Temporary Worker (TW) categories

This visa is an option for certain nationals/passport holders who wish to come to the UK for up to two years to work or look for work in the UK and travel. This visa also allows you to study in the UK. 

You must first apply for a YMS visa from overseas. This visa route cannot be extended (except for Australia/Canada YMS visa holders - for up to 1 extra year only). To be able to apply, you must not be financially responsible for any children under 18.

Eligibility - If you’re from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Korea:

• You can apply for the visa if you’re aged between 18 and 35*

*You must be aged 18 or over when your visa starts, or 35 or under when you first apply for it. You can apply for your visa before you turn 18, and you can be over 35 when it starts.

Elsewhere in the world - If you're from Andorra, Iceland, Japan, Monaco, San Marino, Uruguay or a British overseas citizen/British overseas territories citizen and if you're already a British national (overseas).

• You can apply for the visa if you’re aged between 18 and 30*

You must be aged 18 or over when your visa starts, or 30 or under when you apply for it. You can apply for your visa before you turn 18 and you can be over 30 when it starts.

However, you must be selected in the 'Youth Mobility Scheme ballot' before you can apply for a YMS visa, if you’re from:

• Hong Kong - if you have an HK SAR passport, and
• Taiwan

There is no restriction on the type of work you can do except:

• You must not be self-employed
• You must not work as a professional sportsperson or coach
• You must not work as a doctor or dentist in training

Youth Mobility Scheme eligibility

Youth Mobility Scheme visa: Overview

There is a separate scheme for Indian nationals, called the India Young Professional Scheme visa.

India Young Professionals Scheme visa eligibility

A creative worker is someone who works in the creative industries, for example an actor, dancer, musician or film crew member.

You must be sponsored by your employer.

Creative worker visa

For those who wish to do unpaid, voluntary work for a charity in the UK.

You must be sponsored by your employer.

Charity worker visa

For those who have been contracted to do work covered by international law while in the UK (for example, working for a government).

You must be sponsored by your employer.

Tier 5 international agreement

For those who wish to do religious work (e.g. preaching or working in a religious order).

You must be sponsored by your employer.

Religious work

This route is for those who want to come to the UK for work experience or to do training or research. 

The work experience or training programme that you do must be though an approved government authorised exchange scheme, and your visa will be sponsored by an overarching body, such as the British Council.

If you come to the UK to take part in a formal research project at the University of Edinburgh, the University may be able to sponsor your visa.

Government authorised exchange schemes

Sponsored research at the University of Edinburgh

Government authorised exchange