United Kingdom · UK-YM · Working holiday

Youth Mobility Scheme Visa

Live and work in the UK for up to 24 months.

8 official facts · checked 4 Nov 2026

Cost
£340
Time
3 weeks
Stay
24 months
United Kingdom UK-YM

Youth Mobility Scheme Visa

8 verified facts

Cost
Application fee: £340.
Time
Usually a decision within 3 weeks after you apply, prove your identity and provide your documents.
Stay
Live and work in the UK for up to 24 months.
Leads to
To be confirmed with the Home Office before applying.
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The details

What the official rules say

Each line links to its official source and the date we checked it. Anything we could not check is marked.

Cost

£340

Application fee: £340.

≈ USD 456 — indicative only, at the ECB reference rate of 3 Nov 2026. Not an official fee.

gov.uk ↗ · checked 4 Nov 2026

£776

Healthcare surcharge: usually £776 per year.

Applies to Immigration health surcharge, per year of the visa.

≈ USD 1,041 — indicative only, at the ECB reference rate of 3 Nov 2026. Not an official fee.

gov.uk ↗ · checked 4 Nov 2026

How long it takes

Usually a decision within 3 weeks after you apply, prove your identity and provide your documents.

The government's target, not a promise

Applies to New visa application (extensions from inside the UK: within 8 weeks).

gov.uk ↗ · checked 4 Nov 2026

How long you can stay

Live and work in the UK for up to 24 months.

gov.uk ↗ · checked 4 Nov 2026

Can it lead to living there permanently?

To be confirmed with the Home Office before applying.

Rules

Aged 18 to 30 or 18 to 35, depending on where you're from.

gov.uk ↗ · checked 4 Nov 2026

Only for certain British nationals and for citizens of the countries and territories on the official list.

gov.uk ↗ · checked 4 Nov 2026

At least £2,530 in savings.

gov.uk ↗ · checked 4 Nov 2026

These are the official rules we have so far. There may be more. Read the official page before you apply.

Official page

Youth Mobility Scheme visa — GOV.UK

gov.uk ↗ · checked 4 Nov 2026

What can come next
  1. This visa Youth Mobility Scheme Visa
  2. Next step Skilled Worker Visa
  3. Then Indefinite Leave to Remain (Settlement) Usually needs 5 years
  4. Then British Citizenship Usually needs 5 years

A possible next step. Times come from each visa's official rules. See what long-term visas need.

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