The UK Lottery Visa, commonly known as the India Young Professional Scheme, is an emerging opportunity for young Indian professionals who aspire to live and work in the UK. can immigrate to the country for better employment opportunities. 

With every passing year, the UK opens its ballot system in the month of February. In 2026, the UK ballot system will start its operations, probably from February 17, inviting eligible applicants to apply for better work opportunities in the UK. 

The ballot system will open at 2:30 pm Indian Standard Time on 17 February 2026 and will close at 2:30 pm Indian Standard Time on 19 February 2026.

What is a UK Lottery Visa or UK-India Young Professional Scheme?

UK Lottery visa or UK-India Young Professional Scheme is a career pathway for young, skilled and competent professionals, aged between 18 to 30 years, who desire to stay and work in the UK for better career prospects. This scheme allows professionals from India to stay and work in the country for the next 2 years, offering valuable and diverse work opportunities. One of the prominent features of the Young Professional Scheme visa is its flexibility, as it allows visa holders to enter and return to the UK multiple times while their visa is valid without restrictions on the number of entries and exits.  

The UK India Young Professional Scheme was conceived as a part of India-UK Migration and Mobility, Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed in May 2021, and was later announced during the G20 summit in November. It was later formally introduced in February 2023, making it open its ballot system every year in the month of February. The motive taken behind this scheme was to strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries by inviting professionals to work in the UK and India. 

UK Lottery Visa Requirements

The Government of the UK has put a cap on the number of invitations, i.e, 3,000 invitations from the Indian subcontinent and has laid some of the requirements for professionals who seek better work opportunities in the UK. Indian professionals who wish to immigrate to the UK and want to work there as professionals will have to apply for the UK Young Professional scheme in 2026. For this, applicants are required to qualify for some of the certain requirements, such as:

❖  Must be an indian national

❖  Must be above 18 years and below 30 years of age at the time of travel to the UK

❖  Must have an educational qualification with a minimum bachelor’s degree

❖  Have £ 2,530 as the minimum financial requirement so as to manage financial expenses in the UK

❖  Not have a dependent or children below 18 years of age who are financially dependent upon the main applicant

❖  Never been to the UK before under this scheme or the UK Youth Mobility Scheme Visa 

Essential Documents for the UK India Young Professional Scheme Visa

Young Indian professionals who desire to immigrate to the UK must accumulate certain essential documents before applying for the UK Young Professional Scheme Visa in 2026, such as:

❖  Valid passport

❖  Evidence of financial requirements, such as bank statements

❖  Educational qualification certificates

❖  Tuberculosis test report

❖  Police clearance certificate 

How To Apply for the UK Lottery Visa From India

Immigrating to the UK from India through the UK Lottery visa is a structured and transparent process that helps professionals secure jobs and earn international work experience while residing in the country. Well, if you are an Indian professional and want to apply for the young professional scheme visa, then explore how to apply for the UK lottery visa from India with these structured steps as: 

Step 1: Check Eligibility

The foremost step in the application process is the eligibility criteria. Applicants are required to check all the eligibility requirements, such as financial requirements, health and character requirements, and educational qualifications. 

Step 2: Apply for the Ballot Entry

After checking in all the eligibility requirements, applicants must enter and register at the Ballot Entry section under the official website of the UK government. The registration under the ballot system does not hold any fee and is required to submit their registration within the prescribed timeframe. 

Step 3: Receive Invitation to Apply

Once the registration is completed, successful applicants receive an invitation to apply. The department takes approximately two weeks to respond and issue invitations to apply to professionals seeking a YPS visa. 

Step 4: Gather Essential Documents 

Successful applicants are required to gather essential documents such as identity proof. The government of the UK provides 90 days to applicants to apply online and submit the application fee. 

Step 5: Apply Online for the Young Professional Scheme Visa

Professionals are later required to apply online and submit the application form with the application fee and healthcare surcharge fee. The UK government usually takes 3 weeks to make a decision on the UK lottery visa.

With these, young professionals can apply for the Young Professional Scheme Visa and the department expects professionals to travel to the UK within 6 months of applying for the visa. 

UK Lottery Visa Fee

Professionals who wish to apply for the UK lottery Visa are required to pay an application fee at the time of visa application. The bifurcation for the UK lottery visa is as follows: 

Rights and Limitations with UK Lottery Visa 

Rights

Professionals with the UK lottery visa are allowed to:

❖  Study – for some of the courses, such as short-duration courses. But applicants require an additional Academic Technology Approval Scheme Certificate before pursuing education in the UK. 

❖  Work –with the UK lottery visa, professionals are allowed to work in most of the available jobs in the UK labour market. 

❖  Self-Employed– Professionals with a UK lottery visa can set up a company as long as they have a rented place, with equipment of not more than £ 5,000 and do not hold any employees. 

Limitations

With rights, the UK lottery visa also comes with certain limitations, such as:

❖  Applicants cannot extend their stay in the country.

❖  Applicants cannot apply for and claim most of the public funds.

❖  Applicants cannot include their children or dependents in their visa application

❖  Applicants cannot work as a professional sportsperson. 

Well, with this comprehensive guide, young Indian professionals can now easily immigrate to the UK and search for better job opportunities available in the country. 

Get Professional Guidance From Province Immigration

Well, if you are also a skilled, qualified young Indian professional and wish to immigrate to the UK from India and work there as a qualified professional with the added advantage of earning international work experience, consult Province Immigration or call us at:+ 919896196762.