- Can apply for the initial YMS visa up to the day before you turn 36 years of age

- Can apply no sooner than 6 months from your intended arrival date into the UK

- 2 year initial visa, with the option to apply for a 3rd year from within the UK

- Only pay 2 years of IHS fee for the initial visa, then 1 year for the extension

- Can only apply for the extension inside the UK whilst YMS is still valid

- Can apply for the extension any time; do not have to wait until 28 days before expiry

- 1 year extension will be valid from the day after your initial visa expires; you don't lose time by applying early

- IHS fee increases from £470/year to £776/year as of 06/02/2024; apply before this date if possible

- Extension application fee = £298.00

- You should not leave the Common Travel Area (CTA = UK, Ireland, Isle of Man and Channel Islands) whilst your extension application is in progress. Priority service (decision within 5 working days from attending biometric appointment) costs an additional £500.00. Super-priority service (decision by the end of the next working day after attending biometric appointment) costs an additional £1000.00. See this article from Free Movement for context.