United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland · youth mobility
Youth Mobility Scheme visa
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
Source check: all 7 official citations reconfirmed 11 July 2026
Unsponsored 2-year visa for 18–30 or 18–35 year olds from participating countries and territories.
- Processing time
- Typically within 3 weeks.
- Government fees
- Application fee plus IHS £1,035/year. Ballot fees apply for some partner countries.
- Typical duration
- 2 years (3 years for specified partners such as New Zealand). Non-extendable.
- Sponsorship required
- No
- Leads to permanent residency
- No
In short
As of 8 July 2026, the Youth Mobility Scheme visa for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has typical processing of 3 weeks. Sources: official United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland government pages, reviewed 8 July 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 Application fee plus IHS £1,035/year. Ballot fees apply for some partner countries; indicative processing time is Typically within 3 weeks; typical duration is 2 years (3 years for specified partners such as New Zealand). Non-extendable. This route does not lead to permanent residence.
Verified against UK Home Office on 1 June 2026.
Overview
The Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) allows nationals of participating countries to live, work, and study in the UK for up to 2 years (3 for some partners). Age limits and annual quotas differ by partner country. No sponsor required, no employer restrictions.
Guidance by nationality
Specific information for applicants from these countries. Don’t see yours? The general eligibility criteria above apply to everyone.
Australian applicants
Australian nationals aged 18–35 qualify under an expanded age range (from 18–30 previously). The annual quota is generou…
New Zealander applicants
New Zealand nationals aged 18–35 qualify on the same expanded terms as Australians. YMS participants often use the route…
Japanese applicants
Japanese nationals have a small annual quota (~1,500) under the UK–Japan YMS. The route is ballot-based with fixed appli…
South Korean applicants
South Korean applicants under the UK–Korea YMS have a moderate annual quota. Applications are via the Korean foreign min…
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓Nationality of a participating country (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong BN(O), Iceland, Monaco, San Marino, Uruguay, and selected others).UK Home Office ↗
- ✓Age in the qualifying range (18–30 for most; 18–35 for Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Korea).UK Home Office ↗
- ✓Savings of £2,530 held for 28 days.UK Home Office ↗
- ✓No dependent children who live with you or for whom you are financially responsible.UK Home Office ↗
Common blockers
- !Nationality not on the participating list — the UK's YMS partners are fewer than commonly assumed.
- !Ballot quota exhausted (Hong Kong, India, and some other countries allocate places by ballot).
Typical evidence
- ·Passport.UK Home Office ↗
- ·Bank statement showing £2,530 savings.UK Home Office ↗
- ·Ballot invitation for ballot-based partners.UK Home Office ↗
Application pathway
Confirm participation and quota
Check whether your country of nationality participates and whether a ballot applies.
Apply or enter ballot
Apply directly if eligible, or submit ballot registration during the published window for ballot countries.
Biometrics and decision
Attend biometrics; standard decisions within 3 weeks.
Travel and settle for up to 2 years
Work, study, or travel; the visa imposes no employer or occupation restrictions.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
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.
- ApplyApplicantApply for Youth Mobility ↗
Use this GOV.UK page to apply directly or follow ballot instructions for quota-based nationalities.
UK Home Office · verified
- ChecklistApplicantCheck eligible nationalities ↗
Use this official checklist to confirm age, nationality, savings and ballot requirements.
UK Home Office · verified
Fees and processing time
Indicative government fees: Application fee plus IHS £1,035/year. Ballot fees apply for some partner countries.. A decision then typically takes 3 weeks. Both change over time, so the dedicated pages below carry the itemised breakdown and the current official figures.
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Related routes
Frequently asked questions
Can YMS lead to settlement?+
No. The YMS is a temporary route that does not count toward ILR. Many participants switch to Skilled Worker or Global Talent before expiry.
Can I bring dependants on YMS?+
No. YMS applicants cannot bring dependent partners or children.
Can I come to the UK to work without a sponsor on the Youth Mobility Scheme?+
Only if you are a national of a participating country and within the qualifying age range (18-30 for most, 18-35 for Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Korea). The scheme is unsponsored with no employer or occupation restrictions, but it lasts up to 2 years (3 for some partners), cannot be extended, and does not count toward settlement. Check the participating countries and ages on GOV.UK.
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 KingdomHow 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: 1 June 2026