Working Holiday Visa · Australia → United Kingdom

Australia to UK: Youth Mobility Scheme Visa

UK Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS)

Eligibility, real costs and a step-by-step application checklist for Australians moving to the UK on a Youth Mobility Scheme visa. Figures as at 9 September 2026, sourced directly from gov.uk.

The UK's Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) lets eligible Australians aged 18 to 35 live and work in the UK for up to two years, with Australian citizens specifically able to extend for a further 12 months, a genuine advantage not every YMS nationality gets. No job offer is required to apply, and most applicants can verify their identity from home using a smartphone app rather than attending a visa centre in person.

This guide covers eligibility, the full cost of applying (not just the headline visa fee), health cover, banking and a stage-by-stage checklist, all sourced directly from gov.uk as at 9 September 2026. It is general information, not migration advice; see the disclaimer at the bottom of this page before you rely on anything here for your own application.

At a glance

Age range

18-35 inclusive

Maximum duration

24 months initially; Australian citizens can extend once for a further 12 months (36 months total)

Annual quota

Shared UK YMS place allocation across eligible countries; check gov.uk for current availability

Application window

Apply online up to 6 months before you plan to travel

Eligibility

Aged 18 to 35 inclusive at the time of application. Australia sits in the UK's wider 18-35 YMS age band; not every YMS country gets this range.
Hold a valid Australian passport.
No job offer is required before you apply.
Verify your identity either through the UK Immigration: ID Check smartphone app (no in-person appointment needed for most Australian applicants) or by giving biometrics at a Visa Application Centre.
You cannot bring dependants on this visa; family members must apply in their own right, separately.
Show at least £2,530 in savings, evidenced by a bank statement, at the time you apply.

How to apply

1
Check eligibility and choose your identity route
Confirm you meet the 18-35 age requirement, then decide between the UK Immigration: ID Check app and a Visa Application Centre appointment. This affects your pre-departure timeline, so settle it before booking flights.
2
Gather your financial evidence
Save a clean, current bank statement or screenshot showing at least £2,530 in savings, since this exact balance is what the Home Office assesses.
3
Apply online via gov.uk
Submit your application up to 6 months before your intended travel date.
4
Complete identity verification
Use the ID Check app (passport scan plus a selfie) or attend your booked Visa Application Centre appointment.
5
Wait for your decision
Gov.uk states most applicants get a decision within about 3 weeks once the application, identity check and documents are all in.
6
Sort your UK banking before you fly
Open a Wise account from Australia so you land with a real UK account number and sort code already in hand, sufficient to receive your first UK pay (see the banking links below).
7
Apply for your National Insurance number after you land
Do this in your first week. It's free, takes up to 4 weeks to arrive, and you can start work before it comes through as long as you can prove your right to work.

Financial & health requirements

Visa application fee

£340 as at 13 August 2026, an increase from the previous £319 rate. Paid directly to the Home Office via gov.uk, not to Move Between Guide.

Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)

£776 per year of your visa, paid upfront when you apply. YMS applicants get the concessional rate, not the standard £1,035/year adult rate. A 2-year visa means £1,552 in IHS alone.

Total government cost (illustrative)

£340 fee + £1,552 IHS for a 2-year visa = £1,892 payable to the Home Office, before flights, accommodation or anything else. Budget the full figure, not just the £340 headline fee. Extending into a third year adds roughly another £340 + £776 at whatever the rates are when you apply.

Savings requirement

£2,530 held in your own account, evidenced by a bank statement, at the time you apply.

National Insurance number

Free to apply for once you're in the UK with the right to work. Processing takes up to 4 weeks; you can start work before it arrives.

Practical checklist

Decide your identity-verification route (ID Check app vs Visa Application Centre) before you book flights.
Save a clean, current bank statement showing at least £2,530.
Budget £1,892+ in UK government fees for a 2-year visa (application fee plus Immigration Health Surcharge), not just the £340 headline figure.
Open a Wise account from Australia before you fly, so you land with a working UK account number and sort code from day one.
Once you have any UK address, even a short-term one, open a UK neobank account (Revolut, Monzo or Starling) in minutes from your phone; none of them need a proof-of-address document or an address history.
Apply for your National Insurance number in your first week in the UK.
Consider travel insurance for your first weeks. The Immigration Health Surcharge gives you NHS access, but not everything is free under it, ambulance callouts and dental in particular.
Know your work conditions before you accept anything: no professional sport, and self-employment only if your business premises are rented, your equipment is worth under £5,000, and you have no employees.
As an Australian citizen, you can extend for a further 12 months (36 months total). Confirm the exact extension process and fee closer to that point, since both can change.

Important

The £340 Youth Mobility Scheme visa fee, the £776-per-year Immigration Health Surcharge, and the £2,530 savings requirement are all paid or evidenced by you directly to the UK Home Office via gov.uk. None of this is paid to, or included in, anything Move Between Guide sells. Figures as at 9 September 2026; the visa fee and health surcharge have both changed within the last two years, so confirm the current amount on gov.uk before you apply.

Move Between Guide is an Australian company (ABN 83 187 340 832). This is general information, not migration advice. Visa requirements and eligibility depend on your individual circumstances and rules change over time. For advice specific to your situation, speak with an OISC-regulated adviser or immigration solicitor.

Move your money and gear the smart way

Wise - a UK account before you fly

Wise lets Australian residents hold real UK account details (a sort code and account number) before you ever land, so you can receive your first UK pay from day one.

TorFX - transferring larger sums to the UK

Worth comparing against your bank if you're moving savings or a lump sum across for your move.

Currencies Direct - AUD to GBP transfers

Another option worth comparing for larger AUD-to-GBP transfers ahead of your move.

Instarem - sending money to the UK

Compare Instarem's rate alongside Wise, TorFX and Currencies Direct before you transfer your savings.

Send My Bag - ship excess luggage ahead

If you're over your airline's baggage allowance, shipping ahead can work out cheaper than excess-baggage fees at the airport.