UK Youth Mobility Visa – How to Get it in 7 Easy Steps
The UK Youth Mobility visa is a visa that allows young adults between the ages of 18 and 30 to live and work in the UK.
Many countries offer youth mobility (also know as working holiday) visas to promote travel and exchange among youth. This allows you to broaden your horizons and immerse yourself in other cultures. It’s one of the easiest ways to live and work abroad!
I personally used the UK Youth Mobility visa and moved to London for two unforgettable years. Here are the seven steps that I took to get my visa and move to the UK from Canada in one month.
Note: The amount of savings you need, the cost of the application, and the healthcare surcharge can change. This information is up-to-date as of 2022.
About the UK Youth Mobility Visa
The UK Youth Mobility visa is a working holiday visa offered by UK Visas and Immigration that allows young adults to live in the UK and work for any employer. The visa is called the Youth Mobility Scheme visa and is valid for two years.
Eligible Nationalities
You can fill out the UK Youth Mobility visa application online and then go in person to a visa application center in your country if you’re aged 18 to 30 and from Australia, Canada, Monaco, New Zealand, San Marino, or Iceland.
You need to be selected in the Youth Mobility Scheme ballot to apply for the UK Youth Mobility visa if you’re aged 18 to 30 and from Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, or Taiwan.
You can apply if you’re aged 18 to 30 and a British oversea citizen, British overseas territories citizen, or British overseas national.
UK Youth Mobility Visa Restrictions
There are a number of restrictions for the UK Youth Mobility Scheme.
- The visa is valid for 24 months only
- You have to be between the ages of 18 and 30 when you apply
- You need to provide a bank statement showing that you have £2,530 in savings
- You must have one of the listed nationalities
- You can’t have children under 18 who live with you or whom you’re financially responsible for
- You can’t have used the UK Youth Mobility Scheme before
Application Costs
- Application fee: £259
- UK healthcare surcharge: approximately £470 per year – this is so you are covered by the NHS (National Health Service) during your time in the UK because you will no longer be covered by healthcare in your own country
- Personal savings: £2,530 in your bank account for at least 28 days in a row
UK Youth Mobility Visa Processing Time
It takes about three weeks to receive a decision.
I received a positive decision after two weeks. My passport and UK clearance certificate arrived at my address after another week. I then moved to the UK and picked up my residence permit from a location in London that I picked during my application.
Steps to Apply for the UK Youth Mobility Visa
You can apply for a visa up to six months before you plan to land in the UK.
This is how my application process for the UK Youth Mobility visa went. I applied when I was in Canada at the British Embassy in Vancouver. If you don’t live near a British Embassy, there may be visa application centers closer to you.
Step 1: Collect documents and information
Collect the required documents before beginning your application for the UK Youth Mobility Scheme. You’ll need to show proof of your identity and nationality, and sufficient funds to support yourself in the UK.
You’ll need:
- A valid passport or document showing your identity and nationality
- A blank page in your passport for the entry clearance sticker
- A bank statement showing that you have at least £2,530 in savings
- A credit card to pay the application fee and health surcharge online
- An address in the UK near where you’ll pick up your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)
Step 2: Apply online with UK Visas and Immigration
You can access the online application form here.
The online form will guide you through the application process. You’ll need to register your email address and create an account so you can be contacted. You’ll also need to provide a list of every country that you’ve been to in the past 10 years and the dates that you were there.
You’ll have to pick a date for the visa to start on that’s within six months. If you travel to the UK before this date, you won’t be able to work yet and you’ll need to leave and return to activate your visa.
During the application, you’ll pay the healthcare surcharge for all 24 months and the visa application fee. You should receive emails confirmation of your healthcare surcharge payment, application fee payment, and receipt of your visa application. If your visa is rejected, the healthcare surcharge will be refunded but the application fee will not.
Step 3: Make a biometrics appointment
The next step is to book an appointment with a visa application center, where you’ll have your photo and biometrics taken. Check for all available locations worldwide here. There is a fee to use most of the visa application centers and you should arrive 15 minutes before your appointment.
You’ll have to give your passport to the visa center and you won’t have it for several weeks while your application is being processed, so keep that in mind if you’re planning any travel!
Step 4: Get a decision from UK immigration
Within several weeks, you’ll receive an email from UK Visas and Immigration regarding the outcome of your application. It’s a pretty easy visa to get, so you should be fine. My fingers are crossed for you!
Step 5: Get your visa sticker in the mail
If you’re successful, your visa will be printed and placed in your passport, which will be mailed back to your home address. This sticker allows you entry into the UK, where you’ll pick up your residence permit card at the post office closest to the UK address that you provided during your application.
Step 6: Travel to the UK!
You’re ready to move to the UK! Book a flight, pack your bags, say your goodbyes, and you’re off.
Make sure that you arrive on or after the arrival date that you selected in your application.
Step 7: Pick up your residence permit
Once you arrive in the UK, you have to pick up your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) from the post office closest to the address you provided when you applied.
Congratulations! You made it! I wish you all the best in your new adventure in the UK.
UK Youth Mobility Visa FAQ
What is a youth mobility visa?
A youth mobility visa is a residence permit that allows you to live and work in a foreign country. These visas are often reciprocal agreements between countries and are offered to promote travel and cultural exchange among youth for a set amount of time.
There are sometimes limits to who you can for and how long you can work for them. You often have to prove that you have enough savings because you can’t access public funds. You also generally need to have health or travel insurance.
Why do I need to show a certain amount of savings in my bank account?
You need to show that you have at least £2,530 in your bank account for at least the past 28 consecutive days. You can’t access public fund while on the UK Youth Mobility visa so you need to be able support yourself with your savings in case you have trouble finding work in the UK or need to go home.
What if I turn 31 after I’m approved for my UK Youth Mobility visa?
If you turn 31 after you are approved for the Youth Mobility Scheme UK, your visa still remains valid for until its original expiry date.
Are there restrictions to the type of work that I can do?
You’re allowed to work at most jobs, but you can’t work as a professional sportsperson. When I applied for the visa, you also couldn’t work as a doctor or dentist, but it looks like that restriction has since been removed.
Can Indian citizens apply for the UK Youth Mobility visa?
Indian citizens unfortunately aren’t eligible for the UK Youth Mobility Scheme but there is a program specifically for Indian nationals called the Indian Young Professionals Scheme.
Can I bring my family members with the UK Youth Mobility visa?
No, you are only able to use the visa for yourself. If your family members also want to move to the UK, they need to apply for a visa that they are eligible for themselves.
Can I be self-employed and start my own business?
Yes! You can be self-employed and set up your own company with the UK Youth Mobility Scheme. the restrictions are that you can’t own your office – you have to rent it. Your equipment can’t be worth more than £5,000, and you can’t hire anyone to work for you.
Can I extend the UK Youth Mobility past 24 months?
No, your visa can’t be extended past 24 months, so you either have to leave the UK or find a different visa to stay with.
What can I do if I want to stay in the UK after my UK Youth Mobility visa expires?
There are many ways to stay in the UK after your youth mobility visa expires. I personally wanted to move to Amsterdam so I didn’t look for ways to stay in the UK. Many people that I know who were on the UK Youth Mobility visa stayed through one of the following methods:
- Marry a British citizen
- Get sponsored for a Skilled Worker visa
- Enroll in a study program
- Apply for a UK ancestry visa
I hope this information you helpful for you. If you have any questions, feel free to drop me a line. I’m always happy to help.
You may also like what I share on Instagram @gracegonewandering.
Good luck on your journey!