India Young Professionals Scheme visa: questions Indian applicants ask

The 2026 ballots were 17 to 19 February and 21 to 23 July. Gov.uk states there will be no further ballot in 2026. The 2027 dates have not been announced as of October 2026. Sign up for our alert and we message you when the page changes.

Yes. You pay nothing to enter. The £340 visa fee and the health surcharge are only paid after you are selected and submit the full application.

The Youth Mobility rate is £776 a year, so £1,552 for the 24-month visa. The fee calculator gives the rupee total with the £340 fee.

No. The visa has no dependants. A partner must qualify on their own, for example by winning the ballot themselves.

Yes, for any employer, and you can be self-employed with limits on premises and staff. You can also study. You cannot work as a professional sportsperson.

No. The 2 years do not count towards settlement and the visa cannot be extended. Many people switch to a sponsored work route from inside the UK, which we do not handle.

No. One entry per person per ballot. Duplicate entries are removed. You can enter again in the next ballot if you were not selected.

You must be 30 or under on the date you submit the visa application, not just the ballot entry. If your birthday falls inside the 90-day window, submit before it.

A savings account statement or a fixed deposit with a bank letter. Keep the balance above £2,530 at the exchange rate of the day for all 28 days with some margin, since the rupee moves.