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Youth Mobility Scheme visa in the UK

The Youth Mobility Scheme visa lets young nationals of a limited list of countries and territories live and work in the United Kingdom on their own, without a job offer from a particular employer and without employer sponsorship. The route is closed to nationals of most countries in the world — only the states and territories listed in the rules have access.

Source: GOV.UK — the official UK government portal

Who can get it

The visa is open only to nationals of the countries and territories on the UK government’s closed list. The age range and the way applications are made differ by country of origin.

Aged 18–35
  • Australia
  • Canada
  • New Zealand
  • South Korea
Aged 18–30
  • Andorra
  • Iceland
  • Japan
  • Monaco
  • San Marino
  • Uruguay
Aged 18–30, through a ballot
  • Hong Kong — holders of a Hong Kong SAR passport must win the Home Office ballot
  • Taiwan — you must win the Home Office ballot
British nationals without the right of abode (aged 18–30)
  • British overseas citizen
  • British overseas territories citizen
  • British national (overseas)

What it costs

Application processing fee340 GBP
Minimum amount of savings in the account2 530 GBP
Immigration Health Surcharge per year776 GBP
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table.3 646 GBP

Documents to gather

The basic set is the same for everyone, but for some participating countries the list is extended with additional certificates.

  • A valid passport or another document proving identity and nationality
  • A bank statement showing the required amount of savings
  • Tuberculosis test results — for applicants from countries where such a test is compulsory
  • A certified translation of any documents that are not in English or Welsh
  • Andorra — a criminal record certificate issued no more than 6 months before the application
  • Iceland — a criminal record certificate for private purposes (Sakavottorð) issued no more than 6 months before the application
  • San Marino — a letter from the Directorate of Political and Diplomatic Affairs on the applicant’s suitability, issued no more than 6 months before the application
  • Uruguay — a certificate of judicial record issued no more than 6 months before the application
  • Hong Kong and Taiwan — the Home Office letter confirming success in the ballot

How the process runs

The application is made entirely online; a visit to a consulate is usually not required.

  1. 1

    Check that you are eligible

    Make sure your country or territory is on the list of scheme participants, that you fall within the age range and that you have no children under 18 in your care.

  2. 2

    Collect the documents

    Prepare your passport, a bank statement showing the savings and any additional documents required for your country.

  3. 3

    Pay the health surcharge

    Pay the Immigration Health Surcharge before making the application — without payment the application will not be considered.

  4. 4

    Apply online

    no earlier than 6 months before travelling

    Fill in the form on the official Home Office portal for temporary work in the United Kingdom.

  5. 5

    Confirm your identity

    Scan your document through the “UK Immigration: ID Check” app or give biometrics at a visa application centre — the method depends on your nationality and the type of passport.

  6. 6

    Receive the decision

    usually within 3 weeks

    The Home Office sends the decision by post. The message states how to prove your immigration status in the United Kingdom and what to do next.

Timelines and rights

Work

You may work in most jobs and be self-employed with restrictions: the premises must be rented, the equipment must not cost more than £5,000, and you cannot employ staff. You cannot work as a professional sportsperson or sports coach.

Who you can bring with you

This visa is not designed for moving together with a family.

Children under 18
Having children under 18 who live with the applicant or are financially dependent on them makes the applicant ineligible for this visa — such an application will be refused.
Partner or spouse
A partner cannot be included in this application as an accompanying person. They must make their own separate application on their own grounds.
A child born in the United Kingdom while the visa is valid
Such a child needs their own visa; the application is made together with the full birth certificate.

Renewal and the grace period

Only nationals of Australia, Canada and New Zealand can extend the Youth Mobility Scheme visa for one year — for the other participating countries there is no extension. The extension can be used only once. The extension application can be made no earlier than 28 days before the current visa expires, and until the decision is received you cannot travel outside the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. The extended visa starts on the day after the original one expires, and the decision usually arrives within 8 weeks. The fees for an extension are the same: £340 for processing the application and £776 for the health surcharge.

Frequently asked questions about Youth Mobility Scheme visa

Who can apply for the Youth Mobility Scheme visa?
The visa is available to nationals of Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Korea aged 18 to 35, and to nationals of Andorra, Iceland, Japan, Monaco, San Marino and Uruguay aged 18 to 30. Residents of Hong Kong (SAR passport holders) and Taiwan enter the scheme through a separate Home Office ballot, also in the 18–30 range.
How much does the Youth Mobility Scheme visa cost?
The application processing fee is £340. On top of that you must pay the Immigration Health Surcharge — usually £776 for a year of the visa. You must also have at least £2,530 in savings in your bank account.
Can the Youth Mobility Scheme visa be extended?
Only nationals of Australia, Canada and New Zealand can extend the visa for a further year. Nationals of the other participating countries cannot extend this visa and must leave when the original term ends.
Can you come on this visa with children?
No. If the applicant has children under 18 who live with them or are financially dependent on them, they do not meet the conditions of this visa and the application will be refused.
Can a partner be included in the application?
No, a partner cannot be included in this application as an accompanying person. A partner can only move on their own separate application for a visa that suits them.
Which documents are needed for the application?
A valid passport or another document proving identity and nationality, a bank statement showing the savings and a certified translation of documents that are not in English or Welsh are compulsory. Applicants from a number of countries attach additional certificates — for example, nationals of Andorra, Iceland and Uruguay provide a recent criminal record certificate.
How long does the decision take and when should the application be made?
The application can be made no earlier than 6 months before the planned journey. The decision usually arrives within 3 weeks.
Can you work on this visa?
Yes, work in most jobs is allowed, as is self-employment with restrictions: the business premises must be rented, the equipment must cost no more than £5,000, and you cannot employ staff. You cannot work as a professional sportsperson or sports coach.

Other ways to move to UK

Every route in one list — migration programmes: UK.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.