UK Youth Mobility Scheme Visa Checklist — £340, £2,530 Savings, 2 Years
The Youth Mobility Scheme is the UK’s working-holiday route: 18–30 (up to 35 for some countries), £340, up to 24 months, and at least £2,530 in savings. Some places (Hong Kong SAR, Taiwan) are allocated by a ballot. Verified against GOV.UK, September 2026.
Stage A — Who it is for
- ☐ You want to live and work in the UK for up to 2 years.
- ☐ You are 18–30 — or 18–35 if you are from Australia, Canada, New Zealand or South Korea.
- ☐ You have £2,530 in savings.
- ☐ You hold a qualifying British nationality or come from a listed country or territory.
Hong Kong SAR passport holders and Taiwan applicants need a ballot win first; India uses the separate India Young Professionals Scheme. You cannot apply if you have a child under 18 living with you, are financially responsible for a child, or have used the scheme before.
Stage B — Documents
- ☐ A valid passport or identity and nationality document.
- ☐ Bank statements showing £2,530.
- ☐ A TB test result (listed countries).
- ☐ By nationality: a criminal record certificate (Andorra, Iceland, San Marino, Uruguay — issued within 6 months of applying); a ballot-win email (Hong Kong SAR, Taiwan); certified translations for non-English/Welsh documents.
Stage C — Fees and length
- ☐ Fee: £340; IHS usually £776 a year.
- ☐ Savings: £2,530 under the 28-day rule.
- ☐ Length: up to 24 months; Australia, Canada and New Zealand can extend by 1 year.
Stage D — Applying and what you can do
- ☐ Apply up to 6 months before you travel; usually a 3-week decision.
- ☐ You can: study (some courses need ATAS), do most work, and be self-employed with a company (premises, equipment up to £5,000, no employees).
- ⛔ You cannot: work as a professional sportsperson, extend (except Australia/Canada/New Zealand), claim public funds, or bring dependants in the same application.
Get it right the first time
- Check your age band for your nationality before anything else.
- Hong Kong SAR / Taiwan: you need a ballot win first.
- Hold £2,530 for 28 days — plan the timing.
- Dependants cannot join in the same application.
Frequently asked questions
Am I in the 18-30 or the 18-35 age band?
The general age range is 18 to 30. Nationals of Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Korea may apply up to age 35.
How much savings do I need for the Youth Mobility Scheme?
£2,530 in available funds, held under the 28-day rule.
Why do Hong Kong and Taiwan need a ballot?
For Hong Kong SAR passport holders and Taiwan, places are allocated by a ballot; you need your Home Office ballot-win confirmation email before you apply. India uses the separate India Young Professionals Scheme.
Can I extend a Youth Mobility visa?
Generally no, but nationals of Australia, Canada and New Zealand can extend for a further year after the 2 years.
Can I bring my family?
No. You cannot bring dependants in the same application; they would need to apply separately.
Can I be self-employed?
Yes. You can set up a company and be self-employed, renting premises, with equipment worth up to £5,000 and no employees.
Official source: gov.uk — Youth Mobility Scheme visa, eligibility and documents pages, retrieved 2026-09-27. Confidence A (official pages, quoted verbatim). Ballot windows and quotas are not reproduced here — check the official guidance.
Related: see the UK visa checklist for other routes. Prepare your identity documents with the UK passport photo page, the digital file requirements guide, and check a finished photo with the passport photo checker. If your passport is near expiry, read the photo validity guide.