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.

You need to enter a ballot if you want to apply for a visa for the India Young Professionals Scheme.

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