Overview

An India Young Professionals Scheme visa allows Indian citizens between 18 and 30 years old to live and work in the UK for up to 2 years.

You must be selected in the India Young Professionals Scheme ballot before you can apply for this visa. To enter the ballot you must declare that you’re eligible for the visa – check if you’re eligible before you enter.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the visa, you must:

• be an Indian citizen
• be between 18 and 30 years old
• have an eligible qualification
• have £2,530 in savings

Check the full list of eligibility requirements.

How to apply

1. If you’re eligible, enter the India Young Professionals Scheme ballot.
2. If you’re successful in the ballot, you’ll receive an invitation to apply for the visa.
3. Prepare the documents that you need to apply.
4. Apply for an India Young Professionals Scheme visa.

When to apply

If you’re successful in the ballot you’ll need to apply for your visa by the deadline given in your invitation to apply. This is usually 30 days after you get the invitation.

You must travel to the UK within 6 months of applying for your visa.

Example

If you apply on 16 March 2023 you must arrive in the UK by 15 September 2023 at the latest.

As part of your application, you’ll need to prove your identity and provide your documents.

You may need to allow extra time if you need an appointment to do this. You’ll find out if you need one when you start your application.

Getting a decision

Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks.

How much it costs

You will need to:

• pay the application fee of £259
• pay a healthcare surcharge of £940
• prove you have £2,530 in personal savings

Your application fee will not be refunded if your application is rejected. Check if you’re eligible before you apply.

How long you can stay

You’ll be given a visa to live and work in the UK for up to 24 months.

You can enter the UK at any time while your visa is valid, and leave and come back at any time during your stay.

If you turn 31 after your visa is issued, you can stay in the UK for as long as your visa is valid.

What you can and cannot do

You can:

• study – for some courses you’ll need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate
• work in most jobs
• be self-employed and set up a company – as long as your premises are rented, your equipment is not worth more than £5,000 and you do not have any employees

You cannot:

• extend your stay
• apply for most benefits (public funds)
• include family members on your application – they must apply separately
• work as a professional sportsperson (for example as a coach)

Next : Eligibility

View a printable version of the whole guide

Contributed by: E Ramesh

Librarian, HITAM – HYDARABAD INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT