How to get the UK Youth Mobility Scheme Visa for Australians

This is a guide for Australians on how to apply for the UK (Tier 5) Youth Mobility Scheme visa from an Aussie who has successfully been through the whole process of applying for the visa, receiving visa approval and moving to the UK.

Moving to the UK and living there for two years is a once in a lifetime opportunity every Australian is offered (Soon to be three years). For many, it is a rite of passage. A time where you can have true freedom and independence and can gain some of the greatest life experiences you will ever have as you travel across the world. The UK Youth Mobility Scheme visa is the visa which allows you to have this great opportunity.

I applied for the UK Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme Visa when I decided, like many Aussies, to live in the UK for 2 years. I found applying for the visa a bit daunting at the time. However, after going through the whole process it really is not that bad. In fact, I think most Aussies could do it just fine. I wanted to share my experience with you to help make your application process a lot smoother and easier.

What is the UK Youth Mobility Scheme (Tier 5) visa?

The UK Youth Mobility Scheme (Tier 5) visa is the visa every young person in Australia, New Zealand and other selected countries applies for when they want to live, work and travel in the UK. It is available for anyone aged over 18 and under 31 years old.

Once you get the visa it allows you to live and work in the UK for up to 2 years. When you are there, you can leave and re-enter the UK as many times as you want during the visa and it will still remain valid.

This is a once in a lifetime visa. Once you get it you will not be able to apply for it again. This includes all those lucky people who happen to be dual citizens of Australia and New Zealand. I am also one of those people and I did look into this at one stage. No, you cannot apply twice!

New changes to the UK Youth Mobility Scheme Visa

On the 15th of June 2021, a new UK-Australia Free Trade Agreement was created which will increase flexibility to the UK Youth Mobility Scheme visa. The two major changes are:

• Australians will be able to apply for the visa up to the age of 35 (currently 30)
• Australians will be able to stay for 3 years (currently 2 years)

These changes will come into effect on the 31st January 2024.

How long is the UK Youth Mobility Scheme visa valid for?

The Youth Mobility Scheme visa is valid for two years from the visa start date provided when you apply for the visa. You can also find the visa start date on your UK visa vignette sticker in your passport.

How many UK Youth Mobility Scheme Tier 5 visas are available?

It fluctuates a little every year but there are approximately 30,000 places for Australian citizens and 13,000 places for New Zealand citizens. Fortunately, they have never run out of places for applicants!

How long does it take to get a UK Youth Mobility Scheme visa?

Once you have applied and provided all the necessary documents It will normally take 3-4 weeks for a decision to be made on whether your visa is approved.

You can choose your visa start date on any day within 6 months of your visa application. You will be granted a 90 day visa vignette sticker in your passport which starts from the visa start date you have selected. Next, you will need to enter the UK and collect your Biometric Residence Permit before your UK visa vignette expires.

Who is eligible for the UK Youth Mobility Scheme visa?

To be eligible to apply for the visa you will need to score 50 points to qualify for entry clearance. To achieve 50 points you need to fulfil three things:

• Nationality requirement (30 points) – You will need to hold a valid passport in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Monaco, San Marino, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan or Taiwan.
• Age requirement (10 points) – You are over 18 and under 31 years of age (soon to be increased to 35 years old inclusive). This means you need to be 18 or over on your visa start date (the day you arrive in the UK). You must also be under 31 years old when you submit your visa application. I would make sure you apply well before you turn 31 just in case there is a problem with your visa submission.
• Maintenance requirement (10 points) – You need to show you are able to support yourself when you first arrive in the UK. For this requirement, you will need to show you have the equivalent of at least £2530 in your savings account. Your local bank account is fine. There’s no need for this to be in an international or UK bank account. You will need to provide bank statements which show you have had at least this amount in your bank for 28 consecutive days. Day 28 of this period needs to be within 31 days of applying for the visa. The currency conversion will be based on the rate at the time of the visa application. To be safe, make sure you have a few hundred dollars over the minimum to protect your application against any sudden changes in the currency conversion rate.

Your visa application will be rejected if:

• You have already been in the UK on the Youth Mobility Scheme (T5) visa.
• You have children under 18 years old who live with you
• You are financially responsible for any children
• You have a criminal record or certain convictions
• You have lied on your application

Further details can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-part-9-grounds-for-refusal

How much does a UK Youth Mobility Scheme visa application cost?

The visa application fee is £244. As part of your application you will be required to also pay for your Immigrations Health Surcharge which costs £470/year or £940 in total for the two years you live in the UK. This surcharge is the cost for access to the National Health Service (NHS, UK’s equivalent of Australia’s Medicare).

What documents are required to apply for the UK Youth Mobility Scheme visa?

You will need to have:

• A current and valid passport -This must not expire in the next 6 months but do yourself a favour and make sure your passport will not expire during the entire duration of your stay in the UK. You will need at least one page empty for them to put the UK visa vignette into your passport (it’s a temporary sticker which allows you to enter the UK prior to collecting your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)). However, I highly recommend you have as many empty pages as possible. Once you start doing multiple trips to Europe you will fill these pages up very quickly. At some point you will start asking the Border officers to squish their stamps in all the corners of your passport so you can fit more in (It’s so annoying when they stamp in the centre of the page! I’m looking at you UAE!).

