Britain has made an important announcement for Indian youth. The next ballot for the India Young Professionals Scheme will open on February 17.
Under this scheme, eligible Indian citizens aged 18 to 30 years can live and work in the UK for two years. A total of 3,000 visas are available for 2026.
Most visas will be issued in the first ballot in February, and the remaining seats will be given in the second ballot later in the year.
Eligibility Criteria for Applicants
Before applying, candidates must first enter a ballot (lottery). To be eligible, applicants must:
Be an Indian citizen
Be 18 to 30 years old
Have a Bachelor’s degree or higher qualification
Have at least £2,530 in savings to support themselves in the UK
Not have dependent children under 18
Not have previously travelled to the UK under this scheme
Selection Process and Visa Application
Selection in the ballot will be done through a random draw. Selected candidates will receive an email within two weeks after the ballot closes.
After selection, applicants must submit their visa application within 90 days.
During the visa process:
Applicants must pay the visa fee and immigration health surcharge
Provide biometric information
Verify identity by either:
Scanning documents using the UK Immigration: ID Check app, or
Visiting a visa application centre
Result Timeline
Ballot result: Email within 2 weeks
Visa decision: Usually within 3 weeks after submitting documents and application
What You Can Do with This Visa
Young people selected under this visa can:
Study in the UK (some courses may require an Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate)
Work in most jobs
Start their own business
