India Young Professionals Scheme visa: who can apply, the ballot, cost and how long you can stay

The India Young Professionals Scheme visa lets Indian citizens aged 18 to 30 live and work in the UK for up to 2 years. GOV.UK says you must be chosen in a ballot first, have a degree-level qualification and have £2,530 in savings. It lists no job offer or sponsor.

Who is this visa for?

It is for Indian nationals or citizens aged 18 to 30 who have a degree-level qualification. It lets you live and work in the UK for up to 2 years.

Can I apply?

To apply, you must:

• be an Indian national or citizen aged 18 to 30
• be at least 18 on the date you plan to travel to the UK
• have a qualification at bachelor’s degree level or above (Regulated Qualifications Framework level 6, 7 or 8), or an overseas qualification that is equal to a degree or higher
• have £2,530 in savings to support yourself in the UK
• not have any children under 18 who live with you or who you are financially responsible for

Rule	Detail
Nationality	Indian national or citizen
Age	18 to 30, and at least 18 on the date you plan to travel
Qualification	Bachelor’s degree level or above (RQF level 6, 7 or 8) or equivalent overseas
Savings	£2,530

You cannot apply if you have already been in the UK under this scheme or the Youth Mobility Scheme visa.

The ballot

You must apply to the India Young Professionals Scheme ballot, and be selected, before you can apply for the visa. To enter, you must declare that you are eligible.

If you are successful, you get an email inviting you to apply. You then have 90 days from the date of the email to:

• apply online
• prove your identity
• give your documents

You must travel to the UK within 6 months of applying for your visa. GOV.UK gives this example: if you apply on 16 July 2024, you must arrive by 15 January 2025 at the latest.

What do I need?

Documents

You must give:

• written confirmation from your college or university that you finished your studies and graduated with the qualification you need
• a police report or clearance certificate from India
• TB test results, if you live in India or another listed country

A job offer, sponsor or salary

GOV.UK’s pages for this scheme list no job offer, sponsor, salary or occupation code.

With this visa you can work in most jobs, and you can study (some courses need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate).

You can be self-employed and set up a company if:

• your premises are rented
• your equipment is not worth more than £5,000
• you have no employees

You cannot work as a professional sportsperson (for example as a coach) or apply for most benefits (public funds).

English language

GOV.UK’s India Young Professionals Scheme pages do not set an English language requirement.

How much does it cost?

Cost	Amount
Application fee	£340
Healthcare surcharge	£1,552
Personal savings	£2,530

You must have had the £2,530 for at least 28 days in a row. Day 28 must be within 31 days of the day you apply.

GOV.UK says your application fee will not be refunded if your application is rejected.

How long can I stay?

You get a visa to live and work in the UK for up to 24 months. You can enter the UK at any time while your visa is valid. You can leave and come back at any time during your stay.

If you turn 31 after your visa is issued, you can stay for as long as your visa is valid.

Once you have applied online, proved your identity and given your documents, you will usually get a decision within 3 weeks.

Can I bring my family?

You cannot include family members on your application. GOV.UK says they must apply separately.

You cannot apply if you have children under 18 who live with you or who you are financially responsible for.

If you have a child while you are in the UK, the child does not automatically become a British citizen. If you want to travel in and out of the UK with your child, you must apply online for the child’s dependant visa. You must give a full UK birth certificate for each child, showing the names of both parents.

Can I extend or switch?

You cannot extend your stay.

GOV.UK’s pages for this scheme do not cover switching to another visa. GOV.UK’s apply page says to apply for a Youth Mobility Scheme visa and choose “India” as your nationality. See the Youth Mobility Scheme page.