Now’s the Ideal Time to Apply for a UK Working Holiday Visa
Over the coming weeks, there are three major changes coming to the UK Youth Mobility Scheme visa for Australians. This is the United Kingdom’s version of a working holiday visa.
Next Wednesday, 31 January 2024, the UK government will increase the age limit for this visa from 30 to 35. From this date, Australians with Youth Mobility Scheme visas will also be able to extend their visa for a third year, allowing more Aussies to live and work in the UK for even longer.
That’s the good news… but now for the bad news. From Tuesday, 6 February 2024, the UK government will also massively increase the cost of the Immigration Health Surcharge that UK visa applicants must pay. (In return for paying this surcharge, you get access to health care while living in the UK.)
The Immigration Health Surcharge increase isn’t a small one. Rather than the current £470/year (approx. AUD909/year), Australians who apply for a UK Youth Mobility visa will soon need to pay £776 (approx. AUD1,500) per year.
This surcharge is payable in full at the time of application, along with the visa fee.
If you decide to extend your visa for a third year, you’ll pay a new visa fee and another year’s worth of the IHS when extending the visa towards the end of your second year in the UK.
Apply now to avoid paying the higher Immigration Health Surcharge!
If you’ve been thinking about living and working in the UK, now is the time to apply for your Youth Mobility Scheme visa!
You can apply for this visa up to six months before your intended arrival date in the UK. You must be outside the UK when you apply, and you can submit the application online.
You’ll also need to visit a visa application centre down the track to provide fingerprints, etc. But the visa fee and Immigration Health Surcharge is based on the time that you submit your online visa application. So you’ll still pay the lower amount if you submit your application by Monday, 5 February 2024, but arrive in the UK after this date.
You can read more about the visa application process in our UK Youth Mobility Scheme visa guide for Australians.
When exactly should you apply?
This table summarises the differences between applying before, between or after the upcoming changes to the UK’s Youth Mobility Scheme visa:
| Application date | Visa validity length | Eligible ages | Visa & IHS fees payable upfront |
|---|---|---|---|
| Before 31 January 2024 | 2 years (with possibility to renew later for a third year) | 18-30 | £298 visa fee + £940 IHS |
| Between 31 January – 5 February 2024 (inclusive) | 2 years (with possibility to renew later for a third year) | 18-35 | £298 visa fee + £940 IHS |
| On or after 6 February 2024 | 2 years (with possibility to renew later for a third year) | 18-35 | £298 visa fee + £1,552 IHS |
If you’re currently aged between 18-35 (inclusive), you can apply by 5 February 2024 and pay the first 2 years worth of the Immigration Health Surcharge upfront at the lower rate. You’ll probably be eligible to extend your visa for a third year down the track, if you want to, however you’ll need to pay the higher IHS for the third year when you renew your visa. (You’ll also pay a new visa fee when extending for the third year.)
If you’re not planning to arrive in the UK within the next six months, you’ll need to wait and apply closer to the time. Unfortunately, this does mean you’ll need to pay the higher health surcharge.
