Insights / 06-05-2021

The UK Government has recently announced a new immigration route, known as the Young Professionals Scheme. This scheme provides the opportunity for a significant number of young Indian professionals to work in the UK for up to two years.

The route, known as the Young Professionals Scheme, is part of the Migration and Mobility Partnership signed between the two countries on 4 May 2021. The scheme allows young professionals from both countries to live and work in each other’s countries, as well as facilitating the removal of Indian nationals from the UK who have overstayed their visas.

The agreement gives the opportunity to thousands of young people between the ages of 18 and 30 who will be able to utilise this new visa route. Indian professionals applying for visas under the scheme would need to prove they have at least £2,530 in savings and that they can support themselves during their stay in the UK. Those seeking to apply under this route would need to be qualified to degree or diploma level and prove they have at least three years of higher level academic education. Young Indian professionals would be able to apply to stay in the country after they complete two years of work in the UK, provided their employer sponsors their continuing employment.

This UK visa category is capped at 3000 visas per annum and offers those looking to work and develop a career in the United Kingdom an excellent opportunity to access the labour market. The route is also appealing to UK employers when looking to hire Indian nationals, as they do not have to go through a Skilled Worker work permit application process.

This new immigration route is in addition to the UK Post Study Work visa opportunity that is now in place for foreign national UK graduates.

The Immigration Team at Ince has considerable experience with employment and business based immigration routes into the United Kingdom and would be happy to advise those interested in this opportunity and other Skilled Worker and employment immigration routes. To get in touch, please contact Alan Platt, our Consultant Director of Immigration.

UK aims to attract Indian talent with new visa stream

The Home Secretary Priti Patel, who signed the deal with her Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, has stated:

“The UK Government is committed to deliver an immigration system that offers clear opportunities to the brightest and best talent from India and around the world to come to the UK to study, work and live. This ground-breaking new partnership with India is an important milestone in delivering on that commitment.”

“It will give greater freedom and opportunity to thousands of young people in the UK and India wanting to experience each other’s cultures, whilst also ensuring that we can work together to protect the vast majority of Indian nationals who do play by the rules."