Graduate Visa: Post Study Work for Graduates in UK
The Graduate visa, also known as the Post Study Work (PSW) visa, allows international students who have graduated from a UK university to work in the UK after graduation. Once you have successfully completed your course, you can then apply for a Graduate visa.
However, there are numerous immigration rules surrounding this graduate route and the exact requirements can often be confusing. To learn more about how we can help make the process as smooth as possible, contact Total Law today on +44 (0) 333 305 9375 or message us online.
What is the Graduate visa in the UK?
The UK Graduate visa allows international students who have graduated from a UK university to work in the UK for at least 2 years after graduation. It provides a route to extending your stay in the UK and international students with either a UK undergraduate degree or postgraduate degree are generally eligible.
The Graduate visa generally lasts for 2 years. However, in the case of PhDs or other doctoral qualifications, the visa lasts for 3 years. This means that students who have graduated from a UK university are able to start their career in the UK, gaining access to a strong economy and numerous professional opportunities. As such, this visa provides a graduate route to living and working in the UK.
You should make sure to apply for a Graduate visa before your current Student visa expires. Graduate visas are not eligible for extension. However, many Graduate visa holders are able to switch to another visa type, such as the Skilled Worker visa.
Page Contents
- What is the Graduate visa in the UK?
- Eligibility requirements for Graduate visa UK
- Documents required for Post Study Work (PSW) visa
- Duration of Stay and Renewal with PSW visa
- Application Process for UK Graduate visa
- UK Graduate visa application fees and processing time
- Dependents on Post Study Work (PSW) visa
- What rights will I have on a UK Graduate visa?
- How Can Total Law Help?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Eligibility requirements for Graduate visa UK
There are a number of eligibility criteria which you will need to satisfy when applying for a Graduate visa. These are as follows:
- You must apply from within the UK
- You must be in the UK on a current Student visa or Tier 4 (General) Student visa
- You must have successfully completed your course
- You studied a UK bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, PhD, or other doctorate. You will also be eligible if you studied any of the following:
- Licenced law conversion course
- The Legal Practice Course (England and Wales), the Solicitors Course (Northern Ireland), or the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice (Scotland)
- The Bar Practice Course (England and Wales) or the Bar Course (Northern Ireland)
- Medicine or dentistry foundation programme
- Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE)
- You studied at an institution which is a licenced sponsor and has a ‘track record of compliance’ with the sponsor regulations
- The Home Office has been informed by your educational institution that you have successfully completed your studies
You will also need to have studied in the UK for a certain minimum period. If your course was more than 12 months, you must have studied in the UK for at least 12 months. If your course was less than 12 months, you must have studied in the UK for the full duration of your course. However, you may be eligible for an exception if your course fell during COVID-19.
Documents required for Post Study Work (PSW) visa
There are a number of documents which you will require when applying for the PSW visa. You will generally be expected to provide the following:
- Valid passport
- The biometric residence permit or eVisa associated with your Student visa or Tier 4 (General) Student visa, depending on what you were given when you received your Student visa
- The Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) reference number from when you applied for your Student visa. This number will have been sent to you by your educational institution when they first offered you admission to your course. In the event that you no longer have a record of the number, your educational institution should be able to provide it to you
- If you received a scholarship from an international scholarship agency, you may also need to provide details of this
Note that all documents must be submitted in either English or Welsh. If you need to get your documents translated, you must ensure that you use a certified translation service.
Duration of Stay and Renewal with PSW visa
In general, the PSW visa allows stays of 2 years. However, if you received a UK PhD or other doctoral qualification, your Graduate visa will have a duration of 3 years.
The UK Graduate visa does not offer an extension. If you wish to remain in the UK beyond the duration of your Graduate visa, you will need to switch to a different visa type. Often, Graduate visa holders switch to a UK Work visa.
Skilled Worker visas in particular are a common choice amongst applicants.
In order to be eligible for a UK Skilled Worker visa, you will need to satisfy a number of additional criteria, such as working for a UK employer which is a licensed sponsor with the UK Home Office, having a certificate of sponsorship from that employer, and doing a job which is included on the list of eligible occupations.
You will also need to satisfy certain salary conditions, although these vary depending on the industry.
Application Process for UK Graduate visa
The Graduate visa application process includes a number of steps.
Applications for the UK Graduate visa can be submitted online and should be submitted from within the UK. You will need to provide the required documents as part of your application.
You may also need to attend an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point, where you will be asked to provide your biometric information (your photograph and fingerprints). Alternatively, you may be able to verify your identity using the UK Immigration: ID Check app instead or to scan your passport if you are from the EU, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, or Liechtenstein.
