New ballot dates announced for UK’s 2026 Youth Mobility Scheme visa: how to apply

Updated 18 January 2026

The UK Government has announced February dates for the first Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) ballot of 2026. The YMS is a reciprocal cultural exchange agreement that the UK has with several countries which allows people aged 18 to 30 from eligible countries to live and work in the UK without the need for sponsorship for up to two years (for most countries, though some schemes are up to three years and up to the age of 35 now), and in turn, for young Brits to try life in the participating countries.

Most participating nationalities do not require a ballot to enter the scheme (see below), but for those that still do this is the first ballot of the year. (The second is usually in July.)

Who needs to enter a ballot to apply to the UK’s Youth Mobility Scheme?

The scheme is oversubscribed for some participating nationalities, though most do not need to enter a ballot. Since 2024 Japanese and South Korean nationals no longer need to enter a ballot and can apply any time on the YMS website.

Currently, before applying for the YMS visa applicants must first succeed in one of the two ballots each year for nationals of:

• Hong Kong (with an SAR passport)
• Taiwan
• NB: Indian nationals applying to another similar cultural exchange scheme, the Young Professionals Scheme must also enter ballots (but with different dates this year – see below.)

When is the first Taiwan and Hong Kong Youth Mobility ballot of 2026?

The first ballot of the 2026 Youth Mobility Scheme opens from 00:01am on Tuesday 10 February 2026 and closes at 00:01am on Thursday 12 February 2026. Most of the 1,000 places for each country are allocated in the February ballot, with a second ballot for the rest of the places in the summer.

When is the first India Young Professionals Scheme ballot of 2026?

The dates have not yet been announced, but for the past three years there has been a ballot in February, followed by a second ballot in July. The dates are announced on this website.

How to apply to the Youth Mobility Scheme ballot

For Taiwan and Hong Kong the majority of applicants tend to be chosen in the first ballot of the year and the remaining places allocated in a ballot in July in previous years. Unsuccessful applicants can apply again if they still meet the eligibility requirements.

To enter, those that meet the eligibility requirements (see below), may send one email during the 48 hour ballot to the relevant address below. There should be an automated reply confirming entry. (Be sure to check junk emails.)

All emails must be in English.

The subject line of the email must include applicants’ name, date of birth and passport number in the format: Last name First name – DD/MM/YYYY – passport number. (EG: Smith Jane – 31/03/1999 – 123456789)

The body of the email must include entrants’ name, date of birth, passport number and mobile phone number. Emails without these details will not be considered.

Successful applicants will be notified by Friday 27 February. (Be sure to check your junk emails). Unsuccessful ballot entrants will be notified within two weeks of entering the ballot.

How to enter the YMS ballot from Hong Kong

Ballot places were increased from 800 to 1,000 in 2024, with most allocated in the first ballot. The remainder will be allocated to successful applicants in a summer ballot.

Email hongkongyms@homeoffice.gov.uk between 00:01am (one minute past midnight) on Tuesday 10 February 2026 and 00:01am on Thursday 12 February 2026 (Hong Kong time) to enter the ballot.

How to enter the YMS ballot from Taiwan

Ballot places were increased from 800 to 1,000 in 2024, with most allocated in the first ballot. The remainder will be allocated to successful applicants in a summer ballot.

Email taiwanyms@homeoffice.gov.uk between 00:01am (one minute past midnight) on Tuesday 10 February 2026 and 00:01am on Thursday 12 February 2026 (Taipei time) to enter the ballot.

What happens if you are picked in the YMS ballot?

Applicants picked to apply for the Youth Mobility Scheme should receive an email by Friday 27 February. (Check email junk inboxes.)

They then have 90 days to submit your application, pay the visa fee and provide fingerprints and a photograph (biometric information) at a Visa Application Centre (VAC).

Successful applicants should be notified of the success of their visa within three weeks of their appointment, with 90 days to enter the UK. Those who cannot travel to the UK within 90 days would need to apply for an extension. They will not need to reapply for the visa, but ir will be valid for two years and the expiry date will not change.

Who can apply for the UK’s Youth Mobility Scheme visa?

