UK Graduate Visa

Understanding the UK Graduate Visa: Requirements & Application Process

The Graduate Visa is a post-study work visa designed for international students who have completed a bachelor's degree or higher with a Home Office-approved higher education provider in the UK. It allows them to remain in the UK to work or seek employment.

This route aims to increase the attractiveness of the UK's offer to international students, ensuring the UK remains internationally competitive and can attract and retain top talent.

This route is open to all international students who have completed an undergraduate or postgraduate degree at a UK bachelor's degree level or above with a Home Office-approved higher education provider. After completing your degree, you may apply for a Graduate Visa to remain in the UK for 2 to 3 years after graduation.

For most graduates, the visa will be granted for 2 years, and for PhD graduates, it will be for 3 years. Graduates on this route can work flexibly, gain work experience, and develop their careers.

Benefits

The advantages of this Graduate Visa are:

• No quota
• No sponsorship needed
• No minimum salary or skill requirement
• No maintenance requirement
• No English test requirement
• Freedom to find or change jobs
• Ability to work in any job role, whether full-time or part-time
• Opportunity to gain valuable work experience and explore diverse career paths
• Potential to transition to other long-term visas, promoting stability and growth in the UK workforce

This pathway is attractive to both graduates and employers. It allows students to gain valuable work experience and explore career paths without sponsorship. For UK employers, it provides access to a pool of talented, educated individuals who bring fresh perspectives and international insights. The visa's flexibility supports full-time and part-time employment, benefiting businesses by enhancing diversity and fostering innovation.

Employers

To hire foreign workers, companies must obtain a Sponsor Licence and then apply for a Certificate of Sponsorship to support the worker's skilled worker visa application.

The Graduate Visa route offers employers an alternative by allowing them to hire individuals already holding a Graduate Visa. This provides flexibility for filling positions that don't meet the Skilled Worker route criteria and eliminates the need for a sponsorship licence, reducing administrative burdens and costs.

Visa Routes

The Graduate Visa route allows for a switch to other visa routes if the requirements are met, enabling progression towards Settlement and Citizenship. Potential visa routes include:

• Skilled Worker Visa,
• Partner Visa,
• Start-up Visa

If you have spent nearly 10 years in the UK on various student visas, the 2 or 3 years on the Graduate Visa may also count towards the 10-year Long Residence Indefinite Leave to Remain route.

Dependents

You can apply for your dependents to join you on the Graduate visa route if they are already in the UK as dependants on the Student route and meet the eligibility requirements. There are no financial requirements for dependants; however, you must provide evidence of your relationship. For children, you must show they are related to the Graduate or the Graduate’s dependent partner. Additionally, if the children are 18 or over, you must provide proof of suitable accommodation that complies with UK legislation and regulations.

Evidence

If the Graduate and the dependant partner are married or in a civil partnership, you need to provide:

• A valid marriage or civil partnership certificate.
• A valid overseas registration document for a same-sex relationship recognized under the Civil Partnership Act of 2004.

If they are not married or in a civil partnership, they must show evidence of living together for two years. This can include:

• Bank statements, council tax, or utility bills.
• Residential mortgage statements or tenancy agreements.
• Official documents linking the Student and their partner to the same address.

Eligibility Criteria & Requirements

To apply for a Graduate visa, you must be in the UK. Additionally, you must:

• Hold a Student visa or a Tier 4 (General) student visa.
• Have been sponsored by a higher education provider with a track record of compliance at the time of your application.
• Have completed the course you were last granted permission to study on the Student route.

By the time you apply, your sponsor must have informed the Home Office that you have completed your course to the required standard. This means you qualify if you have completed the qualification specified on your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) or after any permitted change of course without needing to apply for further permission as a student.

Qualification Requirement

You must have completed a course of study for which you have been, or are due to be, awarded a UK bachelor's or postgraduate degree or one of several professional qualifications at degree level or above. These qualifications include:

• A validated law conversion course
• The Legal Practice Course for solicitors
• The Bar Practice Course for barristers
• A foundation programme in medicine or dentistry
• A Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)
• A Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE)
• Any other professional course qualifying for a job regulated by UK law or a UK public authority

This means you qualify if you have been awarded, or are due to be awarded, a bachelor's or master's degree, a PhD or other doctoral qualification, or any one of the prescribed professional qualifications.

Study Location Requirement

You must have a student visa to study your course in the UK for a minimum amount of time.

• If your course was 12 months or shorter, you must have studied in the UK for the entire course.
• If your course was longer than 12 months, you must have studied in the UK for at least 12 months.

Note: Permitted study abroad programs are excluded from this requirement.

