GRADUATE VISA
The Graduate Visa is a post-study work visa that allows international students who have completed an eligible UK degree to stay in the UK to work, or look for work, for two years (three years for those being awarded doctorates) after they have completed their studies.
The Graduate Visa does not lead directly to settlement, but graduates on the route are able to switch into other work-based routes which can lead to settlement.
Graduate Visa Requirements
In order to qualify for a Graduate Visa, you will need to satisfy UK Visas & Immigration that:
- You have successfully completed a UK degree, or other eligible course;
- You have studied at a Higher Education Provider which is a student sponsor with a track record of compliance;
- You have held permission as a Student, which was granted to study the relevant qualification in the UK, for a minimum period of time;
- You are applying from within the UK and have valid leave as a Student or Tier 4 Student at the date of application;
- You have not previously held permission on the Doctorate Extension Scheme (DES), or the Graduate route;
- You do not fall for refusal on grounds of suitability.
The exact requirements you will need to satisfy will vary depending on your circumstances. You may want to speak to an immigration lawyer for expert advice.
To discuss your Graduate Visa application with one of our immigration barristers, contact our Graduate Immigration Route lawyers on 0203 617 9173 or complete our enquiry form below.
Graduate Visa Eligible Courses
In order to extend your stay on the Graduate Immigration Route you need to have successfully completed a degree at UK bachelor’s or postgraduate level, or a professional course requiring study at UK bachelor’s degree level or above, in a profession with reserved activities that is regulated by UK law or UK public authority.
You will also be eligible to apply for a Graduate Visa if you have been sponsored to undertake a role as a Student Union Sabbatical Officer following the completion of an eligible qualification in your most recent grant of permission to study.
Graduate Visa Minimum Student Permission Period
In order to qualify for a UK Graduate Visa, you must have held permission as a Student, which was granted to study the relevant qualification in the UK, for a minimum period of time. The minimum period for which you must have held permission as a Student will depend on the length of the course.
If you have completed a course lasting 12 months or less, you will need to have held Student permission throughout the whole course in the UK.
If your course lasted more than 12 months, you will need to have been granted permission for at least 12 months on the Student route and have spent that time studying in the UK.
Graduate Visa Sponsorship
The Graduate Visa Route is an unsponsored route, meaning that applicants do not need a job offer or a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) in order to be eligible.
Job-Seeking and Employment on the Graduate Visa Route
Graduates on the Graduate Visa Route are permitted to look for work and, once employment has been found, work flexibly. They can undertake roles at any skill level and do not need to satisfy any minimum salary requirement. Successful applicants are also be able to switch jobs.
Duration of stay in the UK on the Graduate Immigration Route
Successful applicants on the Graduate Visa Route who have completed a bachelor’s or master’s degree are able to stay in the UK for two years. Doctoral students are able to stay in the UK for three years.
Graduate Visa Extensions of Stay
It is not possible to extend permission to stay on the Graduate Immigration Route.
Graduate Visa Settlement or ILR
The Graduate Visa does not lead directly to settlement or indefinite leave to remain. However, once on the Graduate Immigration Route you will be able to extend your stay by switching into other work-based routes, such as the Skilled Worker route, the Global Talent route and the Innovator Founder route, all of which can lead to settlement. Applicants will of course need to satisfy the requirements of the route.
Dependants
If you have family members in the UK who already have permission to stay in the UK as your dependent then they will be able to extend their stay when you apply to enter the Graduate Visa Route.
New dependents are not permitted on this route, except where a dependent child is born in the UK during a period of Student or Graduate leave.
COVID-19 and the Graduate Immigration Route
The Home Office previously had concessions in place for international students who were unable to travel to the UK due to the coronavirus pandemic. These Covid concessions ended on 30 June 2022
Where distance learning had taken place outside the UK between 24 January 2020 and 6 April 2022 as a result of Covid-19, this did not prevent applicants from meeting the requirement to spend the relevant period studying in the UK if either:
- They began a course of 12 months or less prior to 21 June 2021 and entered the UK on or before 27 September 2021 with permission as a Student; or
- They began a course of 12 months or less between 21 June 2021 and 6 April 2022 and entered the UK on or before 6 April 2022 with permission as a Student.
Any period of distance learning between 24 January 2020 and 6 April 2022 as part of a course of study lasting longer than 12 months whilst the applicant held permission as a Student did not prevent them from meeting the requirement to spend the relevant period studying in the UK.
