You can apply for a Youth Mobility Scheme visa if you: want to live and work in the UK for up to 2 years are aged 18 to 30 (or 18 to 35 if you’re from New Zealand) have £2,530 in savings have certain types of British Nationality or are from certain countries or territories listed in the eligibility requirements From 31 January 2024, you can apply if you’re from: Australia or Canada and aged 18 to 35 Andorra or Uruguay and aged 18 to 30 How long it takes The earliest you can apply for a visa is 6 months before you travel. Example You can apply from 16 January if you plan to travel on 15 July. As part of your application, you’ll need to prove your identity and provide your documents. You may need to allow extra time if you need an appointment to do this. You’ll find out if you need one when you start your application. Getting a decision Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks. How much it costs You will need to: pay the application fee pay the healthcare surcharge, which is usually £470 per year - you can check how much you’ll have to pay prove you have enough personal savings - check how much in the eligibility requirements Application fee The application fee is £259. How long you can stay You’ll be given a visa to live and work in the UK for up to 24 months. You can enter the UK at any time while your visa is valid, and leave and come back at any time during your stay. If you turn 31 after your visa is issued, you can stay in the UK for as long as your visa is valid. If you’re from New Zealand, you’ll be able to extend your visa by one year after the 2-year period ends. If you’re from Australia or Canada, from 31 January 2024 you’ll be able to apply to extend your visa by one year. What you can and cannot do You can: study - for some courses you’ll need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate work in most jobs be self-employed and set up a company - as long as your premises are rented, your equipment is not worth more than £5,000 and you do not have any employees You cannot: work as a professional sportsperson (for example as a coach) extend your stay unless you’re from New Zealand get public funds bring in family members on your application - they must apply separately

If you’re from New Zealand and aged 18 to 35 You can apply for a Youth Mobility Scheme visa if you’re aged 18 to 35 and you’re from New Zealand. You must be aged 18 or over when your visa starts, or 35 or under when you apply for it. You can apply for your visa before you turn 18 and you can be over 35 when it starts. If you’re from elsewhere in the world and aged 18 to 30 You can apply for a visa if you’re aged 18 to 30 and you’re from: Australia Canada Monaco San Marino Iceland You must be selected in the Youth Mobility Scheme ballot before you can apply for your visa if you’re from: Hong Kong Japan South Korea Taiwan You can also apply if you’re aged 18 to 30 and you’re a: British overseas citizen British overseas territories citizen British national (overseas) You must be aged 18 or over when your visa starts, or 30 or under when you apply for it. You can apply for your visa before you turn 18 and you can be over 30 when it starts. When you cannot apply You cannot apply if you have: children under the age of 18 who live with you children you’re financially responsible for already been in the UK under the scheme If you’re from India There’s a different scheme for Indian nationals. Check if you’re eligible for the India Young Professionals Scheme visa . Money to support yourself You must have at least £2,530 in your bank account to show you can support yourself in the UK. You will need to have had the money available for at least 28 days in a row. Day 28 must be within 31 days of applying for this visa. You’ll need to show proof of this when you apply . Read the guidance on financial evidence for more information about the money you need and how to prove it.

Documents you must provide

When you apply you’ll need to provide: a valid passport or other document that shows your identity and nationality a bank statement showing you have at least £2,530 in savings your tuberculosis ( TB ) test results if you’re from a country where you have to take the test You need a blank page in your passport for your visa. You’ll need to provide a certified translation of any documents that are not in English or Welsh. You may need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances. If you’re from Hong Kong, Japan, the Republic of Korea or Taiwan You must provide a valid email from the Home Office confirming you were successful in the Youth Mobility Scheme ballot . If you’re from San Marino You must provide a letter from the Directorate of Political and Diplomatic Affairs of the Republic of San Marino Department of Foreign Affairs. The letter must: confirm that you’re suitable for the Youth Mobility Scheme have been issued less than 6 months before you apply for the Youth Mobility Scheme visa If you’re from Iceland You must provide an Icelandic Criminal Certificate for Private Use (called a Sakavottorð) . It must have been issued less than 6 months before you apply for the Youth Mobility Scheme visa.

Check which documents you’ll need to apply . You’ll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application. Check how much you’ll have to pay before you apply. If you’re from Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea or Taiwan, you must be successfully selected in the Youth Mobility Scheme ballot before you can apply for your visa. Apply from outside the UK You must apply online for a Youth Mobility Scheme visa. Proving your identity and providing supporting documents As part of your application, you’ll need to prove your identity. How you do this depends on where you’re from and what type of passport you have. You’ll either: have your fingerprints and photograph taken at a visa application centre - this is to get a biometric residence permit use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your identity document - you’ll also create or sign into your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account You’ll be told what you need to do when you apply. If you do need an appointment: the centre may need to keep your passport and documents while they process your application you may have to travel to get to your nearest visa application centre (this could be in another country) If you’ve applied through a visa application centre, find out if you can pay to get a faster decision - this depends on where you’re applying from. Apply for a Youth Mobility Scheme visa Once you’ve started your application, you can save your form and complete it later. Apply online If you have a child while you’re in the UK If you have a child while you’re in the UK, they do not automatically become a British citizen . You can apply online for their visa as your dependant . You must do this if you want to travel in and out of the UK with your child. You’ll need to provide a full UK birth certificate for each child, showing the names of both parents.

You can only apply to extend your Youth Mobility Scheme visa if you’re from New Zealand. You can extend your visa for one year. To extend your visa, you must: be living in the UK have a valid Youth Mobility Scheme visa Your visa will be valid from the day after your original visa ends. You can only extend your visa once. Fees You’ll need to pay: the £259 application fee the £470 immigration health surcharge Extend your visa online You must apply online to extend your visa. You should apply no more than 28 days before your current visa expires. Apply online You must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision. Proving your identity and providing supporting documents As part of your application you’ll need to prove your identity. How you do this depends on where you’re from and what type of passport you have. You’ll either: use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your identity document - you’ll also create or sign in to your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account give your fingerprints and a photograph (biometric information) at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point - this is to get a biometric residence permit You’ll be told what you need to do when you apply. How long it takes to get a decision You’ll get a decision on your application within 8 weeks. You may be able to pay to get a faster decision - you’ll be told if you can when you apply.

Youth Mobility Scheme visa

Overview

You can apply for a Youth Mobility Scheme visa if you:

want to live and work in the UK for up to 2 years
are aged 18 to 30 (or 18 to 35 if you’re from New Zealand)
have £2,530 in savings
have certain types of British Nationality or are from certain countries or territories listed in the eligibility requirements

From 31 January 2024, you can apply if you’re from:

Australia or Canada and aged 18 to 35
Andorra or Uruguay and aged 18 to 30

How long it takes

The earliest you can apply for a visa is 6 months before you travel.

Example

You can apply from 16 January if you plan to travel on 15 July.

As part of your application, you’ll need to prove your identity and provide your documents.

You may need to allow extra time if you need an appointment to do this. You’ll find out if you need one when you start your application.

Getting a decision

Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks.

How much it costs

You will need to:

pay the application fee
pay the healthcare surcharge, which is usually £470 per year - you can check how much you’ll have to pay
prove you have enough personal savings - check how much in the eligibility requirements

Application fee

The application fee is £259.

How long you can stay

You’ll be given a visa to live and work in the UK for up to 24 months.

You can enter the UK at any time while your visa is valid, and leave and come back at any time during your stay.

If you turn 31 after your visa is issued, you can stay in the UK for as long as your visa is valid.

If you’re from New Zealand, you’ll be able to extend your visa by one year after the 2-year period ends.

If you’re from Australia or Canada, from 31 January 2024 you’ll be able to apply to extend your visa by one year.

What you can and cannot do

You can:

study - for some courses you’ll need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate
work in most jobs
be self-employed and set up a company - as long as your premises are rented, your equipment is not worth more than £5,000 and you do not have any employees

You cannot:

work as a professional sportsperson (for example as a coach)
extend your stay unless you’re from New Zealand
get public funds
bring in family members on your application - they must apply separately

View a printable version of the whole guide

Youth Mobility Scheme visa

Overview

How long it takes

Getting a decision

How much it costs

Application fee

How long you can stay

What you can and cannot do

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Youth Mobility Scheme visa

Overview

How long it takes

Getting a decision

How much it costs

Application fee

How long you can stay

What you can and cannot do

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