UK Young Professionals Scheme 2026: Ballot for Indians opens Feb 17 | Immigration News
The UK on Tuesday announced voting dates for the India Young Professionals Scheme (IYPS) 2026 visa, which opens one of the most closely watched short-term work pathways for young Indians.
Voting will open on 17 February 2026 at 14.30 IST and close on 19 February 2026 at 14.30 IST. Eligible Indian citizens can submit their entries online in this window.
Applicants selected through the program can live and work in the UK for up to two years without needing a job offer or employer sponsorship.
What is the UK-India young professionals scheme visa?
The UK-India Young Professionals Program visa is a work and travel route for Indian citizens aged 18 to 30. It allows successful applicants to stay in the UK for up to two years and pursue employment or self-employment during this time.
The visa is granted through a voting system as the number of applicants far exceeds the available quotas. The route is part of a bilateral agreement between India and the UK and is widely used by recent graduates and early career professionals seeking employment opportunities abroad.
The United Kingdom has allocated 3,000 quotas under the program for 2026. Most of these quotas will be announced in the voting in February, while the remaining quotas will be distributed in the votes later in the year.
How does the voting system work?
Indian citizens must first appear on the ballot in order for their visa applications to be evaluated. Only those elected by ballot are allowed to apply for a full visa.
There is no fee to participate in the voting. Candidates are allowed to submit only one entry per ballot, and multiple entries may result in disqualification.
Applicants are required to provide basic personal information including name, date of birth, passport details, contact details and a copy of their original passport.
Step-by-step process to enter the ballot
Step 1: Check if you meet the eligibility criteria for the India Young Professionals Program visa
Step 2: Have your passport and personal information ready before starting the application
Step 3: Submit your ballot entry online before 2:30 PM IST between 17 February and 19 February 2026
Step 4: Expect the result to be notified by email within two weeks after the voting closes
Step 5: If you are selected, apply for a visa within 90 days of receiving the invitation.
Step 6: If you are not selected, you can enter future ballots as long as you are eligible
What will happen after the election?
Candidates selected in the 2026 ballot will receive an official email invitation from UK officials. They will have up to 90 days from the date of invitation to complete the visa process.
This involves submitting a visa application online, paying the £319 visa fee, paying the immigration health surcharge and completing biometric formalities.
Candidates who are selected in the ballot but choose not to continue their visa application can opt out without affecting their chances in future ballots. In such cases, the unused quota is transferred to future voting.
Who is the program for?
The India Young Professionals Program visa is only open to Indian citizens between the ages of 18 and 30 at the time of application. It allows holders to live and work in the UK for up to two years across a wide range of sectors.
The programme, which does not require employer sponsorship and has a relatively simple entry process, continues to attract strong interest from young Indians looking to gain international work experience and enter the UK job market.
