How to Get Youth Mobility Visa (Tier 5)
for the UK
The Tier 5 youth mobility scheme visa (or Working Holiday) allows 18-35 year olds from certain countries including Australia, New Zealand and Canada to travel to the UK for an extended visit and work legally there in order to fund their visit. It’s a relatively cheap visa application at £298, it’s also often one of the quickest to process, and it allows you to stay for up to two years.
The vast majority of working travellers from Australia, New Zealand and Canada travel to the UK on this working holiday visa. It is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity so be sure to apply before you turn 31 35 years of age. Elsewhere in the world, the age limit is 18-30 years old.
Finding work in the UK is not difficult as long as you are flexible and UK employers love the working traveller’s work ethic (you’re there for a good time not a long time, so work hard and save up for your further travels!).
Before you arrive in the UK, make sure to apply for jobs and reach out to recruitment agencies that focus on working travellers. You can use this website to explore job options and agencies, giving you a head start and peace of mind knowing you’ll likely be earning pounds soon after you land.
How Do I qualify for the Tier 5 Visa?
To qualify you must:
- be from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Monaco, South Korea, Andorra, Iceland, Japan, Monaco, San Marino, and Uruguay.
- be 18-35 years old or 18-30 years old (depending on your country) when you apply; and
- have at least £2,530 of available money.
You can only apply for this visa once in your life and you must have a valid passport from your home country.
Proof of Funds
You need to show proof that you have at least £2,530 to support your stay in the United Kingdom. Be aware that the currency exchange rate on the date that you pay your fees will be used to determine how much money is in your account.
You must show evidence, such as an original bank statement dated no more than a month before your application. If you wish to use electronic bank statements, they must be stamped on every page by your bank or accompanied by an original letter from your bank. A letter from your bank confirming the balance in your account is also accepted as proof of available funds.
Do I have to be in my home country to apply?
You can apply for this UK Working Holiday Visa from your home country or from a country where you are staying at the time of application, as long as:
- the ‘entry clearance post’ in the country you want to apply from is authorised to process Youth Mobility applications (check the UK government’s Foreign and Commonwealth website for the latest list of UK embassies, consulates etc); and
- you are authorised to be in the country you want to apply from, and you have permission to stay there for a period of more than 6 months.
Note: You can not apply from within the UK
How do I apply for the Youth Mobility Scheme visa?
1) DIY — Check out our step-by-step guide to do-it-yourself visa applications.
2) Get assistance — If you would like to get your working holiday visa in the quickest time possible and ensure it’s done right the first time (or simply don’t like lots of paperwork), a traveller company with a visa service may be a good option for you.
I'm also eligible for the Innovator Founder visa, which is best for me?
The Innovator Founder visa is designed for those who want to start and run a new business in the UK. To get it, you need a business idea that’s backed by an approved organization, showing it’s original, can work, and has the potential to grow. This visa lets you focus fully on your business, and after three years, you could be eligible to settle in the UK.
The Innovator Founder visa is complicated and more costly than the Youth Mobility Scheme visa. If you are only looking for a relatively short-term working holiday in the UK (up to two years), then the Youth Mobility Visa is a perfect choice. You can always apply for the Innovator Founder visa later.
What happens when my Visa ends?
If you are from Australia, Canada, or New Zealand you can extend your visa for another year. You just need to be in the UK and apply no more than 28 days before your visa expires. Note that you can only extend once. If you’re from other countries, you have to leave the UK after two years. However, you can switch to another visa, like a Sponsored Visa or Innovator Founder Visa, to keep living in the UK
Got more questions? They might be answered in our VISA FAQs.
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