The United Kingdom opens the next ballot for the India Young Professionals Scheme from Tuesday, February 17. This highly awaited scheme allows young skilled professionals from India to stay and work in the country for up to 2 years.
Those who have already arrived in the UK under the India Young Professionals Scheme cannot apply for this scheme. (Unsplash/Representative Image)The Young Professionals Scheme was agreed as part of the India-UK Migration and Mobility Partnership. It operates on a reciprocal basis between both India and the UK, providing opportunities for young professionals from other countries to live and work in partner countries.
Indian citizens who meet the visa eligibility requirements can enter the ballot. Successful ballot entries will be selected at random, and candidates will receive an email within 2 weeks of the ballot closing.
Who can applyTo be eligible for the visa, an individual should be
An Indian citizenMust be between 18 to 30 yearsMust have a qualifying qualification at Bachelor’s degree level or aboveHave £2,530 in savings to support yourself in the countryThere should be no children under the age of 18 living with you or financially dependent on youIf a candidate fulfills all these criteria then they must apply for India Young Professional Scheme Ballot and apply for their visa for successful selection.
Additionally, those who have already arrived in the UK under the scheme cannot apply for the scheme
How to applyTo apply for the scheme, a person must first enter the ballot and then apply for a visa. Candidates selected on the ballot will have 90 days to apply for the visa and pay the application fee, including the immigration health surcharge.
The candidate selected in the ballot will also have to provide biometric information including fingerprint and a photograph.
Individuals must prove their identity by using the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan their identity document or by providing their biometric information at a visa application centre.
According to the official website, there are 3,000 places available for the India Young Professional Scheme visa in 2026. Most of these seats will be filled on the first ballot in February, with the remainder available on the second ballot later in the year
How long does it take to get a decision?Once you apply for the ballot, the results will be sent via email to selected candidates within 2 weeks of the end of the ballot.
After submitting the visa application and providing the documents, the individual will receive a decision within 3 weeks.
However, in some cases, application processing may take longer if supporting documents need to be verified, you may need to attend an interview to discuss your personal circumstances, for example, if you have a criminal conviction.
What can you do and what can’t you do?You can study (you’ll need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate for some courses), work in most jobs and be self-employed or set up a company, as long as your premises are rented, your equipment costs no more than £5,000 and you have no employees.
More Read
You cannot extend your stay, apply for most benefits (public funding), include family members in your application as they must apply separately, or work as a professional athlete (for example, as a coach).