• A bank statement showing you have at least £2530 in your savings account for a 28 day period. Day 28 needs to be within 31 days of applying for the visa.
• You need to pay the Immigration health surcharge (£940 fee). This is a compulsory fee which allows you access to the NHS while you are in the UK. Click here for more information about the NHS and how to see a doctor in the UK.
• You will not need to submit Tuberculosis test results if you are from Australia or New Zealand, unlike other countries.
• Certified translation is required for any documents not in English or Welsh.
• You may need to provide other documents if you have special circumstances.

UK Youth Mobility Scheme visa application process

1. Apply for your UK Youth Mobility Scheme visa (T5) online here: https://www.gov.uk/youth-mobility

Fill out all the questions. They are generally quite easy and straight forward. You will need to select a visa start date within 6 months of this visa application.

2. Pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (£940) as part of your visa application. Your IHS reference number will automatically be added to your visa application form after you pay.

3. Pay the visa registration fee online (£244). This is the final step of your visa application so make sure all your details are correct especially the visa start date you choose.

4. Biometrics appointment:

You will be asked to book in an appointment time to provide your biometrics (face photograph and fingerprints) at the visa centre closest to you. This is a mandatory step in your visa application and you must go to this appointment yourself. In Australia and New Zealand, most of the major cities will have a centre to register your biometrics. In many of the cities it is run by a third party visa processing company called VFS Global.

It usually takes about 40-60min depending on how busy they are but may be a bit longer due to Covid. Don’t be late. I recommend you getting there 15min early as there’s usually a queue.

You will need to bring and submit all your supporting documentation:

• A signed print out of your visa application form (Your IHS reference number should be included in this form but if not take a copy of the email with the IHS reference number you received after paying the IHS)
• A bank statement proving you have £2530 in your savings account for a 28 day period.
• Your passport with at least two empty pages (both sides)
• Appointment booking confirmation letter/email
• Visa application fee (unless you have already paid online)
• You can take passport photos but it is probably better to let them take your photo at the centre for a fee to ensure it fits all the UK visa specifications
• If you under 18, you will need a letter of consent from a parent/guardian

The appointment is a straight forward process. You will hand over all the relevant documents. They will check all your documents and take them (including your passport). You will also need to pay the biometric appointment fee (Usually £55 but this varies from city to city). They will then take your photograph (or perform a facial scan of the photo you submitted during your visa application) and scan your fingerprints (make sure your fingers don’t have cuts and abrasions on them). I paid extra for my passport to be couriered back to me once they were done but you can also collect it from the centre when it is ready. They will not interview you by the way.

You will know if you have been approved for the visa after 3-4 weeks. This will come in the form of an email or letter. If successful, your passport will be sent back to your or you will collect your passport with a UK visa vignette sticker inside.

Note: You can pay a premium if you want to expedite this visa processing time.

Check the visa vignette details are correct. It will tell you:

• The type of visa you have been given
• Your start and end dates for the visa
• Your visa conditions

You must arrive in the UK within the 90 day window as specified on your UK visa vignette sticker in your passport.

5. Collection of your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP, proof of your right to live and work in the UK) is the last step in the visa application process although technically your visa has been approved at this point. For more information on the Biometric Residence Permit and how to get one see our article on Biometric Residence Permits.

When you arrive in the UK, use the visa vignette in your passport to pass through customs. You will then need to collect your Biometric Residence Permit within 10 days of arriving in the UK or before your visa vignette expires, whichever occurs first. The BRP collection point will be where you selected to collect it from during the application process.

FAQs

Can I apply for the UK Youth Mobility Scheme visa within the UK?

No, you need to apply for this visa from outside the UK.

How many times can I apply for the UK Youth Mobility Scheme visa?

You can only apply and enter the UK with this visa once. Even if you have dual citizenship with the other country also meeting the visa’s requirements you will still not be able to apply twice. This is why it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity!

If you have not entered the UK on the Youth Mobility Scheme visa which activates it, you can apply for the same visa again at a later date as long as you meet all the other requirements too.

Do I need to pay a third party company to help me with my UK Youth Mobility Scheme visa application?

Before applying for the visa, I came across a lot of companies who were offering to help guide me through the application process for a fee. They may be useful for people with special circumstances or who prefer some guidance but for the vast majority of people I really do not believe this is necessary. I think you can definitely do this yourself.

Can I be self-employed while I’m in the UK?

Yes, but you cannot own a premises to run your business from except if it’s also your home. You will need to rent instead. You also cannot have employees and the total value of your business’s equipment cannot exceed £5000.

Are there any work restrictions on the UK Youth Mobility Scheme visa?

Yes, you cannot work as a professional sportsperson, doctor or dentist.

Where can I work in the UK?

Pretty much everywhere. You can work in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. You can also work in Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.

Can I study while I’m in the UK?

Yes you can. As you are Australian you are also exempt from meeting the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) conditions. Remember to get a valid student card as this will give you a lot of discounts while travelling in the UK and Europe!

What happens if my visa vignette sticker is in a passport which will soon expire?

Well that was stupid. It’s also exactly what I did! It’s an easy fix. Just apply and get your new passport before you fly and take the old passport with the visa vignette sticker with you and show both of them to UK’s customs when you arrive in the UK.