India Young Professionals Scheme: How the UK Ballot Works and How to Prepare for 2027

The India Young Professionals Scheme lets Indian citizens aged 18 to 30 with a degree-level qualification live and work in the UK for up to 2 years, but you cannot apply directly. You first have to be selected in a free, random ballot. The UK made 3,000 places available in 2026, released across two ballots in February and July. As of 6 November 2026, gov.uk has not published dates or a place count for 2027, so the practical task now is to be ready to enter within days of an announcement.

What the Scheme Offers

The visa allows you to live and work in the UK for up to 24 months. You can enter at any time while it is valid, and leave and return during your stay. You can work in most jobs, study (some courses need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate), or be self-employed or set up a company, provided your premises are rented, your equipment is worth no more than GBP 5,000 and you have no employees. If you turn 31 after the visa is issued, you can stay for as long as it is valid.

You cannot extend your stay, claim most public funds, include family members on your application or work as a professional sportsperson. Employers must pay at least the National Minimum Wage, which from April 2026 is GBP 12.71 an hour for workers aged 21 and over and GBP 10.85 for ages 18 to 20.

Who Can Enter the Ballot

• You are an Indian citizen aged 18 to 30. The Immigration Rules test your age on the date you apply.
• You hold a qualification at bachelor's degree level or above (RQF level 6, 7 or 8), or an equivalent overseas degree-level qualification.
• You have at least GBP 2,530 in your bank account, held for 28 days in a row, with day 28 falling within 31 days of your application.
• You have no child under 18 who lives with you or depends on you financially.
• You have not been in the UK before under this scheme or the Youth Mobility Scheme.

When you enter, you declare that you are eligible. gov.uk tells people to enter only if they plan to apply and meet every requirement.

How the Ballot Works

• What you provide: your name, date of birth, passport details, a scan or photo of your passport, your phone number and your email address.
• Selection: successful entries are picked at random. You are emailed the result within 2 weeks of the ballot closing.
• Limits: one entry per person per ballot. Extra attempts are not counted. The result is final and cannot be appealed, but you can enter later ballots if you still qualify.
• If selected: you have 90 days from the date of the email to apply online, pay the fee and surcharge, and give your biometrics or complete the identity check. Your application needs the unique application number from the invitation. If you are selected and decide not to apply, you do not have to tell the Home Office.

gov.uk does not publish the number of entries or the share of entrants selected, so no official source can give you real odds. Selection is random, so treat anyone who claims to improve your chances with caution.

Ballot Dates From 2024 to 2026

The gov.uk change log shows the dates were posted roughly a week before each ballot opened, and that closing times varied: the July 2026 ballot closed at 9am UK time on 23 July. For 2026, most places were released in February and the rest in July. For 2027, gov.uk says only that details of future ballots will be published on the ballot page.

What It Costs

Budget separately for the tuberculosis test if you live in India, the police certificate, certified translations of any documents not in English or Welsh, and flights.

From Selection to Arrival

The documents gov.uk lists are a valid passport, evidence of the GBP 2,530 such as bank statements, written confirmation from your college or university that you completed your studies and graduated, TB test results if you live in India or another listed country, and a police clearance certificate from India.

How to Prepare for 2027

• Watch the ballot page. Based on 2024 to 2026, expect roughly a week of notice. That is a pattern, not a promise.
• Do not plan around the 2026 place count. The 2027 number is not published. The Rules say that where a year's places have not been updated, countries with 1,000 or more places receive the greater of 1,000 or 50% of the previous year's places. That is a stopgap rule, not an announcement.
• Check your age. You must be 30 or under on the date you apply. A candidate close to 31 should allow for the gap between entry, the result and the application.
• Build the savings record early. GBP 2,530 must sit in your account for 28 days in a row. Avoid last-minute deposits that would break that record.
• Ask your university for the confirmation letter. Find out what written confirmation of completion and graduation it can issue, and how long it takes.
• Time the police certificate. The Rules require it to be issued no more than 6 months before you apply, and you will have 90 days after selection, so check local processing times and request it once you are selected.

What the Scheme Does Not Offer

The visa cannot be extended, the Immigration Rules say it is not a route to settlement, and time on it does not lead to indefinite leave. The government confirmed on 2 November 2026 that the default settlement period is moving to 10 years (see our earned settlement guide), so anyone who wants to stay beyond 2 years needs another route. One option is a sponsored Skilled Worker job, which needs a salary of at least GBP 41,700 or the going rate if higher, with a lower floor of GBP 33,400 for some new entrants such as people under 26 and recent graduates. gov.uk's list of visas that cannot be switched into Skilled Worker does not name Youth Mobility holders, but confirm the in-country switching rules for your own case before you plan around it. Our UK Skilled Worker guide and UK immigration changes guide explain those rules, and the India Young Professionals Scheme reference page keeps the eligibility and costs in one place.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many places does the India Young Professionals Scheme have?

There were 3,000 places in 2026, released in a February ballot and a July ballot. gov.uk has not published a 2027 place count or 2027 ballot dates as of 6 November 2026.

Is it free to enter the ballot?

Yes. Entry is free and you can submit one entry per person for each ballot. The visa costs GBP 340, plus a GBP 1,552 healthcare surcharge, and you pay only if you are selected and decide to apply.

What happens if I am not selected?

The result is final and you cannot appeal. You can enter future ballots if you still meet the eligibility requirements, including the age limit of 30 and the GBP 2,530 savings requirement.

Can I extend the visa or settle in the UK?

No. The visa lasts up to 24 months and cannot be extended, and the Immigration Rules say the route is not a route to settlement. Staying longer needs a different visa, such as a sponsored Skilled Worker job.

Can my spouse or children come with me?

gov.uk says family members cannot be included on your application and must apply separately, and the Immigration Rules say dependants are not permitted on this route. You also cannot have a child under 18 who lives with you or depends on you financially.

What if I turn 31 after the visa is issued?

You can stay for as long as the visa is valid. The age test applies when you apply, when you must be 30 or under.

What do I need to show for the savings requirement?

You need at least GBP 2,530 in your bank account, held for 28 days in a row, with day 28 falling within 31 days of your application. Bank statements are the example evidence gov.uk gives.