Find visa optionsFind visas
Menu

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland · youth mobility

Youth Mobility Scheme visa

By · Last reviewed:

Source check: all 7 official citations reconfirmed 13 September 2026

Unsponsored 2-year visa for 18–30 or 18–35 year olds from participating countries and territories.

No sponsorship requiredDoes not lead to permanent residencyUp to 24 months initially. Australian, Canadian and New Zealand nationals can apply once for a one-year extension.
Processing time
Initial applications outside the UK usually receive a decision within 3 weeks after identity verification and submission of the application and documents. Eligible in-UK extensions normally take up to 8 weeks.
Government fees
£340 application fee plus the reduced Immigration Health Surcharge, usually £776 per year: £1,892 for an initial two-year application (£340 + £1,552 IHS). An eligible one-year extension costs £1,116 (£340 + £776 IHS). The £2,530 savings requirement is evidence of funds, not a fee.
Typical duration
Up to 24 months initially. Australian, Canadian and New Zealand nationals can apply once for a one-year extension.
Sponsorship required
No
Leads to permanent residency
No
Reviewed UK Home Office ↗

In short

As of 10 September 2026, the Youth Mobility Scheme visa for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has typical processing of 3 weeks (initial application from outside the UK; the clock starts after ID Check submission or the visa-centre biometric appointment). Sources: official United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland government pages, reviewed 10 September 2026.

Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/uk/youth-mobility-scheme#answer

What is the Youth Mobility Scheme visa in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?

Youth Mobility Scheme visa is an unsponsored United Kingdom route. Indicative government fees are £340 application fee plus the reduced Immigration Health Surcharge, usually £776 per year: £1,892 for an initial two-year application (£340 + £1,552 IHS). An eligible one-year extension costs £1,116 (£340 + £776 IHS). The £2,530 savings requirement is evidence of funds, not a fee; indicative processing time is Initial applications outside the UK usually receive a decision within 3 weeks after identity verification and submission of the application and documents. Eligible in-UK extensions normally take up to 8 weeks; typical duration is Up to 24 months initially. Australian, Canadian and New Zealand nationals can apply once for a one-year extension. This route does not lead to permanent residence.

Verified against UK Home Office on 10 September 2026.

Overview

The Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) gives eligible young people up to 24 months to live, work and study in the UK without employer sponsorship. Australians, Canadians and New Zealanders can apply for one additional year. Most jobs are permitted, but professional sport, including coaching, is prohibited; self-employment is subject to limits.

Guidance by nationality

Specific information for applicants from these countries. Don’t see yours? The general eligibility criteria above apply to everyone.

Eligibility

Typical criteria

  • ✓Eligible nationalities include Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Korea, Andorra, Iceland, Japan, Monaco, San Marino and Uruguay. Hong Kong SAR passport holders and Taiwanese applicants need ballot selection. British overseas citizens, British overseas territories citizens and British nationals (overseas) also qualify under the published rules. Indian nationals use the separate India Young Professionals Scheme.UK Home Office ↗
  • ✓Be at least 18 when the visa starts and no older than 30 when applying, or 35 for Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Korea. Turning 31 or 36 after applying does not itself prevent the visa starting.UK Home Office ↗
  • ✓Hold at least £2,530 for 28 consecutive days; the final day must fall within 31 days before applying.UK Home Office ↗
  • ✓You cannot make an initial application if you have children under 18 living with you, children you financially support, or have already been in the UK under the scheme. The published extension exception is for eligible Australian, Canadian and New Zealand participants.UK Home Office ↗

Common blockers

  • !Nationality not on the participating list — the UK's YMS partners are fewer than commonly assumed.
  • !No ballot selection where required: Hong Kong SAR passport holders and Taiwanese applicants must be selected before applying. Japan and South Korea do not currently require a YMS ballot; India has a separate visa scheme.UK Home Office ↗

Typical evidence

  • ·Valid passport or other document establishing identity and nationality.UK Home Office ↗
  • ·Bank statement showing the qualifying £2,530 savings.UK Home Office ↗
  • ·A valid Home Office ballot-success email if required for a Hong Kong SAR or Taiwanese application.UK Home Office ↗
  • ·TB test results where required, and certified translations for documents not in English or Welsh. Andorra, Iceland, San Marino and Uruguay have additional country-specific evidence requirements; consult the official document checklist.UK Home Office ↗

Application pathway

  1. Confirm participation and quota

    Check whether your country of nationality participates and whether a ballot applies.

