The Graduate Visa Route was launched on 1 July 2021 and it allows international students to remain in the UK for a further 2 years (or 3 years if the Applicant has a PhD or other doctoral qualification) in order to give them an opportunity to find employment. The rules for the Graduate Visa can be found under Appendix Graduate.
Eligibility requirements for the Graduate Visa
To be eligible for the Graduate Visa, Applicants must:
- Have, or have last had, a Tier 4 or Student Visa;
- Have studied a UK bachelor’s degree, a UK postgraduate degree, or other relevant qualification from a higher education provider;
- Have completed the course or studied for at least 12 months, whichever is shorter.
Applicants must apply for the Graduate Visa from inside the UK and before the Student Visa expires. Applicants will not need to demonstrate their English language ability as their degree certificate will satisfy this requirement.
Permitted and Prohibited Activities on the Graduate Visa
The Graduate Visa enables migrants to:
- Seek employment in the UK and work in most jobs;
- Be self-employed;
- Continue living in the UK with dependents, if they’re eligible;
- Do voluntary work; and
- Travel to and from the UK.
Graduate Visa migrants are not able to:
- Apply for most benefits (public funds), or State Pension; and
- Work as a professional sportsperson.
What is the Home Office application fee?
The Home Office application fee for the Graduate Visa is £700. Most Applicants must also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (“IHS”) as part of the application. Currently, the IHS is £624 per year of the visa so for a two-year visa the amount would be £1,248, or for 3 years it would be £1,872.
Expert UK Business Immigration Solicitors
Our expert business immigration team offer specialise in Graduate Visa applications. If you wish to have your documents checked by an expert immigration solicitor, please contact us so we can explore your options.
We are a UK law firm based in Middle Temple, London and our solicitors are fully authorised by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). Contact our professional business immigration team today and we can offer you a consultation in person or via telephone or Skype so we can explore your options. You can leave us a message on our Contact Form or give us a call on 02030110276.