Required Documentation

To apply for a UK Graduate Visa, applicants must provide documents including:

1. Passport: A valid passport or other travel document to prove your identity and nationality.
2. Current Visa Evidence: Proof of your current Student Visa or Tier 4 (General) Student Visa.
3. Biometric Residence Permit (BRP): If applicable, you must provide the BRP issued for your current visa.
4. Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) Reference Number: The CAS reference number from when you applied for your Student Visa or Tier 4 (General) Student Visa.
5. Confirmation of Degree Completion: Official evidence from your UK higher education provider confirms that you have completed your degree.
6. Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) Payment: Confirmation of payment of the Immigration Health Surcharge is necessary for accessing the UK's National Health Service (NHS).
7. Financial Evidence: Evidence of sufficient funds to support yourself, if required by the UK Home Office.
8. Police Registration Certificate: If you were required to register with the police, you must provide your Police Registration Certificate.
9. Proof of Relationship: If you include dependents in your application, you must provide documents to prove your relationship, such as marriage or birth certificates.
10. Letter from Scholarship or Sponsorship Provider: If your scholarship or sponsorship provider paid for your course fees and living costs in the last 12 months, you must provide a letter approving your application.
11. Tuberculosis Test Results: If you are from a country requiring a tuberculosis test, you must provide your test results.

Application Fees

Application Fees

The Graduate Visa requires an application fee of £822. A two-year visa can total approximately £2,070. These fees are crucial to the application process and must be paid in full.

Health Surcharge

In addition to the application fee, there is an annual Immigration Health Surcharge, typically priced at £1,035. This surcharge is necessary to access the UK’s National Health Service (NHS).

Dependents

Dependent partners and children of Graduate Visa applicants must pay a fee of £822 to apply. Additionally, they are required to pay the healthcare surcharge. If their application is successful, they will be granted dependent status in line with the principal applicant's Graduate Visa.

Processing Time

Applicants must submit their Graduate Visa application before their current Student Visa expires.

The Home Office typically takes eight weeks to process Graduate Visa applications; no priority processing service is available. If approved, the Graduate Visa is valid for two or three years.

Tips Before Applying

• Graduate Visa Application Timing: Only apply for a Graduate visa after receiving your course results, as this can lead to delays in processing your application.
• Check Course Completion Reporting: Universities may not promptly report your course completion to the Home Office, mainly due to the 2023 University and College Union boycott in the UK, which caused delays. If you're affected, contact your university's visas and immigration team to confirm that your course completion has been reported.
• Avoid International Travel: After submitting your Graduate visa application online, do not travel abroad until you get a decision. Leaving the UK during this period could automatically withdraw your application, leaving you without permission to return. Stay in the UK until your visa decision is made.

How to Apply for a UK Graduate Visa

Applying for the UK Graduate Visa can be applied online, and depending on your citizenship, you will also need to use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to complete the identity verification stage of your application. The app will check that your identity document is genuine and verify that the document belongs to you.

• Step 1: Complete Your Course
  • Ensure you have the required qualifications and meet the eligibility criteria.
• Step 2: Gather Documentation
  • Collect all necessary documents for your application.
• Step 3: Create or Sign In to Your UKVI Account
  • Create or sign in to your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account.
• Step 4: Complete the Online Application
  • Fill out the online application on the government website.
• Step 5: Prove Your Identity
  • Use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your BRP or passport (for EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals), or book an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) centre if you cannot use the app.
• Step 6: Pay the Fee and Submit
  • Pay the application fee and submit your application.
• Step 7: Remain in the UK
  • Stay in the UK while waiting for a decision.
• Step 8: Receive Decision
  • You will receive a decision letter by email.

Restrictions

Graduate visa holders cannot participate in professional sports or coaching but can engage in amateur sports. Professional sports include playing or coaching at a professional level, getting paid enough to cover most living expenses, being registered with a professional team, representing national or regional teams in the last two years, having an international reputation, or hiring an agent for a sports career.

Study is allowed except for courses with a Student Sponsor that meet Student route requirements.

Visa holders cannot access public funds.

Extensions

It is not possible to extend the Graduate Visa. However, depending on your personal circumstances, you can switch to another visa route.

Switching Visa Routes

Before your Graduate Visa expires, switching to another visa route may be possible.

• Start-up Visa for new entrepreneurs.
• Innovator Visa for experienced businesspersons.
• Health and Care Worker Visa for professionals in the health sector.
• Skilled Worker Visa for those with a job offer and a Certificate of Sponsorship from a company with a sponsor licence.

Summary

The UK Graduate Visa offers an excellent opportunity for international students to stay and work in the UK after completing their studies. This visa allows graduates to work in any role without needing sponsorship and provides the option to pursue further studies and live with dependents. Employers benefit from this flexibility as they can access high-quality international talent without requiring a sponsor licence.

Applying for the UK Graduate Visa is relatively straightforward. However, it's essential to plan ahead for what you'll do when the visa expires. Consider the available visa routes and whether you meet their requirements. Since immigration rules frequently change, we recommend discussing your options with our team to stay well-informed.

QC Immigration has extensive experience in guiding UK Graduate Visas and other UK visa matters. Whether you prefer in-person consultations or a fully online service, we are here to assist you with all your UK immigration concerns.

With our expertise, you can save time, reduce the risk of submitting an incomplete or non-compliant application, and plan your potential path for switching visas. We will ensure a smooth, efficient, and stress-free journey through the UK immigration process.