The ballot opens at 2.30pm India Standard Time on 28 February 2023 for Indian nationals aged 18 - 30 wishing to come to the UK under the new India Young Professionals Scheme visa scheme.  The ballot closes at 2.30pm India Standard Time on 2 March 2023.   Successful entrants will be able to apply for a visa to enable them to live and work in the UK for up to 2 years, although there are some restrictions around self-employment. 

In order to be eligible to enter the ballot and to apply under the new scheme, applicants must be an Indian citizen aged 18 - 30 and must be able to show they have at least £2,530 in savings. Applicants will need to have had the money available for at least 28 days in a row and day 28 must be within 31 days of applying for the visa.  Applicants must also have a UK Bachelor's degree level qualification or above or an equivalent overseas qualification. Further, applicants must not have any children under the age of 18 who live with the applicant or for whom the applicant is financially responsible.  Applicants also may not apply if they have already been in the UK under the Youth Mobility Scheme. 

The ballot is free to enter.  Applicants wishing to enter the ballot must ensure they meet all the eligibility requirements and must apply online.  Applicants will need to provide their personal details and contacts details and a scanned copy of their passport. 

There are 2,400 visas potentially available in the February ballot and successful entrants will be notified by email within 2 weeks of the ballot closing.  They will then be invited to apply for a visa and must submit their visa application and pay the visa application fee (approximately £259) and immigration health surcharge fee (£940) within 30 days of the date of the email.    

Success in the ballot does not guarantee that a visa will be granted and applicants will need to ensure that they read the requirements carefully and provide all the relevant documentation with their visa application, including but not limited to evidence of savings, evidence of the applicant's degree and that it is equivalent to at least  a UK Bachelor's degree, TB test results if they are living in India and a police report or clearance certificate from India. 

There is no right of appeal for applicants who are unsuccessful in the ballot, although they may enter future ballots. The next ballot is likely to be held in July 2023.