Taiwan Youth Mobility Scheme Visa
1,000 places a year, allocated by ballot. Get reminded before each window opens.
- 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 Taiwan ballot opens.
Taiwanese nationals aged 18 to 30 can live and work in the UK for up to two years on the Youth Mobility Scheme. There are 1,000 places for 2026, allocated by a ballot held twice a year.
You enter the ballot for free during a short window, often just 48 hours, and successful entrants are invited to apply. The window is so short that a reminder can be the difference between applying and missing a whole cycle.
Ballot schedule
- 2026 · Round 2Closed13 Jul 2026 – 15 Jul 2026
Opens 13 Jul 2026, 17:01 UK time, closes 15 Jul 2026, 17:01 UK time.
- 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.
Taiwan Youth Mobility visas issued
650 Taiwan nationals were granted a Youth Mobility Scheme visa in 2025. That's little changed on 2024, down from a peak of 1,034 in 2016. Grants fell to a low of 564 in 2020 during the pandemic.
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 Taiwan Youth Mobility ballot?
Taiwan shares the Youth Mobility Scheme ballot with Hong Kong. It runs twice a year, usually February and July, each open for roughly 48 hours. Exact dates land on gov.uk a few weeks ahead; subscribe to a free reminder on this page and we'll email you when the next window is confirmed.
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.