What is the UK-India Young Professionals Scheme?

About Young Professional 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.
• It will permit up to 3,000 of their degree-holding citizens aged between 18 and 30 to live and work in each other’s countries for two years.
• This scheme makes India the first visa-national country to benefit from the scheme.
• Features of India Young Professionals Scheme visa:
  • 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.
• To be eligible for the India Young Professionals Scheme 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.

Q1: What is India-U.K. Migration and Mobility MoU?

The MoU is aimed at Liberalizing issuance of visas, promoting mobility of students, researchers and skilled professionals and strengthening cooperation on issues related to irregular migration and human trafficking between the two sides. The MoU would benefit Indian students, academics, and researchers, migrants for professional and economic reasons and those willing to contribute through various projects to the economic development of both countries without consideration of caste, creed, religion or gender. This MoU can support the innovation ecosystem in both countries by facilitating free flow of talent.

Source: UK announces second ballot for India Young Professional Scheme 2024