Young adults from participating countries and territories can live and work in the UK without employer sponsorship. This route is helpful for employers recruiting internationally mobile talent into short-term roles where sponsorship is not required.
Reviewed by Morgan Smith Immigration · IAA-regulated UK immigration advisers · Last reviewed
TL;DR
The Youth Mobility Scheme Visa is a UK route for eligible applicants who meet the route-specific requirements. The application fee is £340, the maximum stay is up to 2 years, or 3 years for eligible Australian, Canadian and New Zealand nationals, and the usual outside-UK decision time is 3 weeks.
£340
Application fee
2 or 3 years
Maximum stay
3 weeks
Typical decision
What is the Youth Mobility Scheme Visa?
The Youth Mobility Scheme Visa is for young people from participating countries and territories who want to experience life in the UK. It allows flexible work and study without requiring a UK employer to sponsor the applicant.
For employers, the route is useful because there is no sponsor licence requirement. The worker still needs a compliant right to work check and must work within the route restrictions.
This is a temporary route and does not lead directly to settlement. Some nationals can extend, but most applicants cannot extend and must leave or switch into another eligible route before permission expires.
Eligibility Requirements
You must satisfy all three conditions to qualify for the Youth Mobility Scheme Visa.
📄
Country and Age Eligibility
The applicant must be from an eligible country or territory and meet the age rules for that nationality. Some countries operate ballots or additional selection systems.
💼
Maintenance Funds
The applicant must show they can support themselves. GOV.UK currently requires £2,530 in savings for the route.
£
No Sponsorship Required
A Certificate of Sponsorship is not required. Employers can hire Youth Mobility workers after completing right to work checks.
What You Can and Cannot Do
Your rights and restrictions while in the UK on a Youth Mobility Scheme Visa.
✓ You Can
- Work in most jobs during the visa period.
- Study subject to ATAS rules for some courses.
- Be self-employed if premises, equipment and staffing limits are met.
- Leave and re-enter the UK while permission is valid.
- Extend only if eligible under the Australia, Canada or New Zealand rules.
✗ You Cannot
- Bring dependants on the same application.
- Access public funds in the UK.
- Work as a professional sportsperson including as a coach.
- Extend unless eligible under limited nationality rules.
- Use the route for settlement directly because it is temporary.
Costs & Fees
Current fees as of 2026. Set by the Home Office — subject to change.
Fees set by the Home Office and subject to change. Last reviewed: July 2026.
| Item | Cost (2026) |
|---|---|
| Application fee | £340 per person |
| Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) | £776 per year |
| Savings required | £2,530 |
| Sponsorship | Not required |
| Priority services | Additional fee — check current fees |
How to Apply
Five steps from preparation to decision.
Check Route Fit
Confirm the applicant meets the Youth Mobility Scheme Visa eligibility requirements and that the role or activity fits the route.
Prepare Evidence
Gather the identity, financial and route-specific documents required by GOV.UK.
Submit the Online Application
Apply online and pay the £340 application fee plus any healthcare surcharge due.
Attend Biometrics or Use the App
Provide identity evidence through the UK Immigration: ID Check app or at a visa application centre.
Receive Your Decision
Outside-UK applications are usually decided within 3 weeks; in-country applications are usually listed as 8 weeks where available.
Who Can Apply: Countries and Age Limits
Eligibility depends on nationality, with two age bands
| Nationality | Age limit | Ballot needed? |
|---|---|---|
| Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Korea | 18 to 35 | No |
| Andorra, Iceland, Japan, Monaco, San Marino, Uruguay | 18 to 30 | No |
| Hong Kong (SAR passport), Taiwan | 18 to 30 | Yes |
| British overseas citizen, British overseas territories citizen, British national (overseas) | 18 to 30 | No |
Applicants can apply before turning 18 provided they are 18 when the visa starts, and can be over the age limit when the visa starts provided they were within it when they applied. The scheme is not available to anyone with children under 18 who live with them or who they are financially responsible for, or to anyone who has already been in the UK under the scheme. Indian nationals use the separate India Young Professionals Scheme.
