Changes to the UK Youth Mobility Scheme 2024

Date changes to the Youth Mobility Scheme come into force

The September 2023 announced changes to the Youth Mobility Scheme will come into force on 31 January 2024. Any applications made under the scheme before 31 January  2024 will be determined in accordance with the immigration rules in force at the time of the application.

Extension to the Youth Mobility Scheme

The Youth Mobility Scheme will be extended to applications from Andorran nationals and Uruguay nationals. In 2024 the allocated places available for use by nationals or citizens of Andorra are limited to 100 applications.

Changes for Youth Mobility Scheme applicants from Canada and Australia

There are 2 key changes to the Youth Mobility Scheme for Canadian and Australian citizens:

• The upper age range for Australian and Canadian nationals will be extended to from 30 to 35 and
• Australian and Canadian nationals will be able to apply to the Home Office for permission to stay on this route for up to 3 years (for most nationals applying for a Youth Mobility Scheme visa the maximum stay is 2 years)

Eligibility criteria for the Youth Mobility Scheme

To be eligible to apply for the scheme you need to:

• Want to live and work in the UK and you meet the age criteria. You must be aged 18 to 30 (or 18 to 35 if you are from New Zealand and from 31 January 2024 age 18 to 35 if you are from Australia or Canada)
• Meet the financial requirement of having £2,530 in savings – you must have had this money for at least 28 days
• Meet the nationality requirement – the rules say that applicants must be from a listed participating country or either a British overseas citizen, British overseas territories citizen, or British national (overseas)

Countries participating in the Youth Mobility Scheme

The countries currently participating in the non-ballot Youth Mobility Scheme are:

• New Zealand (age 18 to 35)
• Australia (upper age limit extended to 35 in 2024)
• Canada (upper age limit extended to 35 in 2024)
• Monaco
• San Marino
• Iceland

In addition, the following countries participate (or will do) in the ballot Youth Mobility Scheme:

• Hong Kong
• Japan
• South Korea
• Taiwan
• Uruguay (from 31 January 2024)
• Andorra (from 31 January 2024)

If you are an Indian national you may meet the eligibility criteria to apply for a similar ballot scheme called the India Young Professionals visa.

Age limits and the Youth Mobility Scheme

The age limit rules mean an applicant must be aged 18 or over when the visa starts, or age 30 or under (or 35 depending on the country) when the application is made. The rules allow applicants to apply for a visa before they are 18 or to come to the UK if they are over 30 (or 35 where relevant) provided the application is made within the relevant age criteria.

Exclusions from the Youth Mobility Scheme

Even if a person meets the nationality and age criteria for the Youth Mobility Scheme, applicants are excluded from applying for the scheme if they have:

• Children under the age of 18 living with them or
• Children they are financially responsible for or
• Previously been in the UK on the Youth Mobility Scheme

The benefits of the Youth Mobility Scheme

From the point of view of applicants and UK employers, the two major benefits of the Youth Mobility Scheme are that those who come to the UK on the scheme do not need:

• An offer of a job before they can apply to come to the UK and
• To find employment with an employer who holds a sponsor licence. They are therefore not restricted to jobs on the approved list for the skilled worker visa and nor are they subject to a minimum salary threshold save for the national minimum wage that applies to anyone employed in the UK

Although the Youth Mobility Scheme gives flexibility in employment it does have its drawbacks. An applicant can only stay in the UK for 2 or 3 years and cannot apply to extend their time on the scheme or make a second application. Time spent on the Youth Mobility Scheme does not lead to UK settlement or count towards meeting the residence requirement of an application for indefinite leave to remain. Therefore, some applicants may prefer to look at the option of applying for a skilled worker visa or other alternative work or family visa routes that do lead to UK settlement.