Hong Kong SAR passport holders and Taiwan nationals had to enter the second 2026 Youth Mobility Scheme ballot by email between 00:01 on 14 July 2026 and 00:01 on 16 July 2026.
Key facts
- Who: Hong Kong nationals with a SAR passport, and Taiwan nationals, who want to apply for a Youth Mobility Scheme visa
- From: 14 July 2026
- Source: Youth Mobility Scheme visa: ballot system
The Home Office guidance says the second ballot opened at 00:01 on Tuesday 14 July 2026 and closed at 00:01 on Thursday 16 July 2026. Times are local: Hong Kong time for Hong Kong entries and Taipei time for Taiwan entries. The first ballot was held in February 2026. The guidance now states that all 2026 ballots have closed, there will be no further ballots in 2026, and details of the next ballot in 2027 will be published on the same page.
There were 1,000 places for Hong Kong nationals and 1,000 for Taiwan nationals in 2026. Most were allocated in the February ballot, and the remainder in July.
Entry was by email, free of charge, and limited to one entry per person. Duplicates are not counted. Hong Kong entries went to HongKongYMS@homeoffice.gov.uk and Taiwan entries to TaiwanYMS@homeoffice.gov.uk. Emails had to be in English. The subject line had to follow the format Lastname Firstname – DD/MM/YYYY – passport number. The body had to give name, date of birth, passport number and mobile phone number. Emails without this information, or in the wrong format, were not considered.
Japanese and South Korean nationals no longer need to enter a ballot and can apply at any time. British Overseas Citizens, British Overseas Territories Citizens and British National (Overseas) applicants also do not need to enter. India has a separate ballot under the India Young Professionals Scheme.
Successful entrants were due to receive an email by 30 July 2026. They then have 90 days to submit the application, pay the £340 visa fee, and give fingerprints and a photograph at a Visa Application Centre (VAC). The guidance says a decision should follow within 3 weeks of the appointment. Successful applicants get no visa vignette. They must create a UKVI account and access their eVisa before travelling.
Unsuccessful entrants receive an email within 2 weeks of the ballot closing. Results are final and cannot be appealed.
What this means for applicants
Hong Kong (SAR passport) and Taiwan nationals cannot apply for a Youth Mobility Scheme visa without first being successful in a ballot. No further ballots will be held in 2026, and the next is planned for 2027. Anyone who was unsuccessful can enter future ballots if they still meet the eligibility requirements. Successful entrants must apply within 90 days.