United Kingdom: India Young Professional Scheme Ballot to Open July 16, 2024

• Ballot period. The second ballot for the 2024 India Young Professional Scheme will open at 13:30 Indian Standard Time on July 16, 2024 and will close at 13:30 Indian Standard time on July 18, 2024.
• Program details. The ballot is open to Indian nationals between 18-30 years old, or those who would be 18 at the date of travel under the scheme, who have a bachelor’s degree level or above, savings of at least GBP 2,530 and who have no children below 18 with whom they live or support. Individuals selected by ballot then have 90 days to apply for a visa under the scheme, pay the visa application fee (including immigration health surcharge) and provide biometrics.
• Quota. In 2024, the United Kingdom is making 3,000 places available under the scheme, with most spots already allocated in the February 2024 ballot. The remaining 2024 places will be issued in this July ballot.
• Costs. Entering the ballot is free but it costs GBP 298 to apply under the Scheme. Those who are not chosen in the upcoming ballot can submit another application in future ballots.
• Reciprocal arrangement. The reciprocal Indian program does not use a ballot system. Instead, eligible individuals can apply throughout the year through applying for the so-called ‘Employment Visa – E 1’.

When the application window opens, interested applicants will be able to submit a ballot for the program online.

The scheme provides a specific entry pathway for qualifying Indian nationals with a relatively short processing time as compared to other schemes.

• Previous ballots. In 2023, the United Kingdom held India Young Professionals Scheme ballots in March and July. The first ballot for the 2024 intake under the scheme was held in February 2024.
• Other youth mobility schemes. The Indian Young Professional Scheme (IYPS) is similar to the UK Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) which also allows a person from a participating country or territory to experience life in the United Kingdom. Applicants under the YMS from Hong Kong SAR and Taiwan are selected via a ballot system. But in contrast to the IYPS, applicants under the UK YMS scheme do not need to prove any educational qualifications.
• UK-India migration partnership. The Young Professionals Scheme is part of the UK-India Mobility and Migration Partnership, signed in May 2021, which includes commitments to enhance migration arrangements and efforts to strengthen cooperation around immigration violations between India and the United Kingdom.

This could be the start of further immigration agreements between the United Kingdom and India and the foundation for future trade agreements. We will track and report future developments.