.

What is the Annual Allocation of Places?

The maximum total allocation of places available for use by nationals or citizens of countries and rightful holders of a passport issued by territories participating in the Youth Mobility Scheme in 2025, are as follows:

• Andorra – 100 places
• Australia – 42,000 places
• Canada – 10,000 places
• Hong Kong – 1,000 places
• Iceland – 1,000 places
• India – 3,000 places
• Japan – 6,000 places
• Monaco – 1,000 places
• New Zealand – 9,500 places
• Republic of Korea – 5,000 places
• San Marino – 1,000 places
• Taiwan – 1,000 places
• Uruguay – 500 places

The maximum total allocation of places listed does not apply to nationals in the UK with valid permission under the Youth Mobility Scheme and who are eligible and applying for permission to stay under the scheme.

What is the Financial Requirement for Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) Visa?

Applicants must show that they have funds of £2,530 held for 28 days as specified in Appendix Finance.

Applicant must not have any children aged under 18 who are either living with them or financially dependent upon them

How Long is the Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) Visa and Can I Extend It?

Entry clearance is normally granted for up to 2 years. Nationals of Australia, Canada and New Zealand can apply in-country for a further year of permission to stay, giving a total of 3 continuous years.

What Work can I Do Under the Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) Visa?

YMS permission comes with standard conditions:

• no recourse to public funds; work permitted (with restrictions);
• study permitted subject to ATAS where required.
• Work as a professional sportsperson/coach is prohibited.
• Self-employment is permitted only within narrow limits: no business premises other than a home address, equipment value not over £5,000, and no employees. 

Does the Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) Lead to Settlement?

Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) is not a direct route to settlement; however, many people later switch in-country to another immigration route that does lead to settlement, if they meet those route-specific requirements.

Can I Bring my Family Under This Route?

No, Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) does not allow applicants to bring depedants. 

How Angelov Solicitors can help?

We provide advice and guidance on the immigration rules for the Youth Mobility Scheme. We will confirm your eligibility (including nationality-specific quotas and any ballot/invitation requirements). We also advise on the format of financial evidence; check country-specific documents, and ensure every part of your application aligns with Appendix Youth Mobility Scheme and current Home Office caseworker guidance.

If you are preparing a Youth Mobility Scheme application, or need advice on switching into a longer-term route, such as spouse visa, skilled-worker visa, global talent visa, or innovator founder visa, book a one-hour consultation and we will assess your circumstances in more detail.