India Young Professionals Scheme

Eligibility

Indian citizen aged 18–30, a qualification at UK bachelor’s level or above (RQF 6–8), £2,530 savings held 28 days, no children under 18 living with you or you are responsible for, not previously on this scheme or the Youth Mobility Scheme.

Key facts (checked 31 Oct 2026)

What you can and cannot do, how long you can stay (official)

When to apply

If you’re successful in the ballot, you’ll receive an email inviting you to apply for the visa.

You’ll have 90 days from the date of the email to:

• apply online
• prove your identity
• provide your documents

You may need to allow extra time if you need an appointment to do this. You’ll find out if you need one when you start your application.

You must travel to the UK within 6 months of applying for your visa.

Example

If you apply on 16 July 2024 you must arrive in the UK by 15 January 2025 at the latest.

Source: GOV.UK – Overview

How long you can stay

You’ll be given 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, and leave and come back at any time during your stay.

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

Source: GOV.UK – Overview

What you can and cannot do

You can:

• study - for some courses you’ll need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate
• work in most jobs
• be self-employed and set up a company - as long as your premises are rented, your equipment is not worth more than £5,000 and you do not have any employees

You cannot:

• extend your stay
• apply for most benefits (public funds)
• include family members on your application - they must apply separately
• work as a professional sportsperson (for example as a coach)

Source: GOV.UK – Overview

Full eligibility criteria (official)

Eligibility

To be eligible for an India Young Professionals Scheme visa you must:

• be an Indian national or citizen between 18 and 30 years old
• be at least 18 years old 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)
• 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

You must first apply to and be selected in the India Young Professionals Scheme ballot before you can apply for your visa.

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

Eligible qualifications

You must have either:

• a qualification at UK bachelor’s degree level or above (Regulated Qualifications Framework level 6, 7 or 8)
• an equivalent overseas qualification at degree level or above

Check with your college or university if you’re not sure what level of qualification you have.

Money to support yourself

You must have at least £2,530 in your bank account to show you can support yourself in the UK.

You will need to have had the money available for at least 28 days in a row. Day 28 must be within 31 days of applying for this visa.

You’ll need to show proof of this when you apply.

Read the guidance on financial evidence for more information about the money you need and how to prove it.

Source: GOV.UK – Eligibility (checked 31 Oct 2026)

Documents checklist (official)

Documents you must provide

When you apply you’ll need to provide:

• a valid passport or other document that shows your identity and nationality
• evidence that you have at least £2,530 in your bank account, for example bank statements
• evidence of your qualifications
• your tuberculosis (TB) test results if you’re living in India or another listed country
• a police report or clearance certificate from India - check how to apply for criminal records checks

Evidence of your qualifications

You will be asked to prove that you have a qualification at bachelor’s degree level or above (Regulated Qualifications Framework level 6, 7 or 8).

Your college or university will need to provide written confirmation that you:

• completed your studies
• graduated with the required qualification

Other documents you might need

If your documents are not in English or Welsh you’ll also need to provide a certified translation.

You may need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances. The Home Office will contact you if you need to provide more evidence.

Source: GOV.UK – Documents you must provide (checked 31 Oct 2026)

How to apply, step by step (official)

Apply

You must be successfully selected in the India Young Professionals Scheme ballot before you can apply for your visa.

Proving your identity and supporting documents

As part of your application, you’ll need to prove your identity. How you do this depends on where you’re from and what type of passport you have.

You’ll either:

• use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your identity document - you’ll also create or sign into your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account
• have your fingerprints and photo (biometric information) taken at a visa application centre

You’ll be told what you need to do when you apply.

If you need an appointment:

• you’ll need to take your passport with you to the visa application centre (you’ll be able to collect it on the day)
• you may have to travel to get to your nearest centre (this could be in another country)

Apply for an India Young Professionals Scheme visa

Apply for a Youth Mobility Scheme visa and choose ‘India’ as your nationality.

Apply now

Continue your application

Sign in to your account using the link from your sign-up email.

How long it takes to get a decision

Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision within 3 weeks.

You’ll be contacted if your application will take longer, for example because:

• your supporting documents need to be verified
• you need to attend an interview
• of your personal circumstances, for example if you have a criminal conviction

You may be able to pay to get a faster decision.

After you apply

You can ask to cancel your application. You’ll only get your fee refunded if UKVI has not started processing your application.

You’ll get an email containing the decision on your application. This will explain what you need to do next.

If you have a child while you’re in the UK

If you have a child while you’re in the UK, they do not automatically become a British citizen.

You must apply online for your child’s dependant visa if you want to travel in and out of the UK with them.

You’ll need to provide a full UK birth certificate for each child, showing the names of both parents.

Source: GOV.UK – Apply (checked 31 Oct 2026)

Processing times and faster decisions (official)

Standard: Usually 3 weeks (GOV.UK visa processing times).

• Priority service: +£500, usually a decision within 5 working days (settlement, citizenship and family-from-outside-UK: usually 30 working days).
• Super priority service: +£1,000, usually a decision by the end of the next working day after you prove your identity. Not available for citizenship.
• Availability depends on the route, the country and whether you use a UKVCAS centre or the ID Check app; there is a daily limit. You are told at the point of applying whether it is offered.

Source: GOV.UK – Get a faster decision on your visa or settlement application (checked 31 Oct 2026)

How the application works (official)

1. Check eligibility and gather documents (sections above). Sponsored routes: get your CoS/CAS reference first; endorsed routes: get your endorsement first.
2. Apply online on GOV.UK and pay the fee and Immigration Health Surcharge (if it applies) – IHS.
3. Prove your identity: either the UK Immigration: ID Check app (if offered) or an appointment at a visa application centre (outside the UK) or UKVCAS service point (inside the UK) for fingerprints and photo.
4. Upload documents and wait for the decision. Do not travel or leave the UK before a decision if applying from inside the UK – it can withdraw your application.
5. Your permission is issued as an eVisa in your UKVI account; physical BRPs are no longer issued. Link your passport to it and use share codes to prove your rights – GOV.UK eVisas.

Path to settlement (ILR) and citizenship

Does not lead to settlement.

Citizenship normally needs ILR (or settled status) held for 12 months – or immediately if married to a British citizen – plus the residence, absences, good character, Life in the UK test (£50) and English B1 requirements. See GOV.UK – Settle in the UK and GOV.UK – Citizenship if you have ILR.