Immigration Rules Appendix T5 (Temporary Worker) Youth Mobility Scheme
The Youth Mobility Scheme provides a cultural exchange programme that allows a person aged between 18 and 30, from participating countries and territories, to experience life in the UK for up to 2 years.
Dependants are not eligible to apply on this route.
The Youth Mobility Scheme route is not a route to settlement.
Validity requirements for the Youth Mobility Scheme route
YMS 1.1. A person applying for entry clearance under the Youth Mobility Scheme route must apply online on gov.uk on the specified form “Tier 5 (Temporary Worker) visa – Youth Mobility Scheme”.
- YMS 1.2. An application for entry clearance on the Youth Mobility Scheme route must meet all the following requirements:
- (a) any fee and Immigration Health Charge must have been paid; and
- (b) the applicant must have provided any required biometrics; and
- (c) the applicant must have provided a passport or other travel document which satisfactorily establishes their identity and nationality; and
- (d) the applicant must have been issued with a Certificate of Sponsorship no more than 3 months before the date of application.
- YMS 1.3. The applicant must be one of the following:
- (a) a British Overseas Citizen, British Overseas Territories Citizen or British National (Overseas); or
- (b) a national of a country or the holder of a passport issued by a territory, listed in Annex Youth Mobility Scheme: eligible nationals.
YMS 1.4. The applicant must be aged 30 or under on the date of application.
YMS 1.5. An application which does not meet all the validity requirements for the Youth Mobility Scheme route is invalid and may be rejected and not considered.
Suitability requirements for the Youth Mobility Scheme
YMS 2.1. The applicant must not fall for refusal under Part 9: grounds for refusal.
Eligibility requirements for the Youth Mobility Scheme
Entry requirement for the Youth Mobility Scheme
YMS 3.1. A person seeking to come to the UK on the Youth Mobility Scheme route must apply for and obtain an entry clearance under the Youth Mobility Scheme route before their arrival in the UK.
YMS 3.2. A person applying for entry clearance on the Youth Mobility Scheme route must, if paragraph A39 and Appendix T of these rules apply, provide a valid medical certificate confirming that they have undergone screening for active pulmonary tuberculosis and that this tuberculosis is not present in them.
YMS 3.3. The applicant must not have previously spent time in the UK on the Youth Mobility Scheme route.
YMS 3.4. The applicant must be aged 18 or over on the date their entry clearance will become valid.
Financial requirement for the Youth Mobility Scheme
YMS 4.1. The applicant must have funds of £ 2,530.
YMS 4.2. The applicant must show that they have held the required level of funds for a 28- day period and as specified in Appendix Finance.
YMS 4.3. The applicant must not have any children aged under 18 who are either living with them or financially dependent upon them.
Sponsorship requirement for the Youth Mobility Scheme
- YMS 5.1. The applicant must be sponsored by their country of citizenship or the territory of which they are a rightful passport holder as follows:
- (a) if the applicant is a citizen of a country, or the rightful holder of a passport issued by a territory, that does not have Deemed Sponsorship Status, as set out in Appendix Youth Mobility Scheme: eligible nationals, the applicant must provide a Certificate of Sponsorship issued by that country or territory and must apply from that country or territory; or
- (b) if the applicant is a citizen of a country, or the rightful holder of a passport issued by a territory, that has Deemed Sponsorship Status the applicant’s passport must be provided as evidence of sponsorship and the application may be made at any post worldwide which accepts such applications.
- YMS 5.2. Where the applicant is a national of a country whose annual allocation of places available under this route is subject to invitation to apply arrangements operated in accordance with Appendix Youth Mobility Scheme: eligible nationals, the applicant must have been:
- (a) issued with an invitation to apply; and
- (b) have made their application within the period of time specified on the invitation.
YMS 5.3. The Certificate of Sponsorship must not have been cancelled by the country or territory since it was issued.
YMS 5.4. The country or territory which sponsored the applicant must not have reached its total annual allocation as set out in Appendix Youth Mobility Scheme: eligible nationals.
Decision on application for the Youth Mobility Scheme
YMS 6.1. If the decision maker is satisfied that all the eligibility and suitability requirements are met for the Youth Mobility Scheme route, the application will be granted, otherwise the application will be refused.
YMS 6.2. If the application is refused the person can apply for an Administrative Review under Appendix AR: Administrative Review.
Period and condition of grant for the Youth Mobility Scheme
YMS 7.1. The applicant will be granted permission for up to 2 years.
- YMS 7.2. The grant will be subject to all the following conditions:
- (a) no access to public funds; and
- (b)work permitted, subject to YMS 7.3; and
- (c) study is permitted subject to the ATAS condition in Appendix ATAS; and
- (d) if Part 10 applies the applicant will be required to register with the police.
- YMS 7.3. Work is permitted subject to the following employment conditions:
- (a) no employment as a professional sportsperson (including as a sports coach); and
- (b) no self-employment, except where the following conditions are met:
- (i) the person has no premises which they own, other than their home, from which they carry out their business; and
- (ii) the total value of any equipment used in the business does not exceed £5,000; and
- (iii) the person has no employees.