India Young Professionals Scheme visa: ballot system
This guidance explains how to enter the ballot to apply for the India Young Professionals Scheme visa and how the ballot system works. The first ballot of 2026 has closed, with 3,000 places available for the year and most allocated in February; details of the second and final ballot will be published later to allocate the remaining places. Eligible Indian citizens can enter for free by providing name, date of birth, passport details (scan/photo), phone number and email, with entries drawn at random and results emailed within two weeks of ballot closing. If invited to apply, you have 90 days to complete the online application, pay the £340 visa fee and immigration health surcharge, and provide biometrics; if unsuccessful, the results are final, though you may enter future ballots if you remain eligible.
This guidance explains how to enter the ballot to apply for the India Young Professionals Scheme visa, and how the ballot system works.
You need to enter a ballot if you want to apply for a visa for the India Young Professionals Scheme.
The first India Young Professionals Scheme ballot of 2026 has closed.
Details of the next ballot in 2026 will be published on this page.
Entering the ballot
You can enter the ballot if you are an Indian citizen and you are eligible for the India Young Professionals Scheme visa.
Check if you are eligible for the visa before entering the ballot.
You will need to provide:
- your name
- your date of birth
- your passport details
- a scan or photo of your passport
- your phone number
- your email address
Successful ballot entries will be picked at random. You will be sent the results by email within 2 weeks of the ballot closing.
It is free to enter the ballot. You should only enter if you:
- plan to apply for the visa, which costs £340
- meet all the eligibility requirements for the visa - such as having an eligible qualification and enough money to support yourself
There are 3,000 places available for the India Young Professionals Scheme visa in 2026. Most places were made available in the first ballot in February. The remaining places will be made available in the second and final ballot later in the year.
You can only submit one entry per person for each ballot. Any further attempts to enter will not be counted.
Successful entries
If you are successful in the ballot, you will be invited to apply for a visa.
You have 90 days from the date of the email to:
- apply online for the visa
- pay the visa application fee and immigration health surcharge
- provide your fingerprints and photo (biometric information)
If you are successful in the ballot but choose not to apply for the visa, you do not need to tell us.
Unsuccessful entries
The results of the ballot are final. You cannot appeal if you are unsuccessful.
You can enter future ballots if you are unsuccessful, as long as you still meet the eligibility criteria.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/india-young-professionals-scheme-visa-ballot-system