Savings and How to Prove Them
£2,530 held for 28 days in a row
Applicants must show at least £2,530 in their bank account, held for at least 28 consecutive days, with day 28 falling within 31 days of the application. The earliest an application can be made is 6 months before travel, and most decisions from outside the UK are made within 3 weeks.
Youth Mobility Visa Extension
Only nationals of Australia, Canada and New Zealand can extend
Australian, Canadian and New Zealand nationals can extend their Youth Mobility Scheme visa once, for one year, giving up to 3 years in total. Nationals of every other eligible country can stay for up to 2 years and cannot extend.
| Extension rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Who can extend | Australia, Canada and New Zealand nationals only |
| How long | One extra year, valid from the day after the original visa ends |
| How many times | Once |
| Where to apply | Online, from inside the UK, on a valid Youth Mobility Scheme visa |
| When to apply | No more than 28 days before the current visa expires |
| Fees | £340 application fee plus £776 Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) |
| Decision | Within 8 weeks |
Applicants must not travel outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until they receive a decision.
Working and Running a Business on the Scheme
Most jobs are open, with limits on self-employment
- Work: Youth Mobility Scheme holders can work in most jobs and study.
- Self-employment: allowed if business premises are rented, equipment is worth no more than £5,000 and the business has no employees.
- Not allowed: working as a professional sportsperson, including as a coach, or claiming public funds.
Hiring Youth Mobility Scheme Workers: An Employer’s Guide
No sponsorship is needed, but the time limit is fixed
Employers do not need a sponsor licence to hire someone on a Youth Mobility Scheme visa, but they must complete a right to work check before employment starts and note the visa expiry date. If you want to keep a valued Youth Mobility worker beyond their visa, plan early: a move to the Skilled Worker visa needs a sponsor licence, an eligible role and the right salary.
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Sources
Legal information on this page is based on guidance from GOV.UK, the UK Home Office / UK Visas and Immigration, legislation.gov.uk, and Free Movement. Rules change frequently — speak to our team to confirm current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the Youth Mobility Scheme Visa from employers and applicants.
What is the Youth Mobility Scheme Visa UK?
The Youth Mobility Scheme Visa lets eligible young adults from participating countries and territories live, work and study in the UK temporarily.
How much does the Youth Mobility Scheme Visa cost in 2026?
The Home Office application fee is £340. Applicants also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge at the discounted Youth Mobility rate, currently £776 per year under the health charge rules.
How long can you stay on the Youth Mobility Scheme Visa?
Most applicants can stay for up to 2 years. Eligible Australian, Canadian and New Zealand nationals may be able to stay for up to 3 years.
Do you need a job offer for the Youth Mobility Scheme?
No. The route does not require employer sponsorship or a Certificate of Sponsorship.
How much money do you need for the Youth Mobility Scheme?
GOV.UK requires applicants to show £2,530 in savings, unless the current route rules provide a specific exception.
Can you bring dependants on a Youth Mobility Visa?
No. Family members cannot be included as dependants on the Youth Mobility application and must qualify separately if they want to come to the UK.
Can you extend a Youth Mobility Scheme Visa?
Only certain nationals, currently including eligible applicants from Australia, Canada and New Zealand, can extend under the route rules.
Can Youth Mobility Visa holders work in any job?
They can work in most jobs, but cannot work as a professional sportsperson and must follow the self-employment restrictions if setting up a business.
Does Youth Mobility lead to settlement?
No. It is a temporary route and does not lead directly to indefinite leave to remain.
How long does a Youth Mobility Scheme decision take?
Outside-UK applications are usually decided within 3 weeks, though timing can vary by case and location.
Need Help With Your Youth Mobility Scheme Visa?
Our immigration specialists handle everything from sponsor licence checks to visa approval — for employers and applicants alike.