Note that, while you are waiting for a decision, you should not travel outside of the UK. This will likely lead to your application being withdrawn.
You should make sure to apply before the expiry of your Student visa. You do not need to wait until you have officially graduated or received your certificate, provided that your educational institution has already informed the Home Office that you have successfully completed your studies.
UK Graduate visa application fees and processing time
The application fee when applying for a UK Graduate visa is uk-graduate_route_fee. There may also be additional costs associated with your application, for example the cost of translating any documents into English or Welsh.
In general, you should receive a decision on your application within 8 weeks. However, the processing time may vary based on factors such as the number of other applications currently being processed and whether your application is submitted correctly. If you are asked to provide further information, make sure to do so as promptly as possible in order to avoid delays.
Dependents on Post Study Work (PSW) visa
In general, your family members will need to have been in the UK as your dependants when you were on your Student visa in order to be eligible to remain in the UK with you once you are on a Graduate visa.
If they satisfy this condition, your partner and children may be able to remain in the UK with you. They will also need to satisfy the following additional eligibility criteria:
Partner
In order to be eligible for a Graduate Dependent visa, your partner will need to satisfy the following criteria:
- Be either your spouse or civil partner
- If you are not married, you will need to provide evidence that you are in a committed long-term relationship. If you have lived together for at least 2 years, you should provide evidence of this. If you have been together but have not lived together, you should provide evidence demonstrating why not (e.g. living and working in different places or cultural considerations which prevented living together) as well as evidence that you have still been in a committed relationship during that time (e.g. evidence of regular communication, shared finances, or shared travel)
Children
In order to be eligible for a Graduate Dependent visa, your children will need to satisfy the following criteria:
- Not be married or in a civil partnership
- Be living with you (unless away from home due to attending full-time education, e.g. boarding school or university)
You will also need to provide evidence of their address, providing at least 2 of the following:
- Bank statement/credit card bills
- Driving licence
- NHS registration letter
- A letter from their educational institution
Note that each family member will need to submit a separate application. They will also need to provide a valid travel document and their biometric residence permit or eVisa, as applicable, from when they were in the UK with you during your time on a Student visa.
What rights will I have on a UK Graduate visa?
The UK Graduate visa grants a number of rights. You will be authorised to work in the UK for an employer, look for work, work in a self-employed capacity, and do voluntary work. You will also be authorised to leave and re-enter the UK.
However, you will not be eligible to apply for most UK welfare benefits or for the UK state pension. Additionally, you will not be authorised to work as a professional sportsperson- this requires a separate visa.
Note that it is not generally possible to study on a Graduate visa unless your new course is ineligible for a Student visa. Otherwise, you will generally be able to extend your Student visa instead of switching to a Graduate visa.
If you successfully obtain a Graduate visa, you will receive a list of the full range of rights and restrictions.
How Can Total Law Help?
For many international students who have graduated from a UK university with either an undergraduate degree or a postgraduate degree, applying for a UK Graduate visa is the next step.
This visa allows them to live and work in the UK for up to 3 years while they establish themselves in their career. It provides access to the numerous professional opportunities available in the UK, in addition to a varied and culturally rich living environment.
However, there are numerous rules and regulations surrounding the PSW visa, including who is eligible, whether or not dependants can also join, and how to stay in the UK once the Graduate visa has expired. At Total Law, our immigration experts have substantial experience in giving bespoke legal advice on cases exactly like this.
We can provide guidance and advice on every stage of the process, helping to make the process as smooth as possible. We also offer a wide range of packages, ensuring that we can offer the services which are best-tailored to your own situation.
Contact Total Law today on +44 (0) 333 305 9375 or message us online, to learn more about our full range of services and how we can help make your immigration journey as smooth as possible.
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Related pages for your continued reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you graduated from a UK university, and studied in the UK for a sufficient period of time, it is likely that you are eligible for a UK Graduate visa. However, you should make sure to submit your Graduate visa application before your Student visa expires.
The Graduate visa is intended to allow international students who graduated from a UK university to work in the UK for up to 3 years following their graduation.
Once your Graduate visa expires, you will need to switch to a different visa type in order to legally remain in the UK. This is because the Graduate visa is not eligible for extension. In many cases, Graduate visa holders choose to switch to a Work visa, such as the Skilled Worker visa.
In order to remain in the UK while your Skilled Worker application is processed, you will need to have a valid UK visa. If you are applying for a Skilled Worker visa after the expiry of your Graduate visa, you will need to apply from outside of the UK. However, if your Graduate visa is still valid, you can apply to switch your Graduate visa to a Skilled Worker visa from within the UK.
