Youth Mobility Scheme Ballot
Youth Mobility Scheme Ballot opens for two days for Hong Kong SAR passport holders and Taiwan nationals
On 10 February 2026 at 00:01am (Hong Kong/Taipei time) the first ballot of the 2026 Youth Mobility Scheme will open before closing again at 0:01am (Hong Kong/Taipei time) on 12 February 2026. Only Hong Kong SAR passport holders and Taiwan nationals who want to take part in the 2026 Youth Mobility Scheme need to enter the ballot.
There is expected to be a second ballot in the summer but most places are allocated in the February ballot.
What is the Youth Mobility Scheme?
The Youth Mobility Scheme visa allows the holder to live and work in the UK for up to 2 years. Nationals of Australia, Canada and New Zealand can apply to extend their visa by a further year, so for up to 3 years.
Visa holders of this scheme can work in most jobs and be self-employed but not employ other workers.
What are the eligibility requirements for the Youth Mobility Scheme?
The scheme is only open to individuals with certain types of British nationality (British Overseas Citizen, British Overseas Territories Citizen, British National (Overseas)) or nationals of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Korea, Andorra, Iceland, Japan, Monaco, San Marino, Uruguay, Hong Kong (SAR passport holders only) and Taiwan.
Applicants must also be aged 18-30 (or 18-35 for nationals of Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Korea). Applications can be made by 17 year olds who will be 18 when the visa starts or by 30 year olds who will be over 30 when it starts.
Applicants must have £2,530 in savings in their bank account to prove that they will be able to support themselves financially living in the UK. Applicants must not have children that they are financially responsible for or that live with them.
How is the Youth Mobility Visa Application made?
An application is made online and submitted by paying both the application fee of £319 and Immigration Health Surcharge of £1552.
South Korean and Hong Kong SAR passport holders must provide a TB test certificate.
The earliest an application can be made is 6 months before travel to the UK.
Typically, applicants will receive a decision within 3 weeks of applying.
What is the Youth Mobility Scheme Ballot?
There are only 1000 places on the Youth Mobility Scheme in 2026 for Hong Kong SAR passport holders and another 1000 places for Taiwan nationals. For this reason, there is a separate ballot for each of these groups to select the individuals who will be given the opportunity to apply for the visa.
How should interested and eligible Hong Kong SAR passport holders and Taiwan nationals enter the ballot?
The ballot is entered by sending an email to hongkongyms@homeoffice.gov.uk (Hong Kong SAR passport holders) or taiwanyms@homeoffice.gov.uk (Taiwan nationals). The email must be sent between 00:01am on 10 February 2026 and 00:01am on Thursday 12 February 2026 (Hong Kong/Taipei time). The email subject line and the body of the email must contain certain information in a specific format or the email will not be added to the ballot, please see here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/youth-mobility-scheme-visa-ballot-system
Successful applicants will receive an email by 27 February 2026 giving them 90 days to submit their application for the Youth Mobility visa. Those who are unsuccessful are able to try again by entering a future ballot provided they still meet the eligibility criteria.
Is there a similar mobility scheme for other nationals?
There is the India Young Professionals Scheme visa but this requires applicants to have a qualification at bachelor’s degree level.
There is currently no similar scheme for EU nationals. The UK Government is currently in negotiations with the EU to create a similar additional youth mobility scheme modelled on the UK’s existing Youth Mobility Scheme.
You can read more here: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/dec/05/uk-eu-youth-mobility-scheme-could-let-tens-of-thousands-live-work-abroad
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