Indian nationals hoping to live and work in the United Kingdom under the India Young Professionals Scheme (YPS) have one final opportunity this year. The UK government has announced that the second and final ballot for 2026 will open on July 21 and close on July 23, giving eligible applicants a 48-hour window to register.
The ballot will open at 1:30 PM IST on July 21 and close at 1:30 PM IST on July 23. Candidates will be selected through a random ballot system, and only those chosen will be invited to submit a visa application.
The India Young Professionals Scheme allows eligible Indian citizens to live, work, and study in the UK for up to two years. Entering the ballot is mandatory, as there is no direct route to apply for the visa without first being selected.
Any Indian citizen who meets the eligibility criteria can enter the ballot free of cost. However, applicants should register only if they genuinely intend to apply for the visa and satisfy all the required conditions, including educational qualifications and financial requirements. During registration, applicants must provide their name, date of birth, passport details, a scanned copy or photograph of their passport, along with their phone number and email address. Only one entry per person is permitted, and duplicate entries will be rejected.
Candidates selected in the ballot will have 90 days from the date of receiving their invitation email to complete the visa application process. This includes paying the £340 visa application fee, the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), and submitting biometric details such as fingerprints and a photograph.
The UK has allocated 3,000 places under the India Young Professionals Scheme for 2026. Most of these were filled during the first ballot held in February, while the remaining slots will be allotted through this final ballot in July.
Successful applicants will be informed via email within two weeks after the ballot closes. Those who choose not to proceed after being selected are not required to notify the UK authorities. Applicants who are not selected cannot appeal the decision. As this is the final ballot for 2026, unsuccessful candidates will have to wait for the next application cycle if the scheme is reopened in the future.
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