Youth Mobility visa: Everything you need to know
⚡️ The Youth Mobility visa offers a fantastic pathway for young people to live and work in the UK.
If you're a young person and life in London is calling you, then the Youth Mobility visa is a fantastic pathway for people from certain countries to come live and work in the UK. In this article, we will cover all the essential information about the Youth Mobility visa, from its eligibility criteria to the application process, the benefits it offers and answer some frequently asked questions.
What is the Youth Mobility visa?
The Youth Mobility visa is a visa that allows young individuals from participating countries to live, work, and travel in the UK for 2-3 years. The visa is part of a reciprocal arrangement between the UK and participating governments, aimed at promoting cultural exchange and creating opportunities for young people to experience life in a different part of the world.
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible for a Youth Mobility visa, applicants need to meet the following eligibility criteria.
Nationality 🌍
You must be a citizen of a country that has a bilateral Youth Mobility agreement with the UK. Those countries include:
- Andorra 🇦🇩
- Australia 🇦🇺
- Canada 🇨🇦
- Hong Kong 🇭🇰
- Iceland 🇮🇸
- Japan 🇯🇵
- Monaco 🇲🇨
- New Zealand 🇳🇿
- Republic of Korea 🇰🇷
- San Marino 🇸🇲
- Taiwan 🇹🇼
- Uruguay 🇺🇾
Age 🎂
You must fall within the age range of 18 to 30 years-old when applying.
If you're from Australia, Canada or New Zealand, you can be 18 to 35 years-old when applying.
Financial requirements 💰
Youth Mobility visa applicants will be required to demonstrate that they have sufficient funds to support themselves during their time in the UK. This is known as the 'proof of maintenance funds' which applicants need to show that they have the equivalent of £2,530 in their bank account for 28 days before applying.
This article breaks down how that works in detail.
Application process
The application process for a Youth Mobility Visa generally involves the following steps.
1. Check eligibility 👍
Ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria for both your home country and the host country.
2. Gather required documents 📑
Collect all necessary documents, including; passports, proof of citizenship and financial statements.
3. Complete the application 👩💻
Fill out the visa application accurately and honestly, providing all required information.
4. Submit application ✅
Submit your application along with the supporting documents to the designated visa processing centre.
5. Pay the fees 💷
Youth Mobility visa applicants will have to pay for both the visa application fee, and the International Healthcare Surcharge (IHS).
6. Attend the biometrics appointment 👁
Attend a biometrics appointment and, in some cases, an interview at a visa processing centre.
7. Receive your returned passport with visa vignette 📬
Your passport and visa vignette will be returned to you via post.
8. Enter the UK within the arrival window 🛬
There is a strict window for when you must arrive in the UK and activate your visa.
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Benefits of the Youth Mobility visa
When comparing the Youth Mobility visa with other UK visas, there are range of benefits unique to the Youth Mobility visa.
You don't need a job to apply 🤝
Unlike many other UK visas, you don't need to have a job offer from a UK employer before you arrive in the UK.
Cheaper fees for the IHS 🩺
When you apply for a visa to come and live and work in the UK, you need to pay for the International Healthcare Surcharge (IHS) per year of your visa. When moving to the UK on the Youth Mobility visa, you will pay a lower annual IHS fee than other visas.
Unlimited entry and exit from the UK 🛫
With the Youth Mobility visa you can come and go from the UK as you please.
10 Youth Mobility visa FAQs
If you're looking for the complete list of Youth Mobility visa FAQs, check out this article.
Do I have to be within the age limits to hold the Youth Mobility visa?
No, you only have to be within the age limits when applying. For example, if you turn 31 after your visa is issued, you can stay in the UK for as long as your visa is valid. Applying when you are at the edge of the age limit will not affect the validity.
What would disqualify me from being eligible?
- You have been found guilty of a criminal offence within the last 12 months (eg. drink driving)
- You have children under 18-years-old who are dependent on you
- You have previously overstayed your time in the UK or meet another grounds of refusal reason
Can I apply for the Youth Mobility visa while in another country that isn't my home country (country of nationality)?
Official guidance has yet to be published, but the UK has recently relaxed rules around applying from other countries.
- Ideally, you should apply for the Youth Mobility visa from your home country
- You can apply for the Youth Mobility visa from the country you are a resident in (eg. Kiwi living in Australia)
- If you're travelling and not a resident when applying, it's no guarantee that your Youth Mobility visa application will be approved
How does the 28 days proof of maintenance funds requirement work?
You can read more about showing sufficient proof of maintenance funds here.
Can I arrive before the start date on my visa?
You can, but you will need to leave and re-enter. The requirements here are very specific, you must arrive in the UK and pass through UK immigration during the window stated on your visa, not before or after.
What happens if I do not enter within the 90 days shown on the visa vignette?
If you fail to enter the UK within the 90-day window, you will be required to go through the Biometrics process again. This involves applying for a new vignette, which comes with at a cost of approximately £154. The processing time for this application is the same as the original process, which is 3 weeks for the standard turnaround service or 5-7 days for the priority service (with an additional cost of £212).
I'm planning on travelling around other countries before arriving in London, is this wise?
Yes, this is a sensible plan to make so long as your travels end and you arrive in the UK during the specified 90-day window start dates.
Things have changed, can I get a refund on my Youth Mobility visa application?
If you have not yet attended the Biometrics appointment, you may be eligible for a full refund of the application fee and the International Health Surcharge Fee. However, if you have already attended the Biometrics appointment, you can only receive a refund for those specific fees. It's important to note that as long as you have not entered the UK and activated your Youth Mobility visa, you can apply for another visa in the future.
I've travelled to the UK but need to move home, can I get a refund for my Youth Mobility visa?
Unfortunately not. Once you enter the UK and activate your Youth Mobility visa you can no longer get a refund of any part of the visa costs including the healthcare surcharge. Additionally, the Youth Mobility visa is a one-time visa meaning you won't be able to apply for it again.
How do I get a BRP as part of my application?
A Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) is an identification card issued by the UK government for anyone that comes to live in the UK. You do not have to apply separately for a BRP as you’ll get one automatically if your visa or immigration application is approved.
