The Graduate Visa is a post-study work visa for eligible UK graduates that doesn’t require sponsorship. It permits bachelor and master graduates to remain in the UK and work for up to two years, while PhD graduates can stay and work for up to three years.
If you want to get a university graduate visa, you need to know what you need to do to make sure you meet the requirements and get your application to the Home Office on time. You could overstay your visa if you don’t get legal standing before it runs out.
For assistance feel free to call our seasoned experts at 02033939272.
The UK Graduate visa is a post-study work visa that doesn’t require sponsorship.
Applicants with a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree will be granted a two-year visa, while those with a PhD will receive a three-year visa. The UK Graduate visa application is a one-time process, so it’s advisable to complete all your intended academic studies in the UK before applying if you plan to continue studying.
This visa does not lead to settlement (permanent residence in the UK). However, it allows you to stay in the UK for two or three years, depending on your degree, to find a job that can sponsor a Skilled Worker visa. You can then switch to a work visa. If you’re a leader or aspiring leader in a qualified profession, you may be eligible to switch to the Global Talent Visa. For those interested in entrepreneurship, switching to the Innovator Founder Visa is an option.
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If you are a graduate student currently studying in the UK and looking for a flexible career option, you can apply for a Graduate visa UK. The candidate is exempt from providing evidence of a job offer under this process. Also, since they have already met all of the requirements for the student visa, they won’t have to prove they have sufficient funds or that they can speak English.
Nevertheless, in order to qualify for the Graduate route of leave to remain, a number of other conditions must still be met. A minimum of 70 points is required to apply for this immigration route under the UK’s Immigration Rules, which use a points-based system. Three requirements—a successful completion requirement, a certification requirement, and a study in the UK requirement—will each earn these points.
Application for a UK Graduate Visa must have been previously approved by a student sponsor in the United Kingdom, who must be an accredited institution of higher learning with a history of compliance, in order to be considered for the visa. The applicant must have successfully finished the course they started while on their last Grant of Leave to Study on the Student route. Also, by the time they apply, their sponsor must have told the Home Office that they have completed their course to the required standard.
For the Student route to be reinstated, the applicant must have finished all coursework from their previous study permit, and their sponsor must have notified the Home Office that they have met all course requirements by the application date.
Thus, a UK Graduate Visa may be available to applicants who have fulfilled the requirements listed on their Student Visa’s Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) or who have made a course change that did not require additional approval while they were students.
A candidate for a Graduate Visa UK must have earned a bachelor’s or master’s degree from an accredited institution in the UK, or be on the verge of receiving such a degree, as well as one of many other professional credentials at the degree level or above. A validated law conversion course, a foundation programme in medicine or dentistry, a postgraduate certificate or diploma in education, a legal practise course for solicitors or barristers, a foundation course in any other profession qualifying someone for a job regulated by UK law, or a UK public authority are all examples of such qualifications.
An applicant may be eligible for a UK Graduate Visa if they have or are expected to get a bachelor’s or master’s degree, a PhD or other doctoral qualification, a professional qualification, or any of the other credentials listed.
To meet the Graduate Visa UK eligibility requirements, you must have held a Student Visa sponsored by the University of Warwick for a minimum duration:
You may include:
You cannot include:
Before you can submit your application, your institution must notify UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) of your degree completion as part of the Graduate Visa UK process.
Once your final grades are in and your academic record shows that you have completed your studies, the relevant office at your institution will submit this report to UKVI. It may take several weeks for your academic record to be updated after you receive your results.
Please refrain from contacting the relevant office about the status of your record update unless your current visa is nearing expiration, as they are not directly involved in this process. You will receive an email notification when the report has been submitted to UKVI. Do not submit your graduate visa application until you have received this email.
You must apply in the UK while your existing Tier 4/Student visa is still valid, and you cannot travel abroad until you receive the results of your application.
If your current visa expires after you apply for a graduate visa UK, you can stay in the UK until you hear back about your application, as long as you meet the requirements of your Tier 4/Student permission.
If you’re unsure of how to apply for a Graduate Visa in the UK, our experienced immigration solicitors are here to assist you. Contact us for expert guidance and support throughout the application process.
The Graduate Visa application process requires the following documents:
Here are additional documents that you might need to submit:
In order to apply for a graduate visa UK, one must be in the UK with valid student leave. The application process is conducted online. In addition, they can’t have a history of receiving leave as a graduate or under the Doctorate Extension Scheme.
Once the applicant’s approved education provider notifies the Home Office that they have successfully finished their course, an application may be submitted. Although the candidate must provide the CAS number from their current student visa in order to apply, they do not need to wait until they have graduated or earned their degree or postgraduate degree certificate. In addition to providing identification documents, they may be asked to register their biometric data at a service point run by the UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS).
After beginning the online application process for a UK Graduate Visa, applicants who are eligible will get an email inviting them to use the “UK Immigration ID Check” app. They may reuse the biometrics they provided when applying for their student visa to do an online identity verification if they are qualified. Unfortunately, applicants who do not meet the eligibility requirements will have no choice but to submit their application in person at a UKVCAS service station.
Applicants holding a PhD or other doctorate degree will be awarded three years of residency in the UK upon successful application, while those holding a bachelor’s degree from a UK institution will be granted two years of residency.
After completing the Graduate Visa application online, the applicant is required to pay a cost of £822. Under the Graduate route, all degree-level and postgraduate applicants pay the same fee; however, PhD students will be awarded a longer visa.
