Visa snapshot
Government verified · 17 June 2026- Levy / extra cost
- Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) £776/year
- Funds required
- GBP 2,530 savings
- Work rights
- Work in most jobs; self-employment allowed only if premises rented, equipment worth under GBP5,000, and no employees. Cannot work as professional sportsperson. No public funds.
- Study rights
- Study allowed; ATAS certificate needed for some courses
- Extensions
- Available, conditions apply
- Reciprocal healthcare
- No
- Private health insurance needed
- Quota / ballot
- Selected by YMS ballot
- Ballot: Yes
Eligibility & conditions
No children living with/financially dependent.
Fee GBP340; IHS GBP776/yr (GBP1,552 for 2 yrs) gives full NHS access. GBP2,530 savings held 28 consecutive days. No dependants; cannot apply if children under 18 live with you or you are financially responsible for them; one YMS per lifetime. Ballot only for Hong Kong + Taiwan (1,000 places each, 2026).
+1 year extension ONLY for Australia, Canada, New Zealand nationals (fee GBP319 + IHS GBP776; once only; apply in UK within 28 days of expiry). Japan/Korea cannot extend.
How to apply
Applications are submitted through the UK Government's official visa portal. Processing typically takes 3 weeks.
Apply Now →Get set up for the UK
Banking
Open a local account soon after you arrive in the UK so you can get paid and skip foreign-card fees. Most banks let you start the application online before you land.
More the UK working holiday visas
Your first-week checklist
The practical order of things for your first days. What to sort and where to go next.