The UK Home Office has confirmed that the second and final ballot for the India Young Professionals Scheme (YPS) will open at 1:30 pm IST on July 21, 2026, and close at 1:30 pm IST on July 23, 2026. Applicants can register through the official India Young Professionals Scheme page on GOV.UK at any point during that window.
The scheme allows eligible Indian citizens to live, work and study in the UK for up to two years without needing a job offer or employer sponsorship before they travel — a feature that sets it apart from most other UK work visa routes.
A total of 3,000 places are available for 2026. Most were allocated during the first ballot held in February; the remaining places will be filled through the July round. Because this is the final ballot of the year, candidates who are unsuccessful will have no further opportunity under the scheme in 2026, though they may apply in future years if they continue to meet the eligibility criteria.
To enter the ballot, applicants must be Indian nationals aged between 18 and 30, hold a bachelor's degree or higher, have savings of at least £2,530 held for 28 consecutive days, and have no children under 18 for whom they are responsible. Entering the ballot is free.
Selection is entirely random. Those chosen are notified by email within two weeks of the ballot closing and then have 90 days to submit a full visa application, pay the fees and provide biometrics. The visa application fee is £319, and a two-year Immigration Health Surcharge of £1,552 also applies.
For working professionals, the scheme is significant because it removes the need for prior employer sponsorship, allowing individuals to move first and job-search in the UK. Once on the visa, holders can work in most industries, switch employers freely, or even set up a small business. However, the two-year visa cannot be extended, and time spent on it does not count towards the five-year qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain.
