Youth Mobility Scheme visa: ballot system
Source: gov.uk (2025-07-16)

This guidance explains who needs to enter the ballot before applying for a Youth Mobility Scheme visa and how the ballot system works.

All ballots for the 2025 Youth Mobility Scheme have now closed. Details of the next ballot in 2026 will be published on this page.

Who needs to enter

You need to enter the ballot if you want to apply for a Youth Mobility Scheme visa (https://www.gov.uk/youth-mobility) and you’re from:
- Hong Kong, if you have an SAR passport
- Taiwan
You no longer need to enter the ballot if you’re a Japanese or South Korean national. You can apply at any time on our website (https://www.gov.uk/youth-mobility/apply).

You also do not need to enter the ballot if you’re a British Overseas Citizen, British Overseas Territories Citizen or British National (Overseas).

India Young Professionals Scheme

There’s a different ballot if you’re from India (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/india-young-professionals-scheme-visa-ballot-system).

How to enter

The first ballot opened in February 2025, and the second ballot was held in July 2025. There will be no further ballots in 2025.

You enter the ballot by sending an email. Only one ballot entry can be submitted per person. Any duplications will not be counted.

You must make sure you meet all eligibility requirements for the visa (https://www.gov.uk/youth-mobility/eligibility) before entering the ballot.

Ballots will be open for 48 hours. All emails we receive within this 48 hour period will be entered into the ballot. You will get an automated reply confirming your entry.

For the Youth Mobility Scheme visa in 2025, there are 1,000 places available for nationals of Hong Kong and 1,000 places available for Taiwan. Most places are allocated during the February ballot, while the remaining places will be allocated in the summer.

Writing your email

Your email must be in English.

The subject line of the email must include your:
- name
- date of birth
- passport number
Write these in the format: Lastname Firstname – DD/MM/YYYY – passport number.

Example subject line: Wong Janet – 31/03/2000 – 123456789

The body of the email must include your:
- name
- date of birth
- passport number
- mobile phone number
Emails received without this information or not in this format will not be considered.

If you’re successful in the ballot

You will have received an email by Friday 1 August 2025 if you were successful in the second ballot.

You then have 90 days to submit your application, pay the visa fee and provide your fingerprints and a photograph (biometric information) at a Visa Application Centre (VAC).

You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks of attending your appointment. Check the guidance on decision waiting times (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/visa-decision-waiting-times-applications-outside-the-uk) to find out how long visa decisions are currently taking.

If you’re successful in the ballot and apply for a Youth Mobility Scheme visa, you will not get a visa vignette. Instead, you’ll need to create your UKVI account and access your eVisa (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/online-immigration-status-evisa) before you travel to the UK.

You may be able to get your visa faster (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/visa-decision-waiting-times-applications-outside-the-uk#faster), depending on what country you’re in. Check with your VAC.

If you’re unsuccessful in the ballot

If you are unsuccessful in the ballot, you will receive an email within 2 weeks of the ballot closing.

Check your junk or spam folder if you have not received a response.

The results of the ballot are final. You cannot appeal if you’re unsuccessful.

You can enter future ballots if you’re unsuccessful, if you continue to meet the eligibility requirements (https://www.gov.uk/youth-mobility/eligibility).