Youth Mobility visa: The requirement to apply from outside the UK
📍 All Youth Mobility visa applications must take place from outside the UK.
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The Youth Mobility visa is one of the UK's most popular visas thanks to it's generous allowances that provide young people a route to come live and work in the UK. Starting your application is an exciting step towards life in the UK. However, there is one criteria that must be met is that you need to apply from outside the UK.
Applying for the Youth Mobility visa
If you're considering applying for the Youth Mobility visa, the first step is to ensure you're an eligible young person (18-35).
Citizens of eligible countries
To apply for the Youth Mobility visa you must be a citizen (passport holder) of at least one the eligible countries, these include:
- 🇦🇩 Andorra
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- 🇨🇦 Canada
- 🇭🇰 Hong Kong
- 🇮🇸 Iceland
- 🇯🇵 Japan
- 🇲🇨 Monaco
- 🇳🇿 New Zealand
- 🇰🇷 Republic of Korea
- 🇸🇲 San Marino
- 🇹🇼 Taiwan
- 🇺🇾 Uruguay
The Youth Mobility application process
- Eligibility check: Before you make any plans to leave the UK, ensure you meet all the eligibility requirements for the Youth Mobility Visa. These include being between; 18 and 35 years old, holding a valid passport from an eligible country, and having sufficient funds to support yourself upon arrival in the UK.
- Complete the online application: Using GOV.UK, complete the online application and pay the fees for the Youth Mobility visa.
- Visa application centre appointment: Once you’ve completed the online application, you will need to book and attend an appointment at a visa application centre in the country where you have residency. At this appointment, you’ll provide biometric information and submit your supporting documents.
The requirement to apply from outside the UK
It is a hard an fast requirement that all Youth Mobility visa applications must take place outside the UK. Although there are other visas that allow the application to be made from the UK, this visa doesn't.
Why you must apply from outside the UK
The UK government (UK Visas & Immigration) mandates that all Youth Mobility Visa applications be made from outside the UK. This requirement helps the visa system manage applications and allows UKVI to maintain accurate records of individuals entering the country under this visa category.
When there have been exceptions
During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a temporary relaxation of this rule to accommodate the unique circumstances faced by many individuals. However, with the easing of pandemic-related restrictions, the standard requirement has been reinstated. This means that regardless of your current status or location within the UK, you must leave the country to submit your application for a Youth Mobility Visa.
The inconvenience factor
Having to leave the UK to apply for a Youth Mobility Visa can be frustrating, especially if you are already settled and integrated into life in the UK under another visa category, such as a Student Visa. For example, if you’re completing your studies in the UK and wish to switch to the Youth Mobility Visa to start working, you’ll still need to exit the country to apply.
Applying from outside your home country
Whilst you can't apply for the Youth Mobility visa from within the UK, you can apply for the visa from any other country that has a visa application centre. Read the Applying for the Youth Mobility visa from outside your home country article for more information.
