Youth Mobility Scheme Visa Solicitors
If you are eligible for the Youth Mobility Scheme and want to come to the UK to live and work, our Solicitors, who have over 25 years of experience in UK immigration law, can help.
The Youth Mobility Scheme is a cultural exchange programme that provides eligible young people with up to two years’ leave to live and work in the UK. The requirements are set out in Appendix Youth Mobility Scheme of the Immigration Rules. The route is open to nationals of participating countries and territories. Applicants must be aged between 18 and 30, though nationals of some countries are eligible up to the age of 35. No job offer is required. No sponsor is required.
At Law Lane Solicitors, we advise applicants on the Youth Mobility Scheme from our offices in Stratford, Holborn, and Croydon. We advise on eligibility, the application process, the evidence needed, and the options available to those who want to remain in the UK after the Youth Mobility Scheme period has ended.
The Youth Mobility Scheme appears straightforward compared to other immigration routes, but applications are refused. Common reasons include failing the financial requirement, having dependant children under 18, exceeding the age limit, or applying outside the invitation window for nationalities where a ballot applies. We review each application against the requirements before submission.
Our Youth Mobility Scheme Legal Services
We advise on the following:
- Confirming eligibility, including nationality, age, and compliance with any invitation or ballot requirement applicable to the applicant’s country.
- Advising on the financial requirement and the 28-day period for which funds must be held.
- Advising on any country-specific documentation requirements, including local police certificates and criminal records certificates.
- Preparing and submitting the visa application with a complete document bundle.
- Advising on the ballot or invitation process for nationalities where applications are subject to a quota, including the timing of applications.
- Advising on the conditions attached to Youth Mobility Scheme leave, including what work and study are permitted.
- Advising on the restriction on having dependant children under 18 at the time of application.
- Advising on the one-time use restriction, which means an individual can only use the Youth Mobility Scheme once.
- Advising on what happens at the end of the Youth Mobility Scheme period and the options available for extending leave by switching to another route.
- Advising on switching to the Skilled Worker route, Graduate route, or other appropriate route before the Youth Mobility Scheme leave expires.
- Advising on applications where the individual is considering remaining in the UK long term and needs a pathway to settlement.
- Reviewing refusals and advising on whether a fresh application is viable.
Why Choose Law Lane Solicitors for Youth Mobility Scheme Advice?
For nationals of countries that operate a ballot system, timing is critical. Places are allocated by ballot in advance of the opening of the application window. An applicant who misses the ballot window will not be able to apply in that round. We advise on the ballot process and on when applications should be submitted to maximise the chances of obtaining an invitation within the available quota.
The Youth Mobility Scheme does not lead directly to settlement. Applicants who want to remain in the UK after the two-year period ends must switch to a qualifying route before their leave expires. The most common option is the Skilled Worker route, but that requires the employer to hold a sponsor licence and to offer a role at or above the applicable salary threshold. We advise on the transition options from an early stage so that planning can begin before the switch becomes urgent.
We also advise on the financial requirement and how it interacts with the 28-day holding period. The funds must have been held continuously for 28 days immediately before the date of application. A bank statement that does not cover the full 28 days is a common ground for refusal. We advise on the evidence before submission.
Get in Touch
If you are eligible for the Youth Mobility Scheme or are planning your next steps after arrival in the UK, contact our immigration team today.
Book a consultation and receive clear advice on your eligibility and the options open to you.
Phone: 020 7870 4870
Email: info@lawlanesolicitors.co.uk

Law Lane Solicitors is proud to be accredited under The Law Society’s Immigration and Asylum Accreditation.
Got any questions?
* Required
"*" indicates required fields
“Exceeded all expectations. Thank you so much all the team Law Lane Solicitors. An amazing job that extended all my expectations. Especially thank to Ms.Nuresa and Mrs.Artemisa I’m very glad that I trusted you. I really recommend it!” – E on Review Solicitors (July ’25)
Frequently Asked Questions – Youth Mobility Scheme
Who is eligible for the Youth Mobility Scheme?
