This visa, also known as the Youth Mobility Scheme visa (T5), permits 18 to 30-year-olds from certain countries to live, work and travel in the UK for up to two years.
This visa offers a great way to visit the UK, work and fund your holiday. You need to be aged 18 to 30 years to be eligible for the Youth Mobility visa. You can enter the UK at any time while your visa is valid, and leave and come back at any time during your stay.
You must be from the following countries:
- Australia
- Canada
- Japan
- Monaco
- New Zealand
- Hong Kong
- The Republic of Korea
- Taiwan
You can also apply if you’re a:
- A British Overseas Citizen (BOC)
- A British Overseas Territories Citizen (BOTC)
- A British National (Overseas) (BNO)
To be eligible, you must be awarded 50 points and meet all the additional requirements under the Tier 5 category of the points-based system.
The points are allocated as follows:
- Nationality requirement – 30 points
- Age requirement – 10 points
- Maintenance requirement – 10 points
Australia is currently allotted 35,500 places annually for the Youth Mobility Scheme visa.
If you are a BOC, a British national or a BOTC, you can also apply. In these cases, you will not need a sponsor and there is no limit on the number of places available.
Length of stay on a UK working holiday visa
The Youth Mobility Scheme visa is valid for two years and is not renewable. If you wish to remain in the UK when it expires, you will need to switch to another visa, such as a spouse visa. You might need to leave the UK and apply for a new visa in your home country.
In most circumstances you need to leave the UK and apply for the Skilled Worker visa from outside the country, however some exceptions may be made. You should speak to an immmigration caseworker for more advice in this regard.
What are the benefits of the Youth Mobility Scheme visa
With the visa, you can:
- Study (for some courses you’ll need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate)
- 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)
Working holiday visa requirements
To qualify for the Youth Mobility Scheme visa you must:
- Be between the ages of 18 and 30
- Be an Australian passport holder
- Not have been granted the visa previously
- Intend to return home after living and working in the UK for two years
- Be clear of any criminal offenses committed in your home country
- Not be living in the UK when you make an application
When in the UK via the Youth Mobility Scheme, you cannot:
- Bring dependant children or family members
- Be currently living in the UK when you make an application
- Work as a professional sportsperson (for example as a coach), doctor or dentist in training
- Extend your stay on the same visa
- Get public funds
What are the costs of the working holiday visa
- The cost of the visa application is £244
- You will also have to pay the healthcare surcharge fee (£470 per year)*
- You need to have £2,530 in savings
* Subject to change