All about the UK's Youth Mobility Scheme!

Visa applications are never fun, but if you know what steps to anticipate, it doesn’t have to be complicated.

In our YMS visa application guide, we walk through 1) applicant eligibility, 2) program description and rules, and 3) application steps. Be sure to read it in detail so you’re fully prepared.

As mention in the FAQs, you are not required to purchase private health insurance for the WHV application. Instead, as a working holiday maker, you will be required to pay what is called a healthcare surcharge, which is £776 per year. This gives you access to the NHS (National Health Service) from the day that your visa starts.

Note, however, that the NHS does not cover medical repatriation if you need to be flown back to your home country in case of serious illness. Globe WHV covers this, as well as travel to other countries. We’ve been recommending them since 2005. They’ve covered thousands of working holiday makers over the years.

Australians might already be covered up for stays up to a certain length, thanks to a reciprocal health care agreement. Check with Australian and British authorities to confirm.

The UK’s currency is the British pound (GBP, £). There are two main ways to open a foreign-currency account: via 1) a traditional bank or 2) an online neo-bank. Traditional banks usually require you to already be in the country. You would have to make and attend an appointment where a representative would ask you for some documents.

If you want to have a British debit card in hand before even arriving in the UK, you may want to consider the second option, an online neo-bank like Wise. It is an app that offers multi-currency financial services. Customers receive a physical debit card that can be used to withdraw cash at local ATMs. Your GBP account would also have its own routing and account numbers, so you can set up autopay, direct deposits, or transfer money to recipients in the UK. These capabilities could be useful in exchanges with your employer or landlord. You can register from your home country or once you arrive in the UK. Learn more about Wise.

There are advantages to both options. Wise registration is simple and quick, but traditional banks offer the possibility of issuing and depositing cheques, if that is something you need. So you could make a Wise account first and then a traditional account once you arrive in the UK.

Once your application is approved, you’ll need to think about where to live, especially in the first few days and weeks. If you are planning on renting long term housing, we recommend you wait until you arrive in the UK before paying a deposit or signing anything. Never send money to anyone without seeing the place in person. Popular housing websites that you can use include Rightmove (most used) and Zoopla. If you’re looking for flatmates to share a rental with, try Spareroom or local Facebook groups.

For your first couple of weeks, you could consider Airbnb or hotels. But the most affordable option is going to be youth hostels. You can find some great ones on Hostelworld.

After you get your visa, you will have plenty of things to take care of. Some of them are more urgent than others, so this list breaks down your to-dos, starting with the most urgent to the least. It may seem like a lot, but don’t worry, one step at a time!

As you prepare for your working holiday in the UK, check out our library of free articles and guides. Everyone on the pvtistes.net team has done (or is currently on) a working holiday, and so everything we write is from personal experience.

This is also the perfect chance to learn or brush up on English. Babbel is partnering with pvtistes.net to offer 20% off on language courses (learn more). Also check out our some other deals for working holiday makers.