Hong Kong Youth Mobility Scheme Visa
1,000 places a year, allocated by ballot. BN(O) holders can skip the ballot entirely.
- Age range
- 18–30
- Annual places
- 1,000 (2026)
- Ballot required
- Yes
- Max stay
- 2 years
- Application fee
- £340
- Savings needed
- £2,530
Ballot windows are short, often just 48 hours. Get a free email before the next Hong Kong ballot opens.
Hong Kong nationals aged 18 to 30 can come to the UK for up to two years on the Youth Mobility Scheme. There are 1,000 places for 2026, and they're allocated by a ballot held twice a year.
Important: this ballot is for people applying on a Hong Kong SAR passport. If you hold BN(O) status you have your own, more generous immigration route and don't need the Youth Mobility ballot at all.
Ballot schedule
- 2026 · Round 2Open now13 Jul 2026 – 15 Jul 2026
Opens 13 Jul 2026, 17:01 UK time, closes 15 Jul 2026, 17:01 UK time.
Official gov.uk ballot page → - 2026 · Round 1Closed9 Feb 2026 – 11 Feb 2026
Opens 9 Feb 2026, 16:01 UK time, closes 11 Feb 2026, 16:01 UK time.
- 2025 · Round 2Closed14 Jul 2025 – 16 Jul 2025
Opens 14 Jul 2025, 17:01 UK time, closes 16 Jul 2025, 17:01 UK time.
- 2025 · Round 1Closed3 Feb 2025 – 5 Feb 2025
Opens 3 Feb 2025, 16:01 UK time, closes 5 Feb 2025, 16:01 UK time.
Hong Kong Youth Mobility visas issued
110 Hong Kong nationals were granted a Youth Mobility Scheme visa in 2025. That's little changed on 2024, down from a peak of 1,277 in 2015.
Some years above show more visas issued than the current 1,000-place annual quota — that's expected. Places are allocated per ballot or application round, but this chart counts visas by the calendar year they were actually granted, so grants from one round can spill into the following year's total.
Source: Home Office Immigration Statistics (Vis_D02), year ending March 2026.
After the Youth Mobility Scheme: staying in the UK
Your Youth Mobility visa lasts up to two years. To stay longer, find a licensed sponsor and switch to a Skilled Worker visa before it ends.
Frequently asked questions
When is the next Hong Kong Youth Mobility ballot? Hong Kong shares the Youth Mobility Scheme ballot with Taiwan. It runs twice a year, usually February and July, with each window open for about 48 hours. Dates are published on gov.uk a few weeks ahead; set a free reminder on this page to be emailed when the next one opens.
How much money do I need for a UK Youth Mobility visa? You must show at least £2,530 in your bank account, held for 28 consecutive days before you apply. The application fee is £340, plus the healthcare surcharge of about £776 per year of your visa.
Can I switch to a Skilled Worker visa from the Youth Mobility Scheme? Yes. While on a Youth Mobility visa you can work for any employer, and if you find a licensed sponsor you can apply to switch to a Skilled Worker visa from inside the UK, a common route to staying long-term. Browse sponsor-backed jobs on Hunt UK Visa Sponsors to line one up before your visa ends.
Can I apply for the Youth Mobility Scheme more than once? No. You cannot apply if you have already held a UK Youth Mobility Scheme visa before. It is a once-in-a-lifetime route for most nationalities.