Indian citizens can no longer enter a 2026 India Young Professionals Scheme ballot: all ballots have closed and none will follow this year, with details of future ballots to be published on the guidance page.
Key facts
- Who: Indian citizens who want to apply for the India Young Professionals Scheme visa
- From: 23 July 2026
- Source: India Young Professionals Scheme visa: ballot system
The guidance states that all ballots for the 2026 India Young Professionals Scheme have closed and that there will be no further ballots in 2026. Details of future ballots will be published on the same page.
The guidance says anyone who wants to apply for the visa needs to enter a ballot. There were 3,000 places available in 2026. Most were made available in the first ballot in February, and the remaining places in a second ballot later in July.
Entry was free and limited to one entry per person for each ballot. Further attempts to enter were not counted. Applicants had to give their name, date of birth, passport details, a scan or photo of their passport, a phone number and an email address. Successful entries are picked at random, and results are sent by email within 2 weeks of the ballot closing.
The guidance says the results are final and cannot be appealed. Anyone who was unsuccessful can enter future ballots, provided they still meet the eligibility criteria.
Anyone who was successful is invited to apply for a visa. They have 90 days from the date of the email to:
- apply online for the visa
- pay the visa application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)
- provide fingerprints and a photo (biometric information)
The visa costs £340. A successful applicant who chooses not to apply does not need to tell the Home Office.
What this means for applicants
No further ballots will run in 2026, and details of future ballots will be published on the guidance page. Those who were unsuccessful have no right of appeal, but can enter future ballots if they still meet the eligibility criteria. Anyone who was successful and wants to apply has 90 days from the date of their email to apply online, pay the fee and IHS, and provide biometric information.
Related guide: India Young Professionals Scheme visa
Sources