The UK Government is committed to facilitating cultural exchange and providing opportunities for young people. The Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) is a temporary route which exists to provide young people, from participating countries, with an opportunity to experience life in the UK, enabling them to work and travel for up to two years. The YMS is a reciprocal scheme, with its terms negotiated and agreed between the two countries, which enables young British citizens to benefit from similar opportunities overseas.
The UK currently operates eight YMS arrangements with Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Republic of Korea and Taiwan. The UK remains open to concluding further YMS agreements with other countries and territories.
Who can apply?
Individuals who are aged between 18 and 30 at the time of application, who have £1,890 in savings and who are citizens of countries or republics listed in Appendix G of the Immigration Rules or are a British Overseas Citizen, British Overseas Territories Citizen or British National (Overseas).
Table 13: Youth Mobility Scheme conditions and requirements
| Requirements | Conditions and restrictions | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| English language | No | Capped | Yes |
| Application fee | Yes | Switching – routes (in-country) | Yes |
| Immigration Skills Charge | No | Route to settlement | No |
| Immigration Health Surcharge | Yes | Dependants | No |
| Biometrics | Yes | Access to public funds | No |
| Maintenance | Yes | Supplementary work | Yes |
Additional
- Applicants can work or study whilst in the UK.
- Applicants are not permitted to be employed as a professional sportsperson or doctor or dentist in training.
- Applicants are not permitted to bring family members in as dependants.
- Applicants must not have held entry clearance in this category before.
- Applicants must be receiving at least National Minimum Wage (exemptions apply to some schemes, e.g. Erasmus).
