Youth Mobility Visa UK from Germany

The Youth Mobility Scheme Visa lets young people from certain countries live and work in the UK.  If you’re from Australia, Canada, Monaco, or New Zealand and aged 18 to 30 (or 18 to 35 in some cases) and meet the financial requirement, you’ll be able to apply to live and work in the UK for up to two years (or three years if you’re from Australia, Canada, or New Zealand).

You can apply if you’re a British overseas citizen, a British Overseas Territories citizen, or a British national (overseas) passport. People from Japan, Andora, San Marino, Iceland, or Uruguay can apply for a Youth Mobility Scheme Visa if they are aged 18 to 30. Citizens from Hong Kong with SAR passports and Taiwan can apply through a ballot system.

The Home Office randomly picks a limited number of people from the Youth Mobility Scheme ballot to apply. The Youth Mobility Scheme Visa lets people experience life in the UK, gain work experience, and learn about British culture.

There’s speculation that the Home Office might extend the Youth Mobility Scheme Visa to EU citizens, which is being discussed with France, Germany, Spain, and Switzerland. But you can still apply if you’re from a qualifying country but currently living in Germany.

Page Contents

• UK Youth Mobility Visa Overview
• Eligibility Requirements for a Youth Mobility Scheme Visa
• Documents Needed for UK Youth Mobility Scheme Visa
• Youth Mobility Scheme Visa Application Process
• Youth Mobility Scheme Visa Fees and Costs
• Visa Application Processing Time for the UK Youth Mobility Scheme
• Extending the UK Youth Mobility Scheme
• Switching from the UK Youth Mobility Scheme to Another UK Visa
• What You Can or Cannot Do With UK Youth Mobility Scheme Visa
• How Can Total Law Help?
• FAQS

To get a Youth Mobility Visa UK from Germany, you need to meet the requirements:

• Aged between 18 and 30 years old (or 18 and 35 if from eligible countries)
• Be from countries like Andorra, Australia, Monaco, New Zealand, Taiwan, Canada, the Republic of Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, India, Iceland, Uruguay, or San Marino. You can also be a British Overseas Territories citizen, British Overseas citizen, or British National (Overseas).
• Have access to funds of at least £2530 for 28 days out of the 31 days before applying
• No children under 18 living with you or depending on you financially.
• Not been in the UK before on a Youth Mobility Scheme route.

These requirements might vary depending on your situation. For legal advice, consult immigration lawyers from Total Law.

To apply for a Youth Mobility Visa UK, you’ll need to provide:

• Valid passport or identity document with a blank page
• Certified translations of any non-English/Welsh documents.

There are also specific requirements for citizens from the following countries:

• Andorra: A criminal record certificate issued within the last six months.
• Hong Kong/Taiwan: A valid email from the Home Office is required to confirm ballot success.
• Iceland: A criminal certificate (Sakavottorð) issued within the last six months.
• San Marino: A letter from the Directorate of Political and Diplomatic Affairs confirming eligibility, issued within the last six months
• Uruguay: A judicial record certificate issued within the last six months.

You should apply for the Youth Mobility Visa no more than six months before you intend to travel from Germany to the UK.

Depending on your nationality, you may need to visit a visa application centre to capture your fingerprints and photos. This is essential for receiving your biometric residence permit. Alternatively, you can scan your identity document and set up an account with the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

If you need to schedule an appointment, the centre may need to retain your documents while processing your visa application.

Hong Kong SAR passport holders or Taiwanese nationals must apply via the Youth Mobility Scheme Visa ballot. The ballots are opened twice a year, usually in January and July. Successful ballot entrants will receive an email notification. Once notified, they have 90 days to submit their application

Youth Mobility Visa Fees

There are a number of fees associated with applying for the Youth Mobility Scheme from Germany, including:

• Application fee – £319
• Annual healthcare surcharge – £776

The processing time for an application for the Youth Mobility Scheme made from Germany is usually three weeks. Once approved, you have 90 days to enter the UK and, in most cases, will be issued for 24 months.

Your application could be delayed or rejected  if you do not submit the correct paperwork. Therefore, it is essential to ensure your submission is complete and accurate.

Can I Extend My UK Youth Mobility Visa? 

It is only possible to extend your UK Youth Mobility Visa if you are from Australia, Canada or New Zealand. If you are from one of these countries, then you can apply online to extend your stay in the UK by a further 12 months.

To qualify for an extension you must:

• be living in the UK
• have a valid Youth Mobility Scheme visa

You can only apply for an extension once and you must pay the extension costs:

• Application fee – £319
• Immigration health surcharge – £776

Can I Switch My UK Youth Mobility Visa? 

It is possible to switch from a UK Youth Mobility Visa as long as you meet the requirements of the visa you wish to switch to. It is also important to realise that time spent in the UK via the Youth Mobility Scheme does not count towards the qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain.

For instance, if you wish to switch to a Skilled Worker Visa you must have a qualifying job meeting the minimum income requirements and must apply befor your current Youth Mobility Visa expires, otherwise you will have to return to Germany and apply from there.

Youth Mobility Scheme Visa holders are subject to several conditions during their time in the UK.

Visa holders can:

• Attend classes, though you’ll need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate for certain courses.
• Work in most job roles
• Be self-employed and start a business, but only if your workspace is rented, your equipment costs less than £5,000, and you don’t have any employees.

They are not allowed to:

• Work as a professional athlete, like a coach.
• Extend their stay unless from Australia, Canada, or New Zealand.
• Receive public money.
• Bring dependents to the UK.

Healthcare and Taxes for Youth Mobility Visa holders in the UK

When applying for the Youth Mobility Scheme you must pay the Immigration Healthcare Surcharge. This allows you to access the UK’s National Healthcare Service while resident in the country. When you pay the surcharge you will be given a number that you must use when accessing treatment at a hospital or doctor’s.

If you are working while in the UK you must ensure you have registered and will be paying the correct tax during your time in the country.

Therefore, you must ensure you have a National Insurance  (NI) Number. You can start work before you receive the NI number must you must provide the number to your employer as soon as possible so they can confirm you have the right to work in the UK.

You will need to apply for the NI number online and it is advisable to do as soon as possible to prevent any delays or any potential employment problems.