Graduates Whose Tier 4 or Student Leave Expired Before 1 July 2021
International students who have graduated with a degree from a UK higher education institution and whose Tier 4 (General) Student leave or Student leave expired before 1 July 2021 will not be eligible for a Graduate Visa. However, if you fall into this category you may qualify to switch into another immigration route, such as the Skilled Worker route, Innovator Founder route or Global Talent route, among others.
How Our Immigration Barristers Can Help
Our immigration barristers regularly assist international students and graduates to move to, or extend their stay in, the UK in order to pursue their education and find graduate work opportunities.
Our barristers are experts in the immigration options for students and graduates and will guide you through the complex Home Office rules and policies.
We pride ourselves on being approachable and proactive in understanding and meeting our clients’ needs. We are a highly driven team, dedicated to providing clear and reliable immigration advice to students as part of a professional and friendly service.
We can also assist with
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Applications for Skilled Worker Visas
The Skilled Worker Visa is open to individuals of all nationalities (except British and Irish) who have an offer of an eligible skilled job in the UK from a Home Office-approved sponsor. The route can lead to settlement and applicants can be joined by dependent partners and children.
In order to qualify for a Skilled Worker Visa, you will need to satisfy UK Visas and Immigration that:
- You are aged 18 or over;
- You have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship for the job you are planning to do;
- Your job offer is a genuine vacancy;
- Your sponsor has paid any required Immigration Skills Charge;
- Your job is at an appropriate skill level;
- You are competent in the English language to at least CEFR Level B1 (equivalent to IELTS 4.0);
- You will be paid a salary which equals or exceeds both a general salary threshold and the ‘going rate’ for the occupation;
- You have enough money to support yourself without relying on public funds;
- You have provided a criminal record certificate, if required; and
- You have provided a valid TB certificate, if required.
The exact requirements you will need to satisfy will vary depending on your circumstances. You may want to speak to an immigration lawyer for expert advice.
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Applications for UK Student Visas
The Student Visa category is for individuals who are aged 16 or over and who wish to study on a further or higher education course in the UK.
In order to qualify for a UK Student Visa you will need to satisfy UK Visas and Immigration that:
- You are aged 16 or over;
- You have been offered an unconditional place on an approved course with a licensed student sponsor;
- You can read, write, speak and understand English to at least CEFR Level B2 (if studying at degree level or above) or CEFR Level B1 (if studying at below degree level);
- You have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course without relying on public funds;
- You have the consent of your parents if you are 16 or 17 years old;
The exact requirements you will need to satisfy will vary depending on your circumstances. You may want to speak to an immigration lawyer for expert advice.
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Applications for Short-term Student Visas (English Language)
The Short-term Student Visa (English Language) is a route for persons aged 16 and over who want to study an English language course in the UK for between 6 and 11 months without a student sponsor but at an accredited institution.
In order to qualify for a Short-term Student Visa (English Language) you will need to satisfy UK Visas and Immigration that:
- You are aged 16 or over;
- You are outside the UK;
- You have been accepted onto an English language course (that does not include any other subject) at an accredited institution that will last no longer than 11 months;
- You have paid your course fees or have enough funds to pay your course fees;
- You do not intend to undertake a course of study of longer than 11 months, study at an academy or state-funded school, make the UK your main home, work in the UK or engage in any business or professional activities in the UK;
- You intend to leave the UK within 30 days of the end of your English language course, or at the end of 11 months, whichever is sooner;
- You can maintain and accommodate yourself adequately without receiving public funds;
- You have enough funds to meet the cost of your return or onward journey from the UK;
- You have the consent of your parents if you are 16 or 17 years old.
The exact requirements you will need to satisfy will vary depending on your circumstances. You may want to speak to an immigration lawyer for expert advice.
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Fresh applications, Administrative reviews and Judicial reviews for Graduates
If your application for permission to stay on the Graduate Immigration Route has been refused, our immigration barristers can advise on the merits of making a fresh application or challenging the decision.
If the decision-maker failed to apply the Immigration Rules or Home Office policy correctly, we can bring Administrative Review proceedings to challenge the decision.
If the decision to refuse your application was unlawful, unreasonable or procedurally improper, our immigration barristers can apply for Judicial Review and provide representation at Judicial Review hearings.
