UK Visas & Immigration quietly updated its guidance on 10 February to confirm that the first 2026 ballot for the India Young Professionals Scheme (YPS) will open at 14:30 IST (09:00 GMT) on 17 February and close 48 hours later. Three thousand YPS places are available this calendar year, with most allocated in this round and a smaller second ballot planned for autumn.
The YPS allows eligible Indian nationals aged 18-30 with a bachelor’s-level qualification to live and work in the UK for up to two years without employer sponsorship. Successful entrants must apply for the visa within 90 days, pay the £319 fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge, and show at least £2,530 in maintenance funds.
![India-UK Young Professionals Scheme: February ballot dates confirmed]()
As the window to submit applications can feel dauntingly tight, applicants and employers may find value in using a third-party facilitator. VisaHQ, for instance, provides clear, up-to-date guidance on UK visa categories—including the India Young Professionals Scheme—through its United Kingdom portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/). Their team can review supporting documents, flag compliance gaps and track timelines, giving both graduates and HR departments additional peace of mind.
For UK employers the scheme offers a simplified route to recruit early-career Indian talent without using the Skilled Worker licence or paying the £199 Certificate of Sponsorship fee. However, participants cannot bring dependants, and time spent on the YPS does not count towards settlement—factors HR teams should flag when drafting contracts.
Given the 2025 ballot was more than four-times oversubscribed, Indian graduates are advised to submit details as soon as the online portal opens. Mobility managers should prepare onboarding checklists and right-to-work processes in advance, noting that digital eVisas—not passport vignettes—will be issued from 25 February onward as part of the Home Office’s wider move to paperless status.
The YPS allows eligible Indian nationals aged 18-30 with a bachelor’s-level qualification to live and work in the UK for up to two years without employer sponsorship. Successful entrants must apply for the visa within 90 days, pay the £319 fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge, and show at least £2,530 in maintenance funds.
As the window to submit applications can feel dauntingly tight, applicants and employers may find value in using a third-party facilitator. VisaHQ, for instance, provides clear, up-to-date guidance on UK visa categories—including the India Young Professionals Scheme—through its United Kingdom portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/). Their team can review supporting documents, flag compliance gaps and track timelines, giving both graduates and HR departments additional peace of mind.
For UK employers the scheme offers a simplified route to recruit early-career Indian talent without using the Skilled Worker licence or paying the £199 Certificate of Sponsorship fee. However, participants cannot bring dependants, and time spent on the YPS does not count towards settlement—factors HR teams should flag when drafting contracts.
Given the 2025 ballot was more than four-times oversubscribed, Indian graduates are advised to submit details as soon as the online portal opens. Mobility managers should prepare onboarding checklists and right-to-work processes in advance, noting that digital eVisas—not passport vignettes—will be issued from 25 February onward as part of the Home Office’s wider move to paperless status.
