Tier 5 (Youth mobility scheme)
Can you apply?
This section explains the requirements that you must meet if you want to come to the UK under Tier 5 (Youth mobility scheme) of the UK's points-based system.
On this page
To be able to apply, you must score 50 points and meet all the other requirements of the Immigration Rules.
You must be outside the UK when you apply.
How to score points
You can score points as shown below:
| Attributes | Points available |
|---|---|
| Nationality | 30 |
| Age | 10 |
| Maintenance (funds) | 10 |
You can use our points-based calculator to find out whether you are likely to score enough points. You can download the calculator from the right side of this page.
Scoring points for your nationality
You will score 30 points if you are a citizen or passport-holder of any of these countries and territories:
- Australia
- Canada
- Japan
- Monaco
- New Zealand
- Republic of Korea
- Taiwan
Alternatively, you can score 30 points if you are:
- a British overseas citizen;
- a British overseas territories citizen; or
- a British national (overseas).
Scoring points for your age
You will score 10 points if you are:
- under 31 years old when you apply for your visa; and
- at least 18 years old on the date when your visa becomes valid (the first date when you can enter the UK).
Scoring points for maintenance (funds)
You must be able to support yourself throughout your stay in the UK without needing public funds (such as state benefits). You should assess the potential costs of living in the UK. If you do not expect to get any income from working in the UK after the first month, you should ensure that you have enough funds to support yourself.
You will score 10 points if you have £1,800 in available cash funds. Other accounts or financial instruments (such as shares, bonds, pension funds or agreed overdraft facilities) are not acceptable.
We will assess your funds using the OANDA exchange rate on the date of your application.
Certificate of sponsorship (Republic of Korea and Taiwan only)
republic of Korea
If you want to apply as the holder of a Republic of Korea passport, you must provide a certificate of sponsorship from the Consular Services Division in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Taiwan
If you want to apply as the holder of a Taiwanese passport, you must provide a certificate of sponsorship from Taiwan's Youth Development administration. To find out how to obtain a certificate of sponsorship, see the Documents required pages.
Other requirements
When you apply, you must confirm that you have:
- no children under 18 years old who are living with you, or for whom you are financially responsible;
- you have never been in the UK at any time in the former 'working holidaymaker' category or under the youth mobility scheme. If you have previously been in the UK under a different immigration category such as Tier 1 (Post study work), you can apply for a youth mobility scheme visa.
For your application to be successful, your national government must not have used its full allocation of places on the youth mobility scheme for the current year. You can find your government's allocation on the main Youth mobility scheme page.