Routes 6
The Youth Mobility Scheme visa
People from an eligible country or territory, within its age band, can live and work here for up to 24 months.
| Figure | In force | Since | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Youth Mobility Scheme visa length | 24 months | Start date not verified | Youth Mobility Scheme visa: Overview (gov.uk) |
Who can get a Youth Mobility Scheme visa turns on nationality and age, and for some places on a ballot.
Eligibility depends on where you are from
The visa lasts up to 24 months. You must be 18 years or over when the visa becomes valid, and 30 years or under when you apply, or 35 years or under for some nationalities.
| Age band, in GOV.UK’s words | Countries, territories and groups |
|---|---|
You can apply for the visa if you’re aged 18 to 35 and from: | Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Korea Authority GOV.UK guidance, Youth Mobility Scheme visa: Eligibility (gov.uk). The passage relied onYou can apply for the visa if you’re aged 18 to 35 and from: |
You can apply for the visa if you’re aged 18 to 30 and from: | Andorra, Iceland, Japan, Monaco, San Marino, Uruguay, Hong Kong (SAR passport, ballot), Taiwan (ballot), British overseas citizens, British overseas territories citizens and British nationals (overseas) Authority GOV.UK guidance, Youth Mobility Scheme visa: Eligibility (gov.uk). The passage relied onYou can apply for the visa if you’re aged 18 to 30 and from: |
Hong Kong and Taiwan need a ballot first
If you are from Hong Kong (SAR passport holders) or Taiwan, you need a ballot place before applying. The 2026 ballots were held in February 2026 and July 2026; 2027 dates were unpublished as at .
The first ballot was held in February 2026, and the second ballot was held in July 2026. There will be no further ballots in 2026.
British nationals (overseas) are also in the scheme, in the same age band as Hong Kong. The separate BN(O) route is compared on BN(O) or Graduate visa.
Extending the visa
Nationals of some of the scheme’s countries can extend the visa by 1 year after the first period ends; the rule’s words below name them.
If you’re from Australia, Canada or New Zealand, you’ll be able to extend your visa by one year after the 2-year period ends.
If you’re from Australia, Canada or New Zealand, you’ll be able to extend your visa by one year after the 2-year period ends.
The health surcharge
You pay the immigration health surcharge at the rate for students and Youth Mobility visas: £776 for each year of the visa. Other costs are on Costs.
Youth Mobility and the Graduate visa
A Graduate visa cannot be extended. From inside the UK, a holder may be able to switch to another visa.
A Student or Graduate visa cannot be switched to a Youth Mobility Scheme visa inside the UK. From a Youth Mobility Scheme visa you may be able to switch to Skilled Worker, but not to a Graduate visa. Every route is compared on the Routes page.
History
- . Entry updated.
- . Entry first published.
Common questions
Which countries are in the Youth Mobility Scheme?
Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Korea in one age band; Andorra, Iceland, Japan, Monaco, San Marino, Uruguay, Hong Kong (SAR passport, ballot), Taiwan (ballot), British overseas citizens, British overseas territories citizens and British nationals (overseas) in the other. The table above gives the age band for each, in GOV.UK's words.
What is the Youth Mobility Scheme age limit?
It depends on where you are from: there are two age bands. The table above quotes each band from GOV.UK beside the countries and territories it covers.
How does the Youth Mobility Scheme ballot work?
If you are from Hong Kong (SAR passport holders) or Taiwan, you must be selected in the ballot before you can apply for the visa. The ballot dates and quotas are on GOV.UK.
Can I extend a Youth Mobility Scheme visa?
Nationals of some of the scheme's countries can extend the visa by 1 year after the first period ends. The rule's words are quoted on this page.
Sources
- Youth Mobility Scheme visa: Overview (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
You’ll be given a visa to live and work in the UK for up to 24 months.
If you’re from Australia, Canada or New Zealand, you’ll be able to extend your visa by one year after the 2-year period ends.
- Youth Mobility Scheme visa: Eligibility (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
You can apply for the visa if you’re aged 18 to 35 and from:
You can apply for the visa if you’re aged 18 to 30 and from:
You must be selected in the Youth Mobility Scheme ballot before you can apply for your visa if you’re from:
Hong Kong, if you have an SAR passport
You must be aged 18 or over when your visa starts, or 30 or under when you apply for it.
- Youth Mobility Scheme visa: Extend your visa (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
You can only apply to extend your Youth Mobility Scheme visa if you’re from Australia, Canada or New Zealand.
- Pay for UK healthcare as part of your immigration application: How much you have to pay (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
£776 per year for students, their dependants, and those on a Youth Mobility Scheme visa, for example £1,552 for a 2-year visa
- Graduate visa: Overview (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
You cannot extend your Graduate visa. However, you may be able to switch to a different visa, for example a Skilled Worker visa.
your current visa is a Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa
- Skilled Worker visa: When you can be paid less (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
you’re currently in the UK on a Graduate visa (or you have been in the last 2 years, and a Graduate or visit visa was your most recent visa)
- Immigration Rules: Appendix Youth Mobility Scheme (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
YMS 3.1. A person seeking to come to the UK on the Youth Mobility Scheme route must have applied for and obtained entry clearance under the Youth Mobility Scheme route before they arrive in the UK.
YMS 1.4.A. An applicant who is applying for permission to stay must:
YMS 3.4. The applicant must be aged 18 or over on the date their entry clearance will become valid.
(b) aged 30 or under on the date of application.
(a) a national of Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the Republic of Korea aged 35 or under on the date of application; or
- Immigration Rules: Appendix Skilled Worker (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
SW 1.5ZA. If applying for permission to stay, the applicant must not have, or have last been granted, permission:
- Skilled Worker visa: Switch to this visa (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
You might be able to apply to change (‘switch’) to a Skilled Worker visa if you’re already in the UK on a different type of visa.
- Immigration Rules: Appendix Graduate (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
GR 1.3. The applicant must have, or have last had, permission as a Student.
- Guidance: Youth mobility scheme visa ballot system (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
The first ballot was held in February 2026, and the second ballot was held in July 2026. There will be no further ballots in 2026.
All ballots for the 2026 Youth Mobility Scheme have now closed. Details of the next ballot in 2027 will be published on this page.
How each figure is checked: Sources and method.
This is general information about the rules, not legal advice. For advice on your own situation, use a solicitor or an adviser regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority (gov.uk).