India-UK YPS launched: No Sponsor, No job Necessary for a 2-year stay

A new chapter in the visa policy between the two nations has begun with the signature and exchange of the Young Professionals Scheme (YPS) letters between India and the UK. India joins a select group of countries, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, Taiwan, Iceland, San Marino, Monaco, South Korea, and Hong Kong, that offer a scheme that allows 3,000 people between the ages of 18 and 30 to live and work in the UK for two years without the need for a sponsor or an available job. Apart from Japan, India is the only visa-required nation with this program. On January 9, 2023, both countries officially signed and exchanged Young Professionals Scheme letters marking its imminent launch. 

Applicants from Australia (30,000 places), Canada (6,000), Monaco (1,000), New Zealand (13,000), San Marino (1,000), and Iceland (1,000) can apply for a visa directly through the UK Youth Mobility Scheme, while those from Japan (1,500), South Korea (1,000), Hong Kong (1,000), Taiwan (1,000), and India (3,000) must go through a balloting process.

India’s specific criteria have not been made public, although it is anticipated that they will be similar to those of the other nations that choose representatives by ballot, like Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. India has been granted a higher number of 3,000 due to its population and the anticipated high level of interest in the program. Email entries for the ballot are taken from applicants twice a year, often in the months of January and July.

The first ballot of the 2023 Youth Mobility Scheme however does not include applications from India as the ballot is not open yet. There is a great deal of expectation around whether or not India would be included in the January 2023 phase given that the ballot for other nations is only a few days away. 

The candidates from India are anticipated to demonstrate that they have a particular quantity of money in their bank accounts to demonstrate that they can support themselves while in the UK. The other requirement is that candidates cannot be financially responsible for or have children under the age of 18 living with them.