Nationals from these countries can apply to the Youth Mobility Scheme with the following quotas:

• Andorra – 100 places
• Australia – 42,000 places
• Canada – 10,000 places
• Hong Kong (if picked by ballot) – 1,000 places
• Iceland – 1,000 places
• India (Young Professionals Scheme also involves a ballot) – 3,000 places
• Japan – 6,000 places
• Monaco – 1,000 places
• New Zealand – 9,500 places
• Republic of Korea – 5,000 places
• San Marino – 1,000 places
• Taiwan (if picked by ballot) – 1,000 places
• Uruguay – 500 places
• British Overseas Citizens, British Overseas Territories Citizens and British Nationals (Overseas) have no quotas.

What are the YMS eligibility requirements?

Eligible nationals can be up to and including the age of 30 on the date they apply for their visa and at least 18 on the date that the visa would become valid. (Applicants from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Korea can apply up to and including the age of 35.)

Those living with their children under the age of 18 or financially responsible for children cannot apply. People cannot apply if they have already been in the UK under the scheme.

You must be self-sufficient. The financial requirements for the YMS are proven savings of £2,530 held for a 28-day period. Day 28 must be within 31 days of applying for this visa.

Applicants may need to be certified free from tuberculosis depending on where they have been in the past six months. Usual Home Office general grounds of refusal based on applicants’ history (eg: criminality) apply.

There are additional education / professional experience requirements for Indian applicants of the Young Professionals Scheme.

What does a Youth Mobility Scheme visa entitle you to?

Successful applicants will be given a visa for 24 months (36 months for Australians, Canadians and New Zealanders). People on the YMS can enter, leave and re-enter the UK any time during the period. If you turn 31 (or 36 if from Australia, Canada, New Zealand or South Korea) during this period you can still stay in the country as long as the visa is valid.

You will be able to study and work in most roles, be self-employed, even set up a company so long as premises are rented, equipment is not worth more than £5,000 and there are no employees. You may not work as a professional sportsperson, extend your stay, receive public funds or bring any family members to the UK on your visa.

How does the Young Professionals Scheme from India work?

As part of the UK and India’s post-Brexit trade deal, it was announced that 3,000 applicants from India would be able to come to the UK on a Young Professionals Scheme in 2023 – though they will be subject to extra “country-specific eligibility requirements” that Youth Mobility Scheme applicants from other eligible nations do not need to worry about. Details can be found here.

Who is eligible for the Young Professionals Scheme from India?

To be eligible for a Young Professional Scheme visa you must fulfil the same criteria as the YMS, plus have the educational qualifications below:

• be an Indian national or citizen over 18 and 30 years old
• be at least 18 years old on the date you plan to travel to the UK
• have £2,530 in savings to support yourself in the UK
• not have any children under the age of 18 who live with you or who you’re financially responsible for
• have a qualification at bachelor’s degree level (or equivalent) or above (Regulated Qualifications Framework level 6, 7 or 8)
• You can’t apply if you’ve already been in the UK under this scheme or the Youth Mobility Scheme.
• If eligible you must first apply to and be selected in the India Young Professionals Scheme ballot before you can apply for your visa.

How should applicants that don’t need a ballot apply for the Youth Mobility Scheme?

Those who don’t need a ballot can apply online here for the Youth Mobility Scheme. They will need to provide biometrics as above at a visa application centre. Applicants from Andorra, Iceland, San Marino and Uruguay will need to provide certain country-specific documents.

How much does the Youth Mobility Scheme cost?

The application fee for a Youth Mobility visa (or Young Professionals Scheme visa) is £319. An Immigration Health Charge to cover healthcare by the National Health Service must also be paid with the visa application. This costs £776 per year of staying in the UK under the visa.

Will there be a Youth Mobility deal between the UK and the EU?

The UK government and its European counterparts are negotiating a scheme for British and European youth to be able to enjoy a similar cultural exchange. According to UK newspaper reports, UK officials would like a capped two-year scheme. A cap would likely be in the “tens of thousands” and likely to be launched in the current parliament, so in the next couple of years.