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How To Get A Graduate Visa In The UK

Getting a graduate visa as an International student in the UK holds fantastic opportunities for you if you choose to work in the UK after graduation.

The UK welcomes International students to apply to stay in the UK and work or look for work upon graduation for two years after they study for undergraduate and master’s degrees, while a Ph.D. graduate can apply to stay in the UK for up to three years.

Below are a few benefits of getting a graduate visa:

Benefits Of Getting A Graduate Visa In The UK

  1. Flexibility to Gain Work Experience: The graduate visa route is unsponsored which gives you the flexibility to gain work experience after graduation. You can undertake an internship, work as a freelancer, or do anything you choose to do during the two years duration.
  1. No Minimum Salary Requirement: With a graduate visa, there is no limit to the amount of money you can earn or even the hours you can work for.
  1. Opportunity To Switch Visa After Two/Three Years: You can always switch to any other post-study Visa like a skilled work route and remain in the UK after two or three years. 

Criteria Needed To Getting A Graduate Visa 

Before you can get a graduate visa in the UK, you must have the following criteria;

  1. Live in the UK
  1. Have a student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa
  1. Have a UK bachelor’s degree, postgraduate degree, or other required courses for a minimum period with your student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa.
  1. Your education provider (i.e Your university or College) has told the home office that you have completed your course.

Required Documents For The UK Graduate Work Visa 

To apply for a graduate visa, you must have the following documents;

  1. A valid passport 
  1. Your biometric residence permit, if you got one when you applied for a student visa.
  1. Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) reference number, you got when you applied for a student visa.
  1. Proof of relationship with your partner and children if they are applying with you.
  1. Letter from your scholarship or sponsorship provider approving your application.

How To Apply For The UK Graduate Work Visa

To apply for a graduate visa, you have to complete the online application form on UK’s visa and immigration government webpage. Below are the steps for application:

  1. Upload the required documents: You will need to upload your required documents to your on the application form. These documents could be scanned or you use a photograph format like PNG, JPG, JPEG, or best use PDF format.
  1. Pay the fees: After filling in the forms and uploading your documents, you will be asked to pay both the healthcare surcharge of £624 for each year you will be in the UK and the application fee of £715.
  1. Confirm your identity: If you have a BRP, you can download the scanning of your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) with the UK immigration check ID app. You will need to provide your data and scan your BRP.
  1. Schedule and attend an appointment at the UKVACS to provide your biometrics if you don’t have a BRP:  You can schedule an appointment when you apply online. You will be asked to provide your fingerprints and photographs when you attend the appointment at the UKVACS.
  1. Provide additional documents (if required): You can submit the supporting documents when applying online or when you attend a UKVACS appointment.

Processing Time For The UK Graduate Work Visa 

After you apply online and submit the required document, you will get a response after eight weeks if your UK graduate work visa application has been approved. You are allowed to stay in the UK while you await a decision.

DO’s & Don’t Of Getting A Graduate Visa 

Once you have a graduate visa, here is a list of conditions you are to follow;

  1. You can take up an extra study, but you cannot study with a student sponsor on a course that would meet the requirements of a UK student visa and you cannot study at a state school.
  1. You cannot work as a professional sportsperson
  1. You cannot apply for public funds or the state pension
  1. You are not allowed to bring new dependents 
  1. It is only possible to be granted permission under the graduate route once.

Final Thoughts

Now you know one advantage that awaits you in the UK, is the opportunity to stay and work 2 years after graduation. You should be considering applying for your desired program in the UK. This is a very difficult choice for most people to make especially when faced with options like the USA, Australia, Canada, and Germany.

If you need help making a choice, applying for a scholarship, or you need help with applying for a Visa to any of your study destinations. You should reach out to us for a consultation. One of our counselors will speak with you to assess your situation and offer professional advice.

Lastly, feel free to join our community of people aiming to study abroad, on Telegram, where you also gain answers to many questions related to studying abroad and our webinar which is exclusive to community members.

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