GovWire

Who needs to enter

You need to enter the ballot if you want to apply for a Youth Mobility Scheme visa and youre from:

• Hong Kong, if you have an SAR passport
• Japan
• South Korea
• Taiwan

You do not need to enter the ballot if youre a British Overseas Citizen, British Overseas Territories Citizen or British National (Overseas).

How to enter

Ballots typically open in January and July each year.

You enter the ballot by sending an email. Only one ballot entry can be submitted per person.

Make sure you meet all eligibility requirements for the visa before entering the ballot.

Ballots will be open for 48 hours. All emails we receive within this 48 hour period will be entered into the ballot. You will get an automated reply confirming your entry.

Most applicants are usually chosen during the January ballot and the remaining places are allocated in the July ballot.

Writing your email

Your email must be in English.

The subject line of the email must include your:

• name
• date of birth
• passport number

Write these in the format: Lastname Firstname DD/MM/YYYY passport number.

The body of the email must include your:

• name
• date of birth
• passport number
• mobile phone number

Emails received without this information or not in this format will not be considered.

If youre successful in the ballot

You will have received an email by 29 July if you were successful in the second ballot. Remember to check your junk inbox for any correspondence.

You have 30 days to submit your application and pay once youve received your email.

After youve paid, youll usually have 90 days to book your appointment at a visa application centre (VAC). This is where you will provide your fingerprints and a photograph (biometric information).

Check with your local visa application centre if there are restrictions because of coronavirus (COVID-19).

You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks of attending your appointment. Check the guidance on decision waiting times to find out how long visa decisions are currently taking.

If your visa application is successful, you will have 90 days to enter the UK. Your visa will be valid for 2 years.

If you cannot travel to the UK within 90 days, youll need to apply for an extension. You will not need to reapply for the visa. The expiry date of your visa will not change, including if your arrival in the UK has been delayed by coronavirus.

If youre unsuccessful in the ballot

If you were unsuccessful in the first ballot, you will have received an email within 2 weeks of the ballot closing.

Youll be able to enter the next ballot in 2023 when it opens early next year, if you meet the eligibility requirements.