The scheme is open to nationals of participating countries and territories, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, and a number of others listed in the Immigration Rules. Applicants must be aged 18 to 30, although nationals of some participating countries are eligible up to the age of 35.
Is the Youth Mobility Scheme subject to a ballot or quota?
Some nationalities are subject to an annual quota, and applications for those nationalities must follow an invitation or ballot process before the main application can be submitted. Applicants must receive an invitation before applying.
What is the financial requirement?
Applicants must show they hold at least £2,530 in funds. Those funds must have been held continuously for 28 days immediately before the application is submitted. A bank statement covering the relevant period must show that the balance did not fall below the required amount on any day during that time.
Can I bring children or a partner on this visa?
No. Dependants are not permitted on the Youth Mobility Scheme. If the applicant has children under 18 who are living with them or who are financially dependant on them, they are not eligible to apply.
What can I do on the Youth Mobility Scheme?
The visa allows the holder to work for any employer in any role, to study, to do voluntary work, and to travel in and out of the UK. There are no restrictions on the type of employment.
Can I use the Youth Mobility Scheme more than once?
No. The scheme is available once per person. An applicant who has previously been granted leave under the Youth Mobility Scheme cannot apply again, even if they did not complete the full period.
How long does the visa last?
The visa is granted for two years. Nationals of Australia, Canada, and New Zealand may be eligible to apply for permission to stay for a third year, bringing the total to three years. The extension is subject to specific conditions.
Can I study on the Youth Mobility Scheme?
Yes, study is permitted subject to the Academic Technology Approval Scheme condition where it applies. There is no restriction on the level of study or the amount of time spent studying.
What country-specific documents are needed?
Some nationalities are required to provide additional documentation as part of the application. Indian nationals must provide a local police certificate. Icelandic nationals must provide a criminal certificate for private use. We confirm the specific documentary requirements for each nationality before the application is prepared.
What should I do if my application is refused?
A refusal should be reviewed against the specific ground stated in the decision. Some grounds, such as a failure of the financial requirement, can be addressed by a fresh application where the evidence is corrected. Others, such as an age limit or a prior use of the scheme, cannot. We advise on the options available following a refusal.
How much does an initial consultation cost?
We offer a fixed-fee initial consultation. At that meeting, we confirm eligibility, advise on the documentary requirements, and set out the cost of preparing and submitting the application. Please call or email to arrange a time.
Get in Touch
Whether you are applying for the first time, extending your leave, or dealing with a problem mid-course, our immigration team is ready to help.
Phone: 020 7870 4870
Email: info@lawlanesolicitors.co.uk
Book a consultation with our immigration team and start your studies in the UK with your immigration status in order.
Immigration Team
Tahir Shahab Khan
Supervising Director, Solicitor AdvocateView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Salman Shah
Director, SolicitorView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Sikandar Ali Jatoi
Director, Solicitor AdvocateView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Ghulam Mustafa
BarristerView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Ahmed Syed
Registered Foreign LawyerView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Muhammad Azeem
Registered Foreign LawyerView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Nuresa Begum
SolicitorView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Oraz Shiriyev
SolicitorView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Sarah Akram
Supervising SolicitorView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Kashif Haroon
SolicitorView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Khadija Faisal
Legal AssistantView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Suzana Husain
Trainee SolicitorView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Christian O. Nwaorah
SolicitorView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Oriola Uka
Registered Foreign LawyerView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Sandesh Kumar
ParalegalView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Michele Montjen
SolicitorView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Manpreet Kaur
ParalegalView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Mai Oanh Hoang
ParalegalView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Mariya Hussain
ParalegalView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Vishva Shanmugam
Costs DraftsmanView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Hoor Aleen Badarneh
ParalegalView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Robert Thomson
SolicitorView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Kunal
ParalegalView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Artemisa Shquti
ParalegalView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Mathelide Othilie Christiansen
ParalegalView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Rugena Begum
SolicitorView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Shehryar Ahmed
ParalegalView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Benedicte Mabika
ParalegalView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Osama Syam
ParalegalView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Akbar Mohammed Mir
SolicitorView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Noemaan Fahim
Immigration SolicitorView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
