India Young Professionals Scheme UK Ballot Opening Dates for 2026
The next India Young Professionals Scheme ballot will open at 2:30pm India Standard Time on 17 February 2026 and will close at 2:30pm India Standard Time on 19 February 2026.
Entries can be submitted at any point while the ballot window is open. The official entry link will be published on the ballot guidance page operated by UK Visas and Immigration.
Who can enter the ballot?
An individual can enter the ballot if they are an Indian citizen and meet the eligibility requirements for the India Young Professionals Scheme visa.
Applicants should check eligibility before entering. The ballot does not assess eligibility and selection does not override the visa rules. Entering the ballot without meeting the requirements leads only to refusal at the application stage.
Information required to enter the ballot
To submit a valid ballot entry, applicants are required to provide:
a. full name
b. date of birth
c. passport details
d. a scan or photograph of the passport
e. phone number
f. email address
Only one entry per person per ballot is permitted. Any duplicate entries are automatically disregarded and not entered into the selection process.
What happens after the ballot closes?
Successful entries are selected at random. The ballot does not assess qualifications, funds or intention to leave, these are assessed only at the visa application stage.
Ballot results are issued by email within two weeks of the ballot closing date.
Entering the ballot is free. However, applicants should only enter if they genuinely intend to apply for the visa and are prepared to meet the full cost and evidential requirements.
Applicants selected in the ballot are expected to proceed promptly. The current visa application fee is £319, in addition to the Immigration Health Surcharge.
Selection in the ballot does not reserve a place indefinitely. Applicants who cannot apply within the permitted timeframe lose the opportunity and the place is not carried forward.
Number of places available in 2026
There are 3,000 total places available under the India Young Professionals Scheme in 2026.
Most places will be released through the February 2026 ballot. The remaining places will be made available through a second and final ballot later in the year.
This two-stage release mirrors the structure used in previous years.
What if you are successful?
Applicants selected in the ballot are invited to apply for the visa and have 90 days from the date of the invitation email to:
a. submit an online visa application
b. pay the visa application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge
c. provide biometric information, including fingerprints and a photograph
Applicants who decide not to proceed after being selected are not required to notify the Home Office.
What if you are unsuccessful?
Ballot results are final. There is no appeal or review mechanism for unsuccessful entries.
Applicants who are not selected can enter future ballots, provided they continue to meet the eligibility requirements at the time of entry, or may consider alternative visa options and immigration routes.
| India Young Professionals Scheme At A Glance | 2026 position |
|---|---|
| Ballot opening dates | 17 February 2026 to 19 February 2026 |
| Ballot opening time | 2:30pm India Standard Time |
| Who can enter | Indian citizens who meet the visa eligibility requirements |
| Cost to enter ballot | Free |
| Visa application fee | £319 plus Immigration Health Surcharge |
| Total places available | 3,000 places in 2026 |
| How places are released | Most in February ballot, remaining places later in the year |
| Selection method | Random ballot selection |
| Time to apply if selected | 90 days from invitation email |
| Right of appeal if unsuccessful | No |
DMS Perspective
The February India Young Professionals Scheme ballot historically attracts the highest volume of entries because it releases the majority of places for the year. At this stage, ballot entrants should ensure they have all the required information and documents available and to hand, in preparation for the window opening. Mistakes in data entry, such as errors in passport details, email addresses or personal information, cannot be corrected once the ballot closes and can result in missed invitations or invalid entries.
Remember also that ballot selection only creates an opportunity to apply, and does not reduce application scrutiny or relax the visa requirements at the application stage.
Need Assistance?
If you are considering entering the India Young Professionals Scheme UK Ballot 2026, a short telephone consultation can help confirm whether you meet the visa requirements before you apply. Selection in the ballot only allows you to move to the next stage, it does not guarantee visa approval, and applications are still assessed in full against the Immigration Rules.
Where eligibility is borderline or evidence is weak, early advice can reduce the risk of refusal after selection. If you are not successful in the ballot, tailored advice can also identify alternative UK visa options that may be more suitable for your circumstances. Contact us to book a fixed-fee telephone consultation with one of our UK immigration legal advisers.
