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Imagine living and working in the UK for two years, experiencing a new culture, and boosting your career – all thanks to a unique opportunity called the UK-India Young Professionals Scheme (YPS). Think of it as your "UK lottery visa" – a chance for young Indians to win a spot to live, work, study and travel in the UK. If you're between 18 and 30, this could be your ticket!
Are You Eligible?
Before you pack your bags, here's what you need to qualify for this "UK lottery visa":
- Age: You need to be between 18 and 30 years old when you plan to arrive in the UK.
- Education: You'll need a degree – at least a UK bachelor's degree level or its equivalent.
- Savings: You need to show that you have £2,530 (that's around ₹2.77 lakh) in your bank account to support yourself when you first arrive. This money needs to have been there for at least 28 days straight, ending within 31 days of your visa application.
- No Dependent Children: The scheme is designed for young professionals without dependent children.
How to Apply: It's Like a Lottery!
The application process for this "UK lottery visa" has a few steps:
- Enter the Ballot: First, you need to enter a ballot and hope you're selected. Think of it like a lottery draw! The ballot for 2025 took place in February.
- Check Your Email: If you're lucky, you'll get an email within two weeks of the ballot closing, inviting you to apply for the visa.
- Apply Online: You'll have 90 days from the date of the email to complete your application to the UK Home Office online.
- Prove Your Identity: You'll need to prove who you are, either by using the "UK Immigration: ID Check" app to scan your documents or by visiting a visa application centre to provide your fingerprints and photo.
- Choose "India": When you apply, it will be under the "Youth Mobility Scheme visa," and you'll need to select "India" as your nationality.
- Wait for a Decision: The UK authorities say they usually make a decision within 3 weeks, but it could take longer if they need to check your documents or invite you for an interview.
- Changed Your Mind? You can cancel your application, but you'll only get a refund if they haven't started processing it yet.
The SmartMove2UK is One Stop for All your UK Visa Requirements; Supercharge Your Path to UK Immigration Success with them. They are specialist immigration law firm with branches in India (Mumbai | Delhi | Bengaluru) led by a specialist Solicitor. Evolving from practicing exclusively in the areas of UK nationality and immigration law.