In addition, the applicant must pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, which grants them access to the National Health Service in the United Kingdom, similar to a permanent resident. At the time of application, you will be required to pay the full amount for each year of stay.
The processing time for a UK Graduate Visa is 8 weeks after the applicant has filed their online application, paid the appropriate cost, and, if necessary, had their biometric information re-enrolled. During this time, the candidate is allowed to remain in the UK.
The applicant’s eligibility to utilise the ‘UK Immigration ID Check’ app instead of visiting a UKVCAS service point to register their biometric information determines when the expected 8-week turnaround time will begin. Applicants have 8 weeks from the time they submit supporting papers and undergo online identity verification to use the app. The countdown will begin from the date of the applicant’s appointment at the UKVCAS service point if an appointment is required.
In most cases, an eVisa, or digital immigration status, is granted to applicants who want to remain on the graduate path. A new biometric residence permit will also be issued to visa-granting nations for use while entering and leaving the UK. Even though a graduate visa holder is not required to have a sponsor, they will still be required to provide proof of their permission to work after study. To do this, they may visit the Right to Work Checking Service online and provide their employer with a sharing code. This will allow them to verify their immigration status.
According to the current rules, the partner and dependent children of a main Graduate visa holder can apply to stay in the UK if they are already in the UK as dependents on the Student route and meet the entry criteria. You need to be in an ongoing relationship and meet certain age and care standards for your dependent children in order to qualify for a Graduate dependant visa.
Dependents applying through the Graduate route must pay an additional £822 and submit their applications independently. Additionally, they are required to pay the healthcare fee. When an application is approved, the dependent partner’s permission will expire on the same date as their partner’s, and the dependent child’s permission will expire on the same date as the parent’s, whichever occurs first.
The Graduate Visa does not provide the right to remain in the country permanently and cannot be renewed. Therefore, the visa holder and any dependents in the UK will have to think about changing to a different route to prevent overstaying when the permission to remain on this route expires, which is after two or three years. New dependents may be eligible to enter the UK if you request to change your visa, for instance, to the Skilled Worker route, which is also a path to settlement.
The primary applicant must possess a valid COS from a licenced sponsor in order to apply for a visa via the skilled worker route. Additionally, they must have a work offer that meets the minimum wage and skill standards for this route. In addition to the financial need, any Dependents must also fulfil the eligibility conditions for becoming dependent children or spouses.
Employers are required to conduct right-to-work checks when an employee’s Graduate Visa is nearing expiration, as this permission is time-limited. To ensure the employee can continue working, the employer must assist in meeting the requirements for an appropriate alternative Post-study work visa and submit a valid application before the Graduate Visa expires.
Additionally, the employer is responsible for ensuring they have the necessary sponsorship licenses, if applicable. For example, to sponsor a migrant worker through the Skilled Worker visa, the company must obtain authorisation from the Home Office and offer genuine job opportunities in eligible professions with salaries that meet the qualification criteria.
By hiring individuals on a Graduate Visa UK, organisations can strengthen their workforce with highly motivated and skilled graduates who have completed their studies in the UK. These graduates can be hired quickly and without the need for sponsorship, often bringing valuable professional knowledge and multilingual abilities that contribute to the company’s growth.
Employers also enjoy added flexibility when hiring Graduate Visa holders, as they can work in any role and at any skill level. With no salary cap in place, businesses can compensate based on performance. In the long term, successful companies can benefit from sponsoring graduates for Skilled Worker Visas, helping them retain top talent. This approach not only supports employee retention but also enhances the company’s reputation as an innovative and inclusive workplace, attracting even more skilled individuals.
Anyone with a graduate visa can work for any company, regardless of their profession or amount of experience. This includes options for working for yourself, doing freelance jobs, and charity.
Yet, the Graduate Visa cannot be extended for more than two or three years, and it does not qualify for settlement, which means you can stay indefinitely. After this period, you will need to change your work visa to a new type, such as a Skilled Worker visa, if you want to stay in the UK. While in the UK, you are also not allowed to work as a professional athlete.
UK Immigration Solicitors are experienced Graduate visa solicitors, offering comprehensive assistance to both businesses and individuals across the UK. They provide expert advice and support throughout the visa application process, ensuring all requirements are met for successful outcomes.
Whether you’re an employer looking to hire international graduates or an individual seeking to apply for a work visa, our seasoned Graduate visa solicitors are here to guide you every step of the way. For professional and reliable advice, reach out to us for expert guidance. Dial 02033939272.
After you’ve applied for a UK Graduate Visa online, paid the money, and, if necessary, registered your biometric details, the decision-making process may take up to eight weeks. However, you are free to remain in the UK throughout this time.
A Graduate Visa may be obtained with a score of 70 or above on the UK’s points-based system, which takes into account your performance in three areas: course completion, qualification, and study in the UK.
If your intended major does not qualify for a student visa, you may be able to continue your education on a graduate visa. Any studying you do must not conflict with your primary goal of working. Even while you can take classes on an as-needed basis, the Graduate Visa does not let you to pursue a degree or higher certification full-time.
If the applicant does not fulfil the validity conditions outlined in Appendix Graduate, their UK Graduate Visa application may be refused. These requirements include being in the UK at the time of application and having or having last had student leave.
If you are eligible, you can seek to change your visa category before your Graduate Visa expires. For example, you can apply to convert to the Skilled Worker Visa. This may pave the way for you to keep working and residing in the UK.
There is no clear pathway to permanent residency under the UK Graduate Visa. But it’s a chance to get a job in the UK, which can help with future settlement visa applications (such the Skilled Worker Visa).
