Indian youth who dream of building a career in the UK and experiencing its culture now have another opportunity.
The UK government has announced that the second and final ballot for the India Young Professionals Scheme (IYPS) 2026 will open on July 21.
This ballot will remain open until July 23, and the remaining visa slots will be allotted through a random draw.
What is the India Young Professionals Scheme?
The India Young Professionals Scheme is a special visa programme that allows eligible Indian citizens to live, work, and study in the UK for up to two years (24 months) without needing a job offer or sponsor in advance.
Unlike the UK Skilled Worker visa, which requires employment before applying, this scheme does not require a pre-arranged job.
Since the programme receives a large number of applications, interested candidates must first enter a free online ballot. Those selected in the ballot are then invited to apply for the visa.
Important Ballot Dates
The UK government will conduct the lottery-based ballot for Indian applicants between July 21 and July 23, 2026.
Ballot opens: July 21, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.
Ballot closes: July 23, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.
Eligible candidates can enter the ballot free of cost through the official UK government website during this period. Candidates selected in the ballot will receive an email within two weeks after the ballot closes.
Eligibility Criteria
To apply under the India Young Professionals Scheme, applicants must meet the following conditions:
Must be an Indian citizen
Must be 18 to 30 years old
Must have a graduate degree or a higher educational qualification
Must have at least £2,530 (around Rs 2.9 lakh) in savings in their bank account
Must not have dependent children under the age of 18
Visa Seats and Application Fee
The UK government has allocated 3,000 visa places under the India Young Professionals Scheme for 2026.
Most of these visas were allotted during the first ballot held in February, while the remaining seats will be filled through the July ballot.
Entering the ballot is completely free. However, candidates selected in the ballot must pay:
A visa application fee of £340 (around Rs 39,000)
An immigration health surcharge
After being selected, applicants have 90 days to complete their visa application and biometric process.
How Does This Scheme Benefit Young People?
The India Young Professionals Scheme gives successful applicants the chance to live in the UK for up to two years while working, becoming self-employed, or studying a course of their choice.
The scheme is part of a bilateral agreement between India and the UK.
Under the same agreement, eligible British citizens can also apply to work in India directly through an Employment Visa (E-1) without going through a lottery or ballot system.