  2. Apply or enter ballot

    Apply directly if eligible, or submit ballot registration during the published window for ballot countries.

  3. Verify identity and await a decision

    Apply online from outside the UK. Follow the application instructions to use the ID Check app or attend a visa application centre. The usual three-week decision period follows identity verification and submission of the application and documents; appointment waiting can add time.

  4. Live and work in the UK

    The initial permission lasts up to 24 months. Work in most jobs, but not as a professional sportsperson or coach. Self-employment requires rented premises, equipment worth no more than £5,000 and no employees. Only eligible Australian, Canadian and New Zealand participants can apply for the additional year.

After approval: prepare for your next step

For Youth Mobility Scheme visa, use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.

  1. 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
  2. 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
  3. 3. Confirm what you may do. Check whether employment, self-employment, remote work or study is permitted under the status granted. Do not infer unrestricted work rights from the absence of an employer sponsor.
  4. 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
  5. 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.
Official Youth Mobility Scheme visa instructionsBuild my moving plan for this routeMoving to United KingdomFirst steps after arrivingDestination moving checklist

Plan the practical side of your stay

Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in United Kingdom. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.

Official application links

Where to actually go next

Government links only

These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.

  1. ApplyApplicant
    Apply for Youth Mobility ↗

    Apply online from outside the UK and follow the identity-check instructions. Complete the ballot first if you hold a Hong Kong SAR passport or apply as a Taiwanese national.

    UK Home Office · verified

  2. ChecklistApplicant
    Check eligible nationalities ↗

    Use this official checklist to confirm age, nationality, savings and ballot requirements.

    UK Home Office · verified

  3. ChecklistApplicant
    Check the one-year extension ↗

    Australian, Canadian and New Zealand nationals with valid YMS permission can apply once from inside the UK, no more than 28 days before expiry.

    UK Home Office · verified

  4. ChecklistApplicant
    Check long-residence rules ↗

    YMS has no direct settlement route. Separately check the qualifying lawful-residence and absence rules for ten-year long residence.

    UK Home Office · verified

Fees and processing time

Indicative government fees: £340 application fee plus the reduced Immigration Health Surcharge, usually £776 per year: £1,892 for an initial two-year application (£340 + £1,552 IHS). An eligible one-year extension costs £1,116 (£340 + £776 IHS). The £2,530 savings requirement is evidence of funds, not a fee.. A decision then typically takes 3 weeks (initial application from outside the UK; the clock starts after ID Check submission or the visa-centre biometric appointment). Both change over time, so the dedicated pages below carry the itemised breakdown and the current official figures.

Also explored by

Australian New Zealander Japanese

Compare United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland with

Related routes

Frequently asked questions

Can YMS lead to settlement?+

YMS does not itself provide a direct settlement route. A later switch requires meeting the rules of the new visa. Do not confuse this with the separate ten-year long-residence route: lawful time in most immigration categories can count, subject to its residence, absence and other requirements. Check the linked GOV.UK long-residence guidance for your history.

Can I bring dependants on YMS?+

You cannot bring family members on your initial YMS application; they need their own immigration permission. GOV.UK provides separate instructions for applying for a dependant visa for a child born in the UK during your stay.

Can I come to the UK to work without a sponsor on the Youth Mobility Scheme?+

Eligible nationalities and certain British nationality categories can apply without employer sponsorship, subject to the age, savings and other rules. The initial grant lasts up to 24 months; Australians, Canadians and New Zealanders can apply once for another year. Most jobs are allowed, but professional sport and coaching are prohibited, and self-employment has limits. YMS has no direct settlement route. Check GOV.UK for your nationality and circumstances.

Need tailored advice?

We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.

Find a regulated advisor in United Kingdom

How we verified this

We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.

Primary source: UK Home Office

Last checked: 10 September 2026

See the full evidence trail and methodology

CompareFind visa options