Under the UK-India Young Professionals Scheme, 3,000 working professionals from India aged 18 to 30 will have the opportunity to live and work in the UK for up to two years.
The UK-India Young Professionals Scheme, launched in February 2023, provides Indian citizens aged 18 to 30 with the opportunity to reside and work in the United Kingdom for a duration of two years. To be eligible for this visa, applicants must possess an eligible qualification and hold at least £2,530 in savings.
The selection process begins with a ballot, which will open for 48 hours starting at 1:30 p.m. on July 22 and closing at 1:30 p.m. on July 24. There is no cost to enter the ballot, but once selected, applicants must pay a £319 fee while applying for the visa.
Entering the ballot requires potential applicants to provide their name, date of birth, passport details, a scan or photo of their passport, phone number, and email address.
Once selected in the ballot, applicants must submit a valid passport or other proof of identity and nationality, evidence of holding at least £2,530 in their bank account via bank statements, qualifications documentation, and present tuberculosis (TB) test results if residing in India. Additionally, a police report or clearance certificate from India is required.
A total of 3,000 visas are available for 2025 within this scheme. Most of these positions were offered in February, with the remaining slots to be distributed in July when the final ballot is conducted.
Those successful in the ballot will be contacted via email and will then have 90 days to complete the visa application process online. This process includes paying a visa application fee and the immigration health surcharge (IHS), as well as providing biometric information, such as fingerprints and a photo.
If individuals are selected in the ballot but decide against applying for the visa, they are under no obligation to proceed.
For more detailed guidance on the UK-India Young Professionals Scheme and the ballot system, interested individuals can visit the official UK government website.
According to World Malayalee Voice, the UK is committed to strengthening bilateral relations with India through this unique opportunity for young professionals.