The India Young Professionals Scheme visa is an exciting visa that offers Indian citizens between 18 and 30 years old the opportunity to live and work in the UK for 2 years.
Applicants need to successfully enter the ballot to apply for this visa. There are 2,400 visas available in the February ballot. The ballot opens at 2:30pm India Standard Time on 28 February 2023, and close at 2:30pm India Standard Time on 2 March 2023.
The results will be sent to applicants within 2 weeks of the ballot closing. Successful applicants will need to apply for the India Young Professionals Scheme visa within 30 days.
Are you eligible?
- Indian citizen
- Between 18 and 30 years old
- Have a qualification at bachelor’s degree level or above
- Have £2,530 in savings
- Have a tuberculosis (TB) test results if you’re living in India or another listed country
- Have a police report or clearance certificate from India
It is very important that your documents meet the Home Office requirements. Our specialist Immigration team can assist you with your application and advise you on the requirements.
How much does it cost?
The ballot is free to enter and if successful, the Home Office application fee is £259 and the Immigration Healthcare surcharge is £940.
What can you do in the UK?
On the India Young Professionals Scheme visa, you can work in most jobs, be self-employed and study. There are some restrictions on self-employment. You are permitted to set up a company but your premises must be rented, your equipment should not be worth more than £5,000 and you are not allowed to have any employees.
What can you not do in the UK?
You are not permitted to apply for family members on your application. You are not allowed to work as a professional sportsperson. You are not eligible for public funds in the UK.
Route to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)
The India Young Professionals Scheme visa is not a route to indefinite leave to remain, which is also known as settlement. In addition, the India Young Professionals Scheme visa cannot be extended but you can switch to another visa such as the Skilled Worker visa, which is a visa category eligible for indefinite leave to remain (settlement) in the UK.
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Case Study: Aanya |
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Aanya, a 25-year-old Indian national, has recently graduated from the Delhi Technological University with a Master of Technology in Data Science. She would like to work abroad for a couple of years. She decides to apply for the Ballot for the India Young Professionals Scheme visa and receives an email one week after the ballot closes telling her she was one of the successful entries.
Aanya applies for the India Young Professionals Scheme visa. She pays the application fee and the Immigration Healthcare surcharge. She provides the required documents in the correct format. Her visa is granted and she moves to Edinburgh, UK.
Aanya loves her time in Edinburgh. She finds an interesting job working as a Data Scientist and enjoys exploring Europe during her holidays. Her employer holds a valid Worker Sponsor licence and offers to sponsor her on a Skilled worker visa. Aanya successfully submits an in-country application to switch from the India Young Professionals Scheme visa to a Skilled worker visa. As a Skilled Worker, Aanya is now able to continue residing in the UK beyond her two years’ India Young Professionals Scheme visa and could apply for indefinite leave to remain in the UK after 5 years, subject to her eligibility. |
Individuals who require further information and advice in respect of the India Young Professionals Scheme visa should contact our specialist Immigration team on 03330 430350 for further information and advice.
