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Youth Mobility Scheme 2019 for Japanese nationals

The Youth Mobility Scheme 2019 for Japanese nationals will open in January 2019.

Youth Mobility Scheme 2019 for Japanese nationals

The Youth Mobility Scheme is for young people who want to live, work and travel in the United Kingdom for a period of up to two years. There will be 1000 places in total available to Japanese nationals for the 2019 Youth Mobility Scheme. This will be split into two ballots, one in January and one in July. A total of 800 applicants will be selected for the first ballot in January 2019. If your application is successful you will be able to live, work and study in the UK for up to 2 years. You may apply for the Youth Mobility Scheme visa six months before your intended departure date.

How to apply

If you would like to apply for the scheme you should send one email (only) to YSM 2019 Appointment between Monday 14 January 2019, 12:00 pm (Japan time) to Wednesday 16 January 2019, 12:00 pm (Japan time). The email header or subject line must contain your name, date of birth (dd/mm/yyyy) and passport number as shown in your passport. For example: YAMADA Taro - 31/01/1990 - TH123456789.

In the main text of your email you should include the following in English:

  • name
  • date of birth
  • passport number
  • country to submit the application (ex: Japan )
  • home and mobile phone number

The email account will be open for 48 hours only and all emails received within this time frame will be sent an automated reply confirming receipt.

When the email account has closed, 800 applicants will be chosen at random. A second email will be sent to you on Wednesday 23 January if you have been chosen to apply. This email will confirm acceptance and further instructions on how to make an appointment, along with documentary evidence required to apply for your entry clearance. You will only receive a second email on this date if you have been successfully chosen for application.

Please note that if successful you must prepare your online application and online credit card payment no later than 30 March 2019. Failure to submit your payment online by this date will automatically remove your name from the list and your allocation will be retracted. After you have paid online you have 90 days to submit your paperwork for consideration.

If you are a Japanese national living overseas you can also apply following the instructions above, and if you are chosen to apply you will be able to do so in your country of residence. Applications cannot be submitted for the Youth Mobility Scheme 2019 in the UK.

An email will be sent to unsuccessful customers on Friday 25 January to inform them they have not been chosen and that no further action is required. A second ballot for the remaining YMS slots will be opened in July 2019. An updated news item will be posted regarding the second ballot later in the year on this website.

Published 29 November 2018