UK Lottery Visa 2026: Ballot 2 Date, Apply Link and Fees

What is the UK Lottery Visa?

The UK Lottery Visa is the informal name for the India Young Professionals Scheme (YPS) visa, a bilateral agreement between India and the UK that allows Indian nationals aged 18 to 30 to live, work and study in the UK for up to 2 years. Because demand far exceeds the 3,000 available spots, applicants are selected entirely at random through a ballot system — hence the name "lottery."

The scheme was introduced in February 2023 as part of the UK-India Migration and Mobility Partnership. It is separate from the UK student visa and the Skilled Worker visa. You do not need a job offer to apply. You do not need to be a student.

To qualify, you need to be an Indian citizen aged 18 to 30, hold either a bachelor's degree (RQF Level 6) or above, or 3 years of skilled work experience, and have at least GBP 2,530 (approx. INR 3,23,260) in savings.

Key fact: According to the UK Home Office (gov.uk), there are 3,000 places available for the India Young Professionals Scheme visa in 2026. Most places were made available in the first ballot in February. The remaining places will be made available in the second and final ballot later in the year. The exact dates have not yet been published.

What can you do on the UK Lottery Visa?

• Work in most full-time or part-time jobs — no employer sponsorship required
• Be self-employed, with limits — rented premises, equipment worth less than GBP 5,000, no employees
• Study at UK institutions, subject to conditions
• Travel freely in and out of the UK during the 2-year validity

What you cannot do on the UK Lottery Visa

• Extend your stay beyond 2 years under this visa
• Work as a professional sportsperson
• Claim public funds or benefits
• Bring dependent children under 18
• Apply if you have previously held a YPS visa
• Apply if you have previously held a UK Youth Mobility Scheme visa

UK Lottery Visa Eligibility Requirements 2026

You must meet every criterion both when you enter the ballot and when you apply for the visa. If you are selected but no longer qualify, your application will be refused and the place is lost.

The 28-day savings rule — where most applicants fail
Having GBP 2,530 in your account is not enough. The money must sit there for 28 days in a row, and the last day of that period must fall within 31 days of the date you submit your visa application.
A balance that dips below GBP 2,530 on any single day resets the 28-day clock. Start building this balance before the ballot opens, not after you are selected — the 90-day post-selection window disappears quickly once TB tests and appointments are factored in.

UK Lottery Visa Ballot Dates and Deadlines 2026

There are two ballots for the India Young Professionals Scheme in 2026. The first ballot has already closed. Ballot 2 dates have not yet been published by the UK Home Office on gov.uk before it opens.

gov.uk currently states only that the remaining places will be offered in a second and final ballot later in the year. No date has been given. The Home Office has run a July second ballot every year since the scheme launched.

On that pattern, late July 2026 is the most likely window — but this is an expectation based on precedent, not an official confirmation. Treat any website quoting an exact Ballot 2 date today as unverified.

UK Lottery Visa 2026 Result Date

Results are emailed within 2 weeks of the ballot closing. There is no separate result portal and no way to check your status early — the Home Office contacts selected entrants directly by email.

If Ballot 2 runs in late July as expected, results would land in early to mid August 2026. Check your spam folder; selection emails are routinely missed.

Selected entrants then have 90 days from the email to submit the full visa application.

How many spots are left for Ballot 2?

The UK Home Office confirms that most of the 3,000 places for 2026 were allocated in the February ballot. The remaining number is not published in advance, and the Home Office has never disclosed the split between ballots.
What this means in practice: Ballot 2 is smaller than Ballot 1, so the odds are worse. Enter anyway — entry is free, and it is the last round of 2026.

Every ballot to date has opened and closed on a fixed 48-hour window, to the minute. Ballot 1 of 2026 opened 2:30 PM IST on 17 February and closed 2:30 PM IST on 19 February.
You cannot enter late. Set an alert, and have your passport scan ready before the window opens.

How to Enter the UK Lottery Visa Ballot 2026

Entering the ballot is free and takes approximately 10 minutes. You do not pay anything at this stage. The GBP 340 visa fee is only paid after you are selected.

Step-by-step: entering the ballot

1. Check eligibility first — confirm you meet all requirements (age, nationality, education, savings, no dependent children, no previous YPS or YMS visa)
2. Wait for the ballot to open — monitor gov.uk for the official opening date of Ballot 2 in July 2026
3. Visit gov.uk when the ballot opens — go directly to the official UK government website. Do not use third-party websites or agents — the ballot is free and requires no intermediary
4. Fill in the application form — provide your name, date of birth, passport number, passport scan or photo, phone number and email address
5. Submit — no fee required — the ballot entry is completely free
6. Wait for results — results are sent by email within 2 weeks of the ballot closing date

Warning: Multiple entries per person are not counted. If you submit more than one entry, only one will be considered. Any additional attempts will be disregarded. Do not pay anyone to enter the ballot on your behalf — it is free and requires no agent.

What Happens After You Are Selected?

Being selected in the ballot is not the same as receiving the visa. Selection is an invitation to apply. You then have 90 days from the date of the selection email to complete the full visa application.

Timeline after selection

If you are selected but choose not to apply, you do not need to inform the UK Home Office. Note that you cannot apply if you have previously held a YPS or Youth Mobility Scheme visa.

UK Lottery Visa Fees 2026

Conversion: 1 GBP = INR 127.77. Rates change daily — verify before financial planning.

Common mistake: Several websites incorrectly state that you pay GBP 319 or GBP 340 to enter the ballot. This is wrong. The ballot is completely free to enter. The GBP 340 visa fee is only paid after you are selected and choose to proceed with the visa application. 

What to Do If You Are Not Selected

The ballot results are final. You cannot appeal an unsuccessful result. However, you can re-enter future ballots as long as you still meet the eligibility criteria at the time of each new ballot.

Your options if not selected

• Enter Ballot 2 when it opens — if you were not selected in February, you can enter again in late July (expected). Note that fewer spots are available in the second ballot
• Enter the 2027 ballots — the scheme runs annually. New ballots open each year, typically in February and July
• Apply for a UK Student Visa — if you are considering studying in the UK, the student visa route has no lottery and no cap on numbers
• Apply for a Skilled Worker Visa — if you have a job offer from a UK employer with a sponsorship licence, the Skilled Worker visa is an alternative route with no ballot

The acceptance rate for the India Young Professionals Scheme is extremely low. With 3,000 spots and an estimated 60,000 to 80,000 applicants per ballot, your odds of selection in any single ballot are approximately 4 to 5%. This is why entering every available ballot is important.

India YPS vs UK Youth Mobility Scheme — What Is the Difference?

Indian nationals are sometimes confused between the India Young Professionals Scheme and the broader UK Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS). They are different programmes with different eligibility rules.

Indian nationals cannot apply for the Youth Mobility Scheme. The India Young Professionals Scheme is the only ballot-based UK visa route available to Indian citizens.

Read More: UK Graduate Route Cut to 18 Months from January 2027: What It Means for Indian Students