The UK Government has confirmed when the next ballot for the India Young Professionals Scheme will open, giving eligible Indian citizens a clear window to register their interest in one of the most competitive UK visa routes.
The scheme continues to operate on a ballot basis. This means that applicants cannot apply for the visa directly. Entry into the ballot is the only way to access the route, and selection is required before a visa application can be made.
February 2026 ballot dates confirmed
The next India Young Professionals Scheme ballot will open at 2:30pm India Standard Time on 17 February 2026 and will close at 2:30pm India Standard Time on 19 February 2026.
The ballot will remain open for two days. Applicants can submit their entry at any time during this period. There is no advantage to applying early, as selection is random and not influenced by when an entry is submitted.
The official ballot entry link will be published on the guidance page operated by UK Visas and Immigration.
How the India Young Professionals Scheme works
The India Young Professionals Scheme allows Indian citizens aged 18 to 30 to live and work in the UK for up to two years. It sits alongside the wider Youth Mobility framework but has its own country-specific rules and a fixed annual cap.
Each year, demand significantly exceeds supply. For 2026, only 3,000 places are available in total. Because of this, the Home Office uses a ballot system to decide who can move on to the visa application stage.
What the ballot does and does not do
Entering the ballot is free and open to eligible applicants. Each person can submit only one entry per ballot. Duplicate entries are disregarded automatically.
Selection in the ballot does not confirm that a visa will be granted. It simply allows the selected applicant to apply. Eligibility checks, document review and suitability assessments all take place later, during the visa application process.
How places are allocated in 2026
Most of the available places for 2026 will be released through the February ballot. Any remaining places will be offered through a second and final ballot later in the year, with the timing confirmed separately. This staggered approach has been used in previous years and reflects the level of interest in the scheme.
What happens after the ballot closes
Once the ballot closes, entries are processed and successful applicants are selected at random. Results are issued by email within two weeks of the closing date. Applicants who are not selected are not given feedback and there is no appeal process.
Those who remain eligible can enter the later ballot in 2026 if they wish to try again.
The 90-day application window
Applicants selected in the ballot are given 90 days from the date of the invitation email to submit a full visa application. During this period, they need to complete the online application, pay the visa fee of £319, pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for the two-year stay and provide biometric information. Evidence confirming eligibility is also required.
If the application is not submitted within the 90-day window, the opportunity is lost and the place cannot be carried forward.
The short application window can catch applicants off guard. Gathering documents only after being selected often creates time pressure and increases the risk of errors.
Applicants considering the scheme usually benefit from preparing key documents in advance, including passports, qualification evidence and financial records, so they are ready to proceed quickly if selected.
A popular route with limited availability
The confirmation of the February 2026 ballot dates provides clarity, but the underlying reality of the scheme remains unchanged. Places are limited, selection is random and demand continues to be high.
For those interested in living and working in the UK through the India Young Professionals Scheme, understanding how the ballot operates and what selection really means is an important first step in deciding whether this route is right for them.
