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Graduate Visa

Graduate Visa Scheme

The UK Graduate visa route for international students opened for applications on 1 July 2021. The graduate visa  scheme is a huge relief to international students and employers currently trying to navigate the expensive sponsored worker framework and other limited options for international graduates looking to transition into work in the UK.

Graduate Route Visa

This visa application route offers greater flexibility to graduates looking to develop their career in the UK, as it allows you to work in any sector and at any level without any minimum salary requirements or the need for visa sponsorship. Applications for this route are considered in accordance with the Immigration Rules Appendix Graduate. For further advice and information please contact BHD’s private immigration department to arrange a free telephone consultation with a specialist solicitor.

Graduate Visa Applications

This route is designed for international students who complete their degree in the UK and who wish to remain in the UK to work, or look for work, at any skill level following successful completion of an eligible course of study at BA degree-level or above. There is no requirement for a sponsor.
The route will allow qualifying applicants who have finished their studies to remain in the UK for either 2 years following completion of their course, or 3 years if they have completed a PhD. This is not a route to settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain) but you may be eligible to then switch to a different visa, for example a Skilled Worker visa.

Individuals who already have permission as a dependant of a Student who is applying on this route can also apply to stay as dependants on a Graduate visa.

Graduate Visa UK Eligibility

There are three eligibility criteria to be met under Appendix Graduate.

Successful completion requirement

The applicant must have last been sponsored as a Student by a higher education provider with a record of compliance on the date of application.

The applicant must have successfully completed the course of study undertaken during their last grant of permission to study on the Student route.

The Student sponsor (i.e. the Higher Education Institution) must have notified the Home Office that the applicant has successfully completed their course of study by the date of the Graduate application.

Graduate Visa Qualification Requirement

The applicant will meet the qualification requirement if they have successfully completed their course in the UK and been awarded one of the following:

  • a bachelor’s degree;
  • a postgraduate degree; or
  • a ‘relevant qualification’

‘Relevant’ qualifications include specified law conversion courses, the Bar Practice Course, foundation programs for medicine and dentistry, a PGCE or PGDE, 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”.

Study in the UK requirement

The applicant must have studied in the UK for a minimum period of the course for which they were last granted permission to study on the Student route:

graduate visa

A reminder also that the definition of Student in the immigration rules means

  • a person who has, or had, permission under Appendix Student, or Appendix ST: Student of the rules in force immediately before 1 December 2020, or as a Tier 4 (General) Student under the rules in force before 5 October 2020.

So individuals who have previously held Tier 4 (General) status would be eligible under the scheme.

Note: the rules regarding the minimum period of study inside the UK may not apply to students studying outside the UK due to COVID 19.

Length and conditions of a Graduate Visa

As mentioned above, applicants applying on the basis of completion of a PhD, will be granted 3 years leave to remain. Those applying on the basis of completion of other specified qualifications will be granted 2 years.

Individuals on the Graduate visa route will not have access to public funds but will, crucially, have permission to work (including self-employment and voluntary work), apart from work as a professional sportsperson.

As this is not a route to settlement, graduate visa holders will need to apply to switch into a different visa category at the end of the 2 or 3 year period.

In particular, Graduate visa holders will be able to apply to the Skilled Worker, Global Talent or Innovator routes from within the UK.

Graduate Visa Application Solicitors

Contact our lawyers in London & Croydon for UK graduate visa application assistance and guidance. Or if you would like to instruct one of our immigration experts, contact us today for advice and assistance.

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