UK Youth Mobility Scheme Visa
UK Home Office · Youth Mobility Scheme
The Youth Mobility Scheme Ballot, Explained
A working-holiday style visa route into the UK, allocated by lottery for oversubscribed nationalities. Here's how the July 2026 ballot round works, who it's for, and what happens after you're selected — sourced from GOV.UK.
What the scheme actually is
The Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) visa is a reciprocal cultural-exchange route that lets young people from participating countries live, work and study in the UK for up to two years, without needing a job offer or employer sponsorship. Its official overview on GOV.UK sums up the eligibility in four lines: you want to live and work in the UK for up to two years; you're 18–30 or 18–35 depending on nationality; you have £2,530 in savings; and you hold an eligible nationality or type of British nationality.
It functions less like a traditional cultural-exchange programme and more like an open work permit for people in their twenties — you can take almost any job, be self-employed under limited conditions, and enrol in academic courses. It does not lead directly to settlement (indefinite leave to remain), and time spent on it doesn't count toward that route.
Why a ballot exists at all
Most eligible nationalities can apply for the YMS visa at any time — no lottery required. The ballot only applies to a handful of nationalities where demand consistently outstrips the annual quota: Hong Kong SAR passport holders, Taiwanese citizens, and — through the linked India Young Professionals Scheme — Indian citizens. Japanese and South Korean nationals used to need a ballot too, but since 2024 they can apply directly, any time, without entering one.
Each of these nationalities gets a fixed number of places per calendar year, split across two ballot rounds: most places go out in a February round, and the leftover places are allocated in a second round each July. Because the July round only offers what's left over after February, it's smaller and more competitive — and it's typically the last chance to enter for that calendar year.
July 2026 ballot: the timeline
- 17 FEB – 19 FEB 2026First 2026 ballot round. The bulk of each country's annual quota (roughly 800 of Taiwan's 1,000 places) was allocated here.
- 23 JUN 2026Home Office confirms the second and final 2026 ballot dates for Hong Kong and Taiwan.
- 14 JUL 2026, 00:01Second ballot opens for Hong Kong SAR and Taiwanese youth — a strict 48-hour entry window.
- 16 JUL 2026, 00:01Ballot closes. No late entries are accepted.
- 21 JUL – 23 JUL 2026Separate India Young Professionals Scheme ballot window (2:30pm–2:30pm IST) — the final 2026 round, offering the remainder of that scheme's 3,000 annual places.
- By 30 JUL 2026Successful entrants notified by email with instructions to begin their formal visa application. Unsuccessful entrants are notified within two weeks of the ballot closing.
- By 30 OCT 2026Deadline for successful entrants to submit a completed application and attend a biometrics appointment at a Visa Application Centre.
Who's eligible, and by what quota
| Nationality / status | Age window | Ballot required? |
|---|---|---|
| Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Korea | 18–35 | No |
| Japan | 18–30 | No (since 2024) |
| Andorra, Iceland, Monaco, San Marino, Uruguay | 18–30 | No |
| British Overseas Citizens / BOTC / BN(O) | 18–30 | No |
| Hong Kong SAR passport holders | 18–30 | Yes — 1,000 places/year |
| Taiwan | 18–30 | Yes — 1,000 places/year |
| India (via Young Professionals Scheme) | 18–30 | Yes — 3,000 places/year |
Indian applicants additionally need a degree at RQF Level 6 or above (roughly bachelor's-degree equivalent), or at least three years of relevant professional experience, since India participates through the linked Young Professionals Scheme rather than the standard YMS route directly.
How to enter
During the window
- Send one entry per applicant to the designated Home Office ballot address for your nationality (e.g. a dedicated Taiwan YMS mailbox).
- Include name, date of birth, and passport details exactly as shown in your passport.
- Only one entry counts per person — duplicate submissions aren't given extra weight.
- Entering the ballot itself is free of charge.
If you're selected
- You have 90 days from notification to complete your formal application and attend biometrics.
- Apply online, then either use the 'UK Immigration: ID Check' app to verify identity, or book a Visa Application Centre appointment.
- You'll receive an eVisa, not a physical visa vignette, once approved.
- You must travel to the UK within 6 months of applying.
What it costs
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Ballot entry | Free |
| Visa application fee | £319 |
| Immigration Health Surcharge | ~£776 per year (≈£1,552 for a 2-year visa) |
| Required savings on hand | £2,530, held for at least 28 consecutive days |
| Optional priority decision | From ~£500 (priority) up to ~£1,000 (super priority) |
What the visa lets you do
Permitted
- Work in most jobs, with no employer sponsorship needed
- Study, including at university (some courses need an ATAS certificate)
- Be self-employed, if premises are rented, equipment is under £5,000, and you hire no employees
- Leave and re-enter the UK freely during the visa's validity
- Extend by one year (Australia, Canada, New Zealand nationals only), or switch into another route from within the UK
Not permitted
- Bringing dependent children
- Working as a professional sportsperson
- Counting time toward indefinite leave to remain (settlement)
- A second YMS visa if you've held one before
- Late or duplicate ballot entries outside the 48-hour window
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