UK-India Young Professionals Scheme, Application, Eligibility, Features

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UK-India Young Professionals Scheme Latest News

The UK recently opened its final 2025 visa ballot for the India Young Professionals Scheme, offering Indians aged 18–30 a chance to live, work, or study in the UK for two years.

About UK-India Young Professionals Scheme

It was conceived as part of an India-U.K. Migration and Mobility MoU signed in May 2021 and was announced in November at the G20 summit in Bali.
It was formally launched in February 2023.
Features:
- It allows Indian citizens between 18 and 30 years old to live and work in the UK for up to 2 years.
- It will enable candidates to enter the UK at any time while their visa is valid and leave and return anytime during their stay.
Eligibility to get Visa:
- You have to be an Indian national aged between 18 and 30 years.
- You must have a bachelor’s degree or above.
- You must have 2,530 pounds in savings.
- You must not have any children under the age of 18 who live with you or whom you are financially supporting.
- A person must be selected in the India Young Professionals Scheme ballot before they can apply for a Young Professionals Scheme visa.
- You cannot apply if you’ve already been in the UK under this scheme or the Youth Mobility Scheme visa.
- In case the applicant is issued a visa, they must enter the UK within six months of the date on which the visa was issued.
Once in the UK, the applicant can
- Study –for certain degree programs, such as post-graduation or research in sensitive subjects in the UK, an additional certificate under the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) needs to be applied before starting the course or research.
- Work in most jobs.
- Be self-employed and set up a company – as long as your premises are rented, your equipment is not worth more than £5,000, and you do not have any employees.
Visa Limitations:
- The visa cannot be extended, and applicants are not eligible for most public benefits.
- Family members cannot be included in the application and must apply separately if they wish to come.
- Working in the sports category, including coaching, is not permitted.