Youth Mobility Scheme visa
Last verified 4 September 2026 against GOV.UK sources·Page updated 5 September 2026
| Age | 18–30 (18–35 for some nationalities) |
|---|---|
| Countries | Partner countries and territories; ballot required for Hong Kong SAR and Taiwan |
| Length | 2 years (3 for some nationalities) |
| Work | Any job, full-time, no sponsor; self-employment within limits |
| Fee | £340 plus IHS £776 a year, plus funds of £2,530 |
| Settlement | No — switch to a settlement route |
The Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) is the UK’s working-holiday visa: if you are a young national of a partner country, you can live and work in the UK for two years with no sponsor and no job lined up.
Who can apply
You must be a national of a scheme country or territory and within the age range — 18 to 30 for most, 18 to 35 for several partners including Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Korea. Most nationalities apply directly; Hong Kong SAR passport holders and Taiwanese applicants must first win a place in a ballot held during the year. Check the current arrangements for your country before planning. (Indian nationals use the separate India Young Professionals Scheme, which has its own ballot and requirements.) You also need £2,530 in savings.
What you can do
Work in any job, for any employer, full-time — hospitality, offices, seasonal work, anything except professional sport. You can study most courses too. Dependants cannot come with you on this route, and the time does not count towards settlement.
After YMS
Many people use YMS to get UK work experience and then switch to Skilled Worker from inside the UK once an employer will sponsor them. The job must meet the normal Skilled Worker requirements, so the two years are, in practice, the window in which to find it.
Route to settlement and citizenship
- Youth Mobility Scheme visa
- Skilled Worker visa
- Indefinite Leave to Remain
- British citizenship
Youth Mobility does not lead to settlement. Many people switch to Skilled Worker from inside the UK once an employer will sponsor them, and the five-year ILR period starts from that switch.
Citizenship follows the normal path from ILR on a later route.
Related guides
- Student visa CAS, money requirements, work rights and who can bring family — the main route for courses with a licensed UK education provider.
- Skilled Worker visa Sponsorship, the £41,700 salary threshold, degree-level job requirement, B2 English and the path to settlement — the UK's main work visa explained.