2023 Useful Guide To Understand The Youth Mobility Visa UK

The UK has introduced the Youth Mobility Visa UK – a unique and beneficial work visa category that allows young people from participating countries to live and work in the UK for up to 2 years.

The Youth Mobility Visa UK is designed to encourage cultural exchange and create opportunities for young people to experience life in the UK while also permitting them to work and support themselves financially.

In this blog, our UK Visa Expert in Mumbai, Delhi & Bengaluru has extensively discussed the UK Youth Mobility Visa – the documents required, the cost to apply, the application process, the countries that are eligible to apply, and so on.

• UK Youth Mobility Visa has replaced the UK Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme Visa
• This visa is a cultural exchange platform that allows individuals aged between 18 years and 30 years, from participating countries and territories, to experience life in the UK for up to 2 years while also working
• Dependant family members (partner & children) are not permitted to the UK with you (the main applicant) on this visa
• The UK Youth Mobility Visa is not a route to settlement in the country
• It is mandatory for applicants to have £2,530 in savings
• You also have to meet all the Youth mobility visa UK eligibility criteria to qualify for this route

As per the Youth Mobility Visa UK requirements, the list of documents required are as follows:

• Current and valid passport, to prove your identity and nationality
• Bank statement showing that you have at least £2,530 in savings
• Tuberculosis test results – if required (check here if you need this)
• Provide a certified translation of any documents that are not in English or Welsh

• You are required to apply online on the UK Government website (https://www.gov.uk/) to apply
• The earliest you can apply for a Youth Mobility Visa UK is 6 months before your date of travel to the UK

Once you have applied online, submitted the identity proofs, and provided valid documents, you will usually get a decision on your UK Youth Mobility Visa application within 3 weeks.

The Youth Mobility Visa UK cost (as of April 2023), which you are required to pay is mentioned below:

• An application fee, which is £259, plus
• Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) – which is usually £470 for each year granted to you on your visa application
• In this case, a UK Youth Mobility Visa is granted for 2 years – so your total payable IHS will come to £940

• You can stay in the UK for up to 2 years with a UK Youth Mobility Visa. However, there is no visa extension allowed
• You are permitted to live and work in the UK and enter the country at any time while your visa is valid, and leave and come back at any time during your stay
• If you turn 31 years old after your visa is issued, you can still stay in the UK for as long as your visa is valid

Here’s a list of the permitted activities and the list of Youth Mobility Visa UK restrictions:
The following are permitted activities:

• Study for some courses
• Work in most jobs
• Be self-employed,
• Set up a company – as long as your premises are rented, the equipment is not worth more than £5,000, and you do not have any employees

Youth Mobility Visa UK restrictions:

• Work as a professional sportsperson, for example as a coach
• Extend your stay in the UK
• Get public funds
• Bring in family members

If you are from the below-listed countries, only then you can apply for a UK Youth Mobility Visa:

• Australia
• Canada
• Monaco
• New Zealand
• San Marino
• Iceland

However, if you are from:

• Hong Kong
• Japan
• South Korea
• Taiwan

You must first be selected in the UK Youth Mobility Scheme Visa ballot before you can apply for the visa. You must be a citizen, and be the rightful holder of a passport from one of the above countries. You must also – be issued with an invitation to apply, and submit your application within the period of time specified on the invitation.