How to apply in UK-India Young Professionals Scheme?

The governments of UK and India together launching a scheme, i.e. UK-India Young Professionals Scheme (YPS) to ensure increased mobility for a limited number of youngsters between India and the UK. This scheme is somewhat similar to already existing UK’s Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS).

This new UK-India YMS Scheme will every year allow up to 3,000 Indian nationals aged between 18 and 30 years to come to the UK to live and work for a period of up to 2 years. Since this program is reciprocal, therefore, 3,000 UK nationals will also be able to do the same in India every year.

YPS Agreement

The foundation for YPS was laid back in May 2021, when India’s Minister for External Affairs S. Jaishankar and the then UK home secretary Priti Patel signed the wider “Migration and Mobility Partnership” in Delhi which had Young Professional Scheme as one of the key highlights.

On January 9, 2023, Matthew Rycroft Permanent Secretary, Home Office, UK signed and exchanged letter on Young Professional Scheme (YPS) with High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami and mentioned it as an important step in reinforcement of migration as well as mobility relationship between the two countries.

With the launch of this scheme India will join list of a few specific countries, i.e. Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, Taiwan, Iceland, San Marino, Monaco, South Korea and Hong Kong to have an agreement with UK facilitating youngsters aged 18-30 Years to live and work in the UK for 2 years.

The UK’s YMS (Youth Mobility Scheme) works through a two-tier system where applicants from few countries, i.e. Australia, Canada, Monaco, New Zealand, San Marino and Iceland can directly apply for a visa, while applications from Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan and India (3,000 candidates through YPS) go through a selection by ballot system.

How Ballot system works?

Find below key features of ballot system:

• Ballots usually open in January and July each year.
• An applicant can enter the ballot by sending an email. One person can only send one ballot entry. The authorities will not count any duplication.
• Before sending the entry for the ballot, make certain that you meet all eligibility requirements for the visa.
• Ballots will remain open for 48 hours. All emails received within this period will be entered into the ballot. Applicants get an automated reply confirming entry.
• Maximum candidates generally chosen in the January ballot and the remaining places allocated in the July ballot.

Process and requirements of Young Professionals Scheme

Although the government of UK has not released precise details regarding UK-India YPS, however, it is expected it will be more or less similar to the system in place for rest of the selection-by-ballot countries, i.e. Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

Considering India’s massive population as well as the interest projected in the scheme, India have received larger number of allocation, i.e. 3,000. Candidates can enter the ballot through an email (i.e. accepted twice a year), generally in the months of January and July.

The first ballot of this year for already existing YMS (Youth Mobility Scheme) opens on Tuesday 17 January and will close on 19 January. However, unitl now, it does not comprise applications from India, as the the ballot is not open yet for India.

Possible process requirements

As per reports from Indian high commission, the enactment date, checklist for eligibility and stepwise application process will be shared shortly. However, a few possible requirements may include the following:

• Applicants from India may need to show a certain amount of funds in their bank accounts as a proof that they can support themselves upon arriving in the UK.
• Candidates must not have children under 18 years, financially dependent on them.
• Selected candidates will have no access to public funds although they may get the advantages of UK’s National Health Services (NHS).

To know more and apply for visa in UK this year, under the relevant immigration program, you may call Visas Avenue Immigration Expert on Toll-Free No. 78-18-000-777 or you can drop us an e-mail at info@visasavenue.com.