Tier 5 (youth mobility scheme)
The following information is given in order to provide you with a generalised overview of the criteria required for
Tier 5 (Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS)) However if you wish for us to assess whether you qualify under this category or you wish to engage our services and/or require further information regarding this particular application, please complete the ‘Contact Box’ on this page to enable a member of our team to contact you and advise you further.
The youth mobility scheme is for young people from participating countries and territories who wish to come to the UK and experience life in the UK. If granted migrants will be granted entry for two years during this time the individual will be free to take employment in the UK except for:
- Self-employment (subject to certain exceptions);
- Working as a professional sportsperson; or,
- Working as a doctor or dentist in training.
Every year, the UK government allocates a number of places on the scheme for each country and territory.
The countries and territories participating in the scheme, and the number of places allocated to them for 2012, are:
- Australia - 32,500 places
- Canada - 5,000 places
- Japan - 1,000 places
- New Zealand - 10,000 places
- Monaco - 1,000 places
- Taiwan - 1,000 places
A foreign national can also apply under the scheme if he/she is a British overseas citizen, a British overseas territories citizen or a British national (overseas). If applying on this basis there is no limit on the number of places on the scheme.
Under Tier 5 (YMS) a foreign national must score 40 points for Attributes and 10 points for maintenance.
It is extremely important that the correct documents are submitted with the initial application as the UK Border Agency will not contact the individual for additional documents.
As there is a limited number of places allocated each year. It is therefore imperative to ensure that the application is successful in the first instance otherwise the foreign national runs the risk that the allocation quota is reached by the time he/she submits a new application.
