The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) launched the Young Professionals Scheme (YPS) on February 28, 2023, as part of the India-UK Migration and Mobility Partnership.

The UK offers Indian nationals between the ages of 18 and 30 the opportunity to live and work in the UK for a maximum of two years under the YPS. Under the YPS, India also provides a similar service to British nationals.

According to UK Home Office data for the 12 months ending June 2022, India surpassed China as the country sending the most students to the UK. This demonstrates that young Indians are eager to pursue education and opportunities in the United Kingdom.

The UK will issue 3000 visas per year to qualified Indian nationals with at least a bachelor's degree under the YPS. Applicants from India must enter a ballot to apply for the scheme.

• You must be an Indian national between the ages of 18 and 30.


• Has a qualification equivalent to a bachelor's degree or higher.


• Has at least £2,530 (approximately INR 2,50,000) in savings held for at least 28 consecutive days in the 31 days preceding the date of application.


• The ballot application requests basic personal information from the applicant, such as first and last name, passport number, email ID, and contact number.


• The visa fee for Indian nationals applying under this scheme is £259. There is an additional health surcharge of £940 for a 24-month period. This visa takes approximately three weeks to process.

If the applicant is granted a visa, he or she must enter the UK within six months of the date. Once in the United Kingdom, the applicant may:

Study - for specific degree programs such as post-graduate or sensitive research.

• Work for specific jobs (details are currently unavailable).


• Be self-employed, establish a company in rented premises, have no employees, and the equipment needed to run the business is worth no more than £5,000.


• British citizens and the YPS

Similarly, the High Commission of India in the United Kingdom is in charge of visa applications under the YPS, which allows UK nationals to enter India for a period of 24 months. Under this scheme, UK nationals must apply online through the designated service provider, VFS Global. The eligibility criteria for UK nationals are the same as those for Indian nationals outlined above.

For British nationals applying under the YPS scheme, the visa fee is £720. Applicants can travel to the nation of India once an Indian visa is issued. The UK national must register with the right Foreigners Regional Registration Office/ Foreigners Registration Office (FRRO/ FRO) within 14 days of arrival in India.

Applicants from the United Kingdom must apply for an E-1 visa and specify the purpose as the 'India-UK YPS Programme'.