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India Young Professionals Scheme visa: Indian citizen in IndiaUnited Kingdom

🇮🇳 nationality: India🇮🇳 lives in: India🇬🇧 going to: United Kingdomupdated 2026-06-19

Indian citizens aged 18 to 30 with a bachelor's degree and £2,530 in savings can apply on gov.uk for an India Young Professionals Scheme visa to live and work in the UK for up to 24 months, after being selected in the ballot.

What this visa is for

Allows Indian citizens between 18 and 30 years old with a bachelor's degree or above to live and work in the UK for up to 2 years.

Validity
You'll be given a visa to live and work in the UK for up to 24 months.
Entries
Multiple entry for the duration of your visa.
Max stay per visit
Up to 24 months from the start of your visa.

official source →

When to start

Start 30 days–3 months before your travel date.

The low end assumes your paperwork is ready, you get an appointment within ~7 days and the decision arrives in the standard time. The high end leaves margin for gathering documents and waiting for a slot. You can apply at most 180 days ahead. In peak season (April–August), appointment waits alone can reach ~28 days — start at the high end.

Getting an appointment in India

From applicant reports and public guides · checked 2026-06-11 · slot waits typically 714 days, up to ~28 in busy periods

  • Delhi & Mumbai: usually 1–2 weeks for a slot; peak season can stretch towards 4 weeks.
  • Tier-2 centres (Pune, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad) often have earlier slots — a train ticket can beat the wait.
  • The New Delhi centre relocated in early 2026 — confirm the current address on the official VFS site before you go.
  • Applicants report slots opening 7–21 days out in normal months — book the moment you pay your fee.

Reported by:

Pick your travel date — every deadline below updates instantly:

That date is too soon to do this comfortably — you'd need to have started by 21 May 2026, which has passed. Consider a later trip or a priority service.
1
Confirm you're eligible as an Indian citizenstart by 21 May 2026

You must be an Indian national or citizen between 18 and 30 years old.

takes ~1 day
Source: gov.uk · updated 2026-06-19
2
Make sure you have an eligible qualificationstart by 10 Jun 2026

You must have a qualification at bachelor's degree level or above.

takes ~1 day
Source: gov.uk · updated 2026-06-19
3
Make sure you have enough savingsstart by 30 Jun 2026

You must have £2,530 in savings to support yourself in the UK, available for at least 28 days in a row.

takes ~28 days
Source: gov.uk · updated 2026-06-19
4
Apply and pay onlinestart by 20 Jul 2026

Complete the application on gov.uk. You'll pay the application fee of £340 plus a healthcare surcharge of £1,552.

GBP 340takes ~1 day
Source: gov.uk · updated 2026-06-19
5
Get your visa to live and work in the UKstart by 27 Sept 2026

Once approved, you'll be given a visa to live and work in the UK for up to 24 months.

takes ~21 days
Source: gov.uk · updated 2026-06-19

What you'll need

Where you'll apply

Apply online on gov.uk, then prove your identity — either with the 'UK Immigration: ID Check' app or by giving fingerprints and a photo at a UK visa application centre (VFS Global) in India.

Apply on the official site (gov.uk) →

Fees

India Young Professionals Scheme visa application fee
Plus a healthcare surcharge of £1,552; you must also prove you have £2,530 in personal savings.
GBP 340

Government fee from the official gov.uk page. Confirm the current amount on gov.uk.

Gotchas to watch

Sources

Every step on this page comes from an official source, with the date it was last checked. Sources used:

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