UK government updates its Youth Mobility Scheme and e-visa system
Published on 21st Feb 2024
Businesses need to keep track of changes to two major initiatives for UK immigration control
At present, the Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) only applies to nationals of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Monaco, San Marino, Iceland, Hong Kong (via ballot and for those that have a Special Administrative Region passport), Republic of Korea (by ballot), India (by ballot and through a separate scheme), Japan (by ballot) and Taiwan (by ballot). British overseas citizens, British overseas territory citizens, and British citizens (overseas) can also apply.
New YMS rules
As of 31 January 2024, new rules have been implemented, meaning that nationals of Australia, Canada, and Republic of Korea, alongside New Zealand, can apply up until the age of 35. In addition to this, nationals of Japan and the Republic of Korea will no longer have to apply via a ballot. They can apply at any time via the website and, along with Australia, Canada, Monaco and New Zealand, they are not required to meet any country specific eligibility requirements, other than they must meet the financial requirements in accordance to the rules when making an entry clearance application. Hong Kong, India and Taiwan will remain on the ballot system, in which the maximum number of allocations will be 800 for Hong Kong and similarly 800 for Taiwan.
The financial requirements for entry clearance applications are funds of £2,530 for a 28-day period (in accordance with the YMS appendix on finance) and no children under the age of 18 living with the applicants or financially dependent on them.
In addition, Uruguay and Andorra (for nationals between 18-30 years of age) have also been added to the list of eligible nationals from 31 January. When applying, nationals of Uruguay must provide a certificate of judicial records that has been issued no more than six months before the date of application. The maximum total number of allocations for Uruguay nationals participating in in the YMS in 2024 is 500.
E-visas replace biometric permits
For applicants with biometric residence permits (BRPs) with an expiry date of 31 December 2024, it should be noted that the UK government has announced that BRPs will no longer be issued from 1 January 2025.
The current physical document system is being replaced with a new digital system for confirming immigration status.
Applicants holding any of the above documents by this date will switch to digital immigration statuses rather than holding physical documents. This is currently the case for EU passport holders applying via the digital app.
What is an e-visa?
An e-visa is an online record of immigration status and the conditions of permission to enter or stay in the UK. This will allow individual who are granted permission to enter or remain in the UK to prove their status online. The move to a digital platform is not only a technological advancement but also a cost-effective solution, the new digital system will be more secure, convenient and efficient than the current BRP system as it will allow individuals to prove their immigration status online without having to carry a physical BRP.
What are the benefits of an e-visa?
The UK government has outlined various benefits of e-visas that help explain its thinking on the shift from BRPs to the new digital system. The e-visa is more secure than the BRP as it cannot be stolen. It is easier to prove your immigration status using a digital immigration status – this will also benefit third parties such as employer and landlords; And travelling in and out of the UK should be easier.
How will this affect proof of status?
Instead of sharing the biometric residence card (BRC) or BRP, proof of status will be shown by signing in to a "view and prove" service.
In order to prove right to work or rent, applicant's will be able to generate a share code, where an employer or landlord will be able to check the individual’s name, immigration status, and any dates or conditions for their visa’s validity.
What action to take?
Those that currently have permission to stay in the UK and have a physical document including a BRP or BRC to prove your immigration status, there is no action to take at this time.
All new BRP's are being issued with an expiry date of 31 December 2024, regardless of the individuals period of leave. After this date, the individual will use an e-visa to prove their immigration status.
The expansion will be rolled out throughout 2024, so steps do not have to be taken right now. The Home Office will release updates on when and how to register for an UK Visas and Immigration account. It is expected that in the first half of 2024, all BRP holders will be provided with full access to their immigration status information online, via the gov.uk “view and prove” service.
