If you are an Indian citizen aged 18 to 30 with a degree, this week is your last chance in 2026 to enter the ballot for the India Young Professionals Scheme visa.
The ballot opens at 1:30pm India Standard Time on Tuesday 21 July 2026 and closes at 1:30pm IST on Thursday 23 July 2026. This is the second and final ballot of 2026.
The scheme gives 3,000 young Indian professionals each year the chance to live and work in the UK for up to 2 years. The remaining places from this year's allocation, after the February ballot, are released in this final round.
Official link: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/india-young-professionals-scheme-visa-ballot-system
Key dates at a glance
Ballot opens: Tuesday 21 July 2026, 1:30pm IST
Ballot closes: Thursday 23 July 2026, 1:30pm IST
Results: by email, within 2 weeks of the ballot closing
If selected: 90 days from the date of the email to apply online, pay the fees and provide your biometrics
After approval: travel to the UK within 6 months
Who can enter
The eligibility rules are strict. You must declare that you meet them when entering the ballot, and you must then prove them with evidence if you are selected and apply for the visa. You can enter the ballot if you:
are an Indian national or citizen aged 18 to 30
hold a qualification at bachelor's degree level or above (RQF level 6 or higher)
have at least £2,530 in savings, held for 28 consecutive days before you apply
have no children under 18 who live with you or who you are financially responsible for
have not previously been in the UK under this scheme or the Youth Mobility Scheme
Entering the ballot is free, and you can only enter once per ballot. Duplicate entries are not counted. If you are not selected, there is no appeal, but you can enter future ballots if you remain eligible.
What the visa gives you
If you are selected and your application succeeds, you get a visa lasting up to 24 months. During that time you can work in most jobs, study (some courses need an ATAS certificate), and even set up as self-employed, provided you have no employees, your premises are rented and your equipment is worth no more than £5,000.
Be clear about the limits before you enter. You cannot bring dependants, you cannot extend the visa, and it does not lead to settlement. If your longer term goal is to stay in the UK permanently, you would need to switch into a route that counts towards indefinite leave to remain, such as the Skilled Worker visa, before your 2 years run out. Many scheme participants use the 2 years to find an employer willing to sponsor them. Others return to the UK later as a student or through a work route.
The costs
The ballot itself costs nothing. If selected, the mandatory application charges are £340 for the visa fee and £1,552 for the immigration health surcharge, £1,892 in total. On top of that, the £2,530 is not a fee but a maintenance requirement: money that must sit in your account and be evidenced. So you need £4,422 in total accessible funds before any other costs, such as certificates or travel.
Our advice: prepare before the ballot closes
The 90 day application window moves quickly, and two requirements catch people out.
First, the savings. The £2,530 must have been in your account for 28 consecutive days, with the final day falling within 31 days of your application date. If your funds have been moving between accounts, fix that now, not after you are selected.
Second, the documents. Under the Immigration Rules, applicants from India must provide a local police certificate or police clearance certificate issued no more than 6 months before the application date. You may also need a tuberculosis test certificate from an approved clinic where the TB screening rules apply. Both take time to obtain, so start early.
If you are selected and want a professional check of your application before you submit it, book a consultation with our team.
FAQ
Does it cost anything to enter the ballot? No. Entering the ballot is free. You only pay the £340 visa fee and £1,552 healthcare surcharge (£1,892 in mandatory charges) if you are selected and go on to apply, and you must separately show £2,530 in qualifying savings.
Can I enter more than once to improve my chances? No. One entry per person per ballot. Duplicate entries are not counted.
Does the India Young Professionals Scheme visa lead to settlement? No. It is a temporary 2 year visa with no direct route to settlement. To stay longer you would need to switch into another visa route, such as the Skilled Worker visa, and meet its requirements.
If you have questions about the scheme, your eligibility, or your options after the 2 years, NARA Solicitors is here to help. Book a consultation with Nara Solicitors today.
