Youth Mobility Scheme Visa UK (Working Holiday)

Overview

The Youth Mobility Scheme Visa allows eligible young people to live and work in the UK temporarily.

It is often called the UK Working Holiday Visa because it gives you flexibility to work, travel and experience life in Britain without needing a sponsored job offer.

This route is mainly for people aged 18 to 30, although applicants from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Korea can apply up to age 35. It is a temporary route and does not directly lead to settlement, but it can be a useful way to gain UK experience before moving onto another visa later.

This article is for general information only and is not immigration advice. Emigrate To The UK is not regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority. Always check GOV.UK or speak to a qualified immigration adviser before applying.

💡 A Quick Note from Kris: I would treat the Youth Mobility Scheme as a chance to experience UK life properly, not just a visa to travel. If you think you may want to stay longer, use the time to build work experience, understand UK employers and look at future visa options early.

📌 Key facts at a glance

Route type: Temporary work and cultural exchange visa.

Job offer required: No. You do not need sponsorship or a job offer before applying.

Age limit: Usually 18 to 30, or 18 to 35 for Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Korea.

Length of stay: Usually up to 2 years. Australia, Canada and New Zealand nationals may be able to extend by 1 year.

Savings required: At least £2,530, held for 28 days in a row, with day 28 within 31 days of applying.

Application fee: £340.

Healthcare surcharge: Usually £776 per year.

Dependants: You cannot bring family members as dependants on this route.

Settlement: This route does not directly lead to ILR or British citizenship.

🎯 Who This Visa Is Best For

The Youth Mobility Scheme is best for eligible young people who want to live, work and travel in the UK without needing employer sponsorship.

It may suit you if you want a temporary UK experience, want to work while travelling, or want time in the UK before deciding whether to pursue a longer-term route.

💡 A Quick Note from Kris: I would treat this visa as a great opportunity to experience the UK, but not as a permanent plan. If you want to stay longer, use your time wisely to build work experience, contacts and possible sponsorship options.

✅ Youth Mobility Scheme Eligibility

To qualify for the Youth Mobility Scheme, you must usually be from an eligible country or territory, meet the age requirement, and have enough savings.

You normally need at least £2,530 in your bank account. GOV.UK says this money must be held for at least 28 days in a row, and day 28 must be within 31 days of applying.

You cannot apply if you have children under 18 who live with you, children you are financially responsible for, or if you have already been in the UK under the Youth Mobility Scheme.

🌍 Eligible Countries and Places

Eligible countries and allocations can change each year, so always check the latest GOV.UK list before applying.

For 2026, participating countries and territories include Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Iceland, Monaco, San Marino, Uruguay and Andorra, along with certain British nationality categories.

Indian nationals use the separate India Young Professionals Scheme route.

💼 Can You Work on the Youth Mobility Scheme?

Yes. You can work in most jobs while you are in the UK on the Youth Mobility Scheme.

You can also be self-employed and set up a company, but only if your premises are rented, your equipment is worth no more than £5,000, and you do not have any employees. GOV.UK also says you cannot work as a professional sportsperson.

Common mistake: Assuming you can do anything work-related on this visa. You can work in most jobs, but there are still restrictions around professional sport and self-employment, so always check the conditions before accepting work or starting a business.

🏠 Does the Youth Mobility Scheme Lead to ILR or British Citizenship?

No. The Youth Mobility Scheme does not directly lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain or British citizenship.

It is a temporary route. However, time in the UK can still be useful if you gain work experience, build professional contacts, or later switch to another visa route that can lead to settlement, such as Skilled Worker.

💡 A Quick Note from Kris: This route can be a great starting point, but it should not be your only long-term plan. If you want to stay in the UK after the visa ends, start looking at Skilled Worker sponsorship or another route well before your permission expires.

💰 Youth Mobility Scheme Visa Cost

The Youth Mobility Scheme application fee is currently £340.

You must also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, which is usually £776 per year. For a 2-year visa, this usually means £1,552 in healthcare surcharge.

