The United Kingdom has opened the next ballot for the India Young Professionals Scheme (YPS) today, February 17, 2026. According to the UK Home Office, the ballot will close at 2:30 pm IST on February 19, 2026, and applicants can enter anytime while it remains open. Selected participants under the scheme can live, work, and study in the UK for up to 24 months.
The ballot is open to Indian citizens aged 18 to 30, or those turning 18 on the date of travel. Applicants must hold at least a bachelor’s degree, have savings of at least GBP 2,530, and not have children under 18 with whom they live or support. It is important that applicants check their eligibility before entering the ballot.
To enter, candidates need to provide their name, date of birth, passport details along with a scan or photo of the passport, phone number, and email address. While entry into the ballot is free, applicants should only participate if they plan to apply for the visa, which costs £319, and meet all eligibility requirements, including having sufficient funds and the necessary qualifications.
There are 3,000 places available under the India Young Professionals Scheme in 2026. Most of these will be allocated through the February ballot, with the remaining spots offered in a second ballot later in the year, likely in July. Successful entries are selected at random, and applicants are notified via email within two weeks of the ballot closing. Each person can submit only one entry per ballot, and additional attempts will not be counted.
Selected applicants have 90 days from the date of notification to apply online for the visa, pay the £319 application fee along with the immigration health surcharge, and provide their biometric information, including fingerprints and a photo. If a candidate is successful but chooses not to apply for the visa, there is no requirement to inform authorities. Those who are unsuccessful cannot appeal the decision but may enter future ballots if they continue to meet eligibility criteria.
The India Young Professionals Scheme operates under the broader UK–India Mobility and Migration Partnership signed in May 2021. Similar to the UK Youth Mobility Scheme, it allows young people from participating countries to experience life in the UK. The scheme works on a reciprocal basis, with eligible British nationals able to apply year-round under India’s Employment Visa – E 1 route.
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