The UK government welcomes foreign students to apply to remain in the UK and work or look for a job, upon graduation. This visa can be applied without a job offer and is known as “Graduate route UK”.
Before starting a visa application, however, it is important to assess the eligibility and understand the application requirements, to avoid issues or delays with the application.
Post graduate visa UK
The graduate visa route is a good opportunity for those students who wish to remain in the UK after completing their studies.
Is a graduate visa the same as tier 4?
The Tier 4 is the former student visa, that was issued before the new student immigration route.
A Tier 4 visa holder is allowed to work during their studies, but with certain working restrictions. In details, it allows to work for a maximum of 20 hours per week during term-time, considered as a maximum of 20 hours in total in any one week, that include paid or unpaid work for one or more employers or organizations.
Furthermore, the Tier 4 does not allow to access some state benefits.
Therefore, if you are in the UK with a Tier 4 (General) student visa, you can apply for a Graduate visa, which is specific for applicants who wish to stay in the UK for a period after graduation.
What tier is graduate route?
With a graduate visa, applicants can work in most jobs, look for work, be self-employed or do voluntary work.
However, they cannot apply for most public funds or the State Pension, or work as a professional sportsperson.
How long can a foreign student stay in the UK after graduation?
International students who have successfully completed an undergraduate or master’s degree can apply to remain in the UK for up to 2 years after finishing their studies.
PhD graduates, instead, can apply to stay for up to 3 years.
How to apply for UK visa for graduation?
If, on the contrary, you are an international student wishing to travel to the UK to complete a study course and graduate, you may wish to apply for a Student visa.
Graduate visa UK eligibility
Eligibility for a graduate visa depend on several factors such as the course education provider (i.e. university or college), the kind of course that was taken and how long the applicant studied in the UK for.
What are the conditions for graduate visa in UK?
To qualify for this visa type, the candidate must:
- Be in the UK;
- Hold a Student visa or a Tier 4 (General) student visa;
- Have studied a UK eligible course for a minimum period.
Finally, the candidate’s education provider be a licensed sponsor with a “track record of compliance” and they must have told the Home Office that the candidate has successfully completed the relevant course.
If the requirements are not met, candidates can check if they are eligible for other UK visa types.
What courses are eligible?
To be eligible for a graduate visa, the candidate must have studied a UK bachelor’s degree, or a UK master’s degree or a UK PhD doctorate.
Furthermore, the following courses also counts as eligible:
- a law conversion course approved by the Solicitors Regulation Authority;
- the Legal Practice Course in England and Wales, the Solicitors Course in Northern Ireland, or a Diploma in Professional Legal Practice in Scotland;
- the Bar Practice Course in England and Wales, or the Bar Course in Northern Ireland;
- a foundation programme in medicine or dentistry;
- a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE);
- a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE);
- other courses that made the applicant eligible for a job which is regulated by UK law or a UK public authority.
What counts ad minimum period spent studying in the UK?
To apply for a graduate visa, the applicant must have studied in the UK for at least 12 months (if their course’s total length is more than 12 months) or for the total length of the course (if shorter than 12 months).
Moreover, you must proof that you studied in the UK – i.e. that you were in the UK when your education provider needed you to be there. This means that if, for instance, you studied in the UK for 1 year but you left for term breaks, you are still eligible for a graduate visa.
Do you need sponsorship for graduate visa UK?
The graduate immigration route is unsponsored, and the application must be filed by the foreigner, not by a sponsor.
This means that the applicant must not necessarily have already secured a job offer by the time they apply for the visa, and they can use the time after they graduate to work or look for work, at any skill level.
What is the minimum salary for graduate visa in the UK?
There is no salary requirement for the graduate visa and the candidate is not tied to a specific job or employer.
This means they can have multiple jobs at any skill level and also switch jobs during the visa duration.
Graduate visa application UK
Once you have assessed that you meet all the requirements specific to your case, you can start your visa application.
When to apply?
You must be in the UK when you apply for the graduate visa. It is not allowed to travel outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision, or your application may be withdrawn.
The application must be filed before the current student visa (or Tier 4 visa) expires and after the education provider has confirmed the course completion to the Home Office.
In fact, applicants don’t necessarily have to wait until they have graduated or have been given a certificate, it is just necessary that their college or university has informed the Home Office of the course completion.
How to apply?
You will have to apply online by registering on the relevant Home Office website and complete the application. Alternatively, you can decide to avail of the support of an immigration advisor who will usually complete the application for you and guide you on the next steps.
To complete your application, you will also need to prove your identity either by using the “UK Immigration: ID Check” app or by provide your biometrics at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point.
What are the documents required for the UK graduate visa?
During the visa application process, you will be required to provide:
- Your valid passport;
- Your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) reference number from when you applied for your student visa;
- Your BRP and online proof of your immigration status if you have an eVisa.
Depending on the specific case, applicants may also be asked to provide:
- Proof of family relationships for dependent family members;
- A letter from the scholarship or previous sponsorship provider, if they paid for both your course fees and living costs for the last 12 months;
- Other documents depending on your circumstances.
All documents that are not in English or Welsh will have to be accompanied by a certified translation.
Graduate visa UK cost
How much does a graduate UK visa cost?
Government application fees for a graduate visa correspond to:
- £822 for the application fee;
- £1,035 per year for the healthcare surcharge.
Government fees may be updated every year or from time to time according to the cost-of-living index.
How long does it take for a graduate visa to be approved in the UK?
After completing the online application, a decision usually comes within 8 weeks. However, in some instances the decision can take longer, for example if your supporting documents or specific personal circumstances need to be checked.
If the application is successful, your decision will arrive via email or letter, together with your eVisa, which is an online record of your immigration status.
If your decision is taking to much time to come and you decide not to continue with your application, you can ask to cancel it. You may get your paid fees refunded, it the UKVI has not yet started processing your application.
Does a graduate route visa count towards settlement?
The graduate route does not count towards settlement, however individuals can apply for other routs during and/or at the end of their 2 or 3 years stay.
Can you switch from graduate visa to skilled worker visa?
Once the graduate visa holder has found a suitable employment in the UK, they can switch to a Skilled Worker visa, provided that all eligibility conditions are met.
Can I start a business on a graduate visa in the UK?
Though it is often referred to as a post graduate work route, with the graduate visa there is in fact no requirement to undertake any form of work. However, visa holders that choose to work can do so in any job without restrictions, and they can be self-employed or decide to carry out voluntary work.