You also need to show at least £2,530 in savings before applying.

💡 A Quick Note from Kris: I would budget for more than the minimum savings requirement. The first month in the UK can be expensive once you include accommodation, transport, food, a UK phone number, deposits and everyday setup costs.

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

A common mistake is assuming the Youth Mobility Scheme leads directly to settlement. It does not, so you should plan ahead if your long-term goal is to stay in the UK.

Another mistake is not checking the age rules for your country. Some countries allow applications up to age 35, while others are limited to age 30.

Some applicants also forget that dependants cannot be included on this route. If you have a partner or children, they would need to qualify under their own visa route.

Finally, make sure your savings evidence meets the timing rule. Having £2,530 is not enough if it has not been held for the required period.

🗳️ Youth Mobility Scheme Ballot

Some applicants must be selected in the Youth Mobility Scheme ballot before they can apply.

GOV.UK currently says you need to enter the ballot if you are from Hong Kong and have an SAR passport, or if you are from Taiwan. You no longer need to enter the ballot if you are a Japanese or South Korean national.

India has a separate route called the India Young Professionals Scheme.

Ballots are usually opened for a short period, and applicants are selected at random. If you are successful, you will receive instructions from the Home Office on how to apply.

📃 Documents You May Need

When applying, you will usually need a valid passport or other document that proves your identity and nationality.

You will also need evidence that you have at least £2,530 in savings, and tuberculosis test results if you are applying from a country where TB testing is required.

Depending on your nationality, you may need extra documents. For example, Hong Kong SAR and Taiwan applicants need evidence that they were successful in the ballot. Some countries also require specific official certificates.

Any documents that are not in English or Welsh usually need a certified translation.

📎 Conditions and Work Rights

You can work in most jobs while you are in the UK on the Youth Mobility Scheme.

You can work full-time or part-time, and you can also study. For some courses, you may need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate.

You can be self-employed and set up a company, but only if your premises are rented, your equipment is worth no more than £5,000, and you do not have any employees.

You cannot work as a professional sportsperson, access public funds, or bring family members as dependants on your application.

👨‍👩‍👧 Dependants and Family Members

You cannot bring family members as dependants on the Youth Mobility Scheme.

If your partner or family members want to come to the UK, they must qualify under their own visa route. This is important if you have children, because you cannot apply if you have children under 18 who live with you or children you are financially responsible for.

❓ FAQs

How long can I stay on the Youth Mobility Scheme visa?
Up to 2 years, or 3 years if you are from Australia, Canada or New Zealand.

Do I need a job offer?
No. This visa lets you work freely once in the UK.

What are the financial requirements?
You must have at least £2,530 in savings to support yourself.

Which countries are eligible?
Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan and others.

Does the Youth Mobility Scheme Lead to ILR or British Citizenship?
No. The Youth Mobility Scheme does not directly lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain or British citizenship. It is a temporary route. However, it can still be useful if you want to gain UK work experience, build contacts, or later switch to another route such as Skilled Worker.

🇬🇧 First Steps After Arriving in the UK

Once your Youth Mobility Scheme visa is approved and you arrive in the UK, your first few weeks are usually about getting set up.

You may need to arrange accommodation, get a UK phone number, open a bank account, understand transport options, register with a GP and start applying for work.

The visa gives you flexibility, but your move will feel much easier if you have a basic first-month plan before you arrive.

Useful guides:

👉 How to Get a UK Number
👉 Renting in the UK

🔗 Related Guides

If you are planning to move to the UK on the Youth Mobility Scheme, these guides may also help:

👉 Work in the UK

👉 Types of Work Visas UK

👉 India Young Professionals Scheme Visa

👉 Skilled Worker Visa

👉 How to Move to the UK Without a Job

👉 First 90 Days in the UK

👉 Cost of Living in the UK

Have questions or want help choosing the right visa? Subscribe or explore more articles on UK visas and immigration tips.

---

More Work Visa Guides