- Student Visas
- Graduate Visa
Graduate Visa
You can apply for a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK in an eligible job with an employer licenced as a sponsor by the UK government.
Can I apply for the UK Skilled Worker visa?
We can help you. It’s what we do.
Overview
You can apply for a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK in an eligible job with an employer licenced as a sponsor by the UK government. This UK work visa has replaced the Tier 2 (General) work visa. This category is for all foreign nationals who have been offered a skilled job to fill a gap in the workforce which cannot be filled by an already settled worker in the UK. There are a number of complex scenarios which should be discussed and explored in detail before you can apply.
You can apply for a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK in an eligible job with an employer licenced as a sponsor by the UK government. This UK work visa has replaced the Tier 2 (General) work visa. This category is for all foreign nationals who have been offered a skilled job to fill a gap in the workforce which cannot be filled by an already settled worker in the UK. There are a number of complex scenarios which should be discussed and explored in detail before you can apply.
International Sportspersons visa
This category is for highly skilled sportspersons who must be recognised by a governing body as an elite sports person or a sports coach. The applicant must demonstrate that their employment in the UK will encourage the sport to become more elite and prominent in the UK.
To apply for ILR you must have spent continuous period of 5 years in the UK and must have spent no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12 months. You must also meet the English language requirement, pass the Life in the UK test and meet the salary threshold requirement of at least £35,800.
Indefinite leave to remain
The skilled worker visa lasts for up to five years. If you want to stay longer, you can apply to extend your, as long as you still meet the eligibility requirements. After five years, you may also be entitled to apply for indefinite leave to remain, which gives you the right to live, work and study in the UK for as long as you like. You must apply to extend or update your skilled work visa UK if you change jobs or employer.
To apply for ILR you must have spent continuous period of five years in the UK and must have spent no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12 months. You must also meet the English language requirement, pass the Life in the UK test and meet the salary threshold requirement of at least £25,600 per year.
What is a Graduate Visa?
The Graduate Visa is designed for students who are looking to stay on to work in the UK, or to look or work, having completed a UK bachelor’s degree-level or above with a Home Office approved high education provider. This visa route is ideal for student visa holders, as it enables them to stay in the UK for at least 2 years after they have completed their studies successfully. However, applicants should note that this visa route cannot be extended once it expires, so if you wish to remain in the UK you would need to consider switching to an eligible immigration route, to avoid overstaying.
Who can apply for a Graduate Visa?
This route is a post-study work visa and provides more flexibility for students who wish to come to the UK, as they can work in any type of job role or spend time in the UK looking for work. It is an unsponsored work visa route for graduates who are looking for employment upon successful completion of their studies, with an approved higher education provider.
You will need to ensure that you meet the requirements of the visa and you’re able to prove that you have studied at an educational institution that is a licenced sponsor.
What are the requirements for this visa?
Although the Graduate Visa route tends to be quite a flexible route, there are certain requirements that will need to be met so that the applicant can qualify:
- You must have successfully completed a UK degree, or other eligible course.
- You have studied at a Higher Education Provider which is a student sponsor with a track record of compliance.
- You have held permission as a student, which was granted to study the relevant qualification in the UK, for a minimum period.
- You do not fall for refusal on grounds of suitability.
What is the Graduate Visa processing time?
Once an online application has been submitted, and the relevant fees have been paid, and where applicable the applicant’s biometric information has been re-enrolled, a Graduate Visa will usually take up to 8 weeks to process.
If the applicant is successful in obtaining permission and the Graduate Visa is granted, the applicant will typically be given digital immigration status, referred to as eVisa.
How to apply for the Graduate Visa?
An application for a Graduate Visa can be made via an online application once the approved education provider has notified the Home Office that the applicant has successfully completed their course. They will be required to prove their identity and may need to attend a UKVCAS service point to enrol their biometric information.
Once they’ve started an online application for this visa, the applicant will be invited via email to use the ‘UK Immigration ID Check’ app if they’re eligible to do so. This way, they’ll be able to verify their identity online and their biometrics from their application.
It is critical that the applicant meets the necessary eligibility requirements under the Graduate Visa route, as their application could be rejected should they fail to provide the necessary evidence. Not to mention, they must be in the UK when they apply and must have, or previously had, leave as a student.
How long does a Graduate Visa last?
Successful applicants on the Graduate route who have completed a bachelor’s or master’s degree are able to remain in the UK for two years. Doctoral students can stay in the UK for three years. It’s important to be aware that this visa cannot be extended once it expires and does not provide a path of settlement.
This means that, the visa-holder and any dependents in the UK will need to consider switching to a different route to avoid overstaying – for instance, they could switch into a Skilled Worker route which would enable them to apply for settlement further down the line.
How much does it cost to get a Graduate Visa?
Once the applicant has submitted an online application for a Graduate Visa, the applicant must pay a fee of £715. The applicant may also be liable to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), giving them access to the UK’s National Health Service.
Can my dependants be included as part of my Graduate Visa?
Under this visa route, bringing dependents on may be possible provided that the partner and dependent children of the primary visa-holder are already in the UK as a dependant on the student route and meet the eligibility criteria.
There will be certain requirements to bring dependents on this route, including for instance a relationship requirement and an age and care requirement for the dependent children.
Please note that there is a dependent fee of £715 for dependents on the Graduate route, where they must apply separately. They would also be expected to pay the healthcare surcharge – although, this has been reduced to £470 per year for under 18’s.
How can I apply to include my dependants as part of my Graduate Visa?
Following a government announcement in December 2023, unfortunately holders of the Graduate Visa will no longer be permitted to bring dependents with them to the UK. This change is due to be implemented in Spring 2024, so we intend to provide further information once more detail is released.
In the meantime, under the current rules, the dependents of the visa holder may be able to apply to stay on in the UK, as long as they are already a dependent on the Student Visa route and still meet the eligibility requirements – for instance, they meet the relationship requirement, age requirement as well as care requirement.
Regarding the process, each dependent must apply separately along with the relevant application fee. They would also be required to pay the healthcare surcharge.
How can Bridge Partner Immigration help?
Our highly skilled team can regularly assist you with your post-study route, whether you are planning to move to, or extend your stay in the UK to pursue further education or find graduate work opportunities. Our experts will guide you through the complex Home Office rules and policies, to put you at ease and ensure that your application has the best chance of success. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us today to discuss your eligibility.
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Frequently Asked Skilled Worker visa Application Questions
Someone can be eligible for a Skilled Worker visa if they have a job offer from a sponsoring company in the UK for a job that is on the list of skilled worker occupations. In addition, the skilled worker must have the required skills and experience to undergo the role in the company and have the required level of English language ability.
The minimum salary for the Skilled Worker visa is either £25,600 per year, £10.10 per hour or the “going rate” for the particular occupation code, whichever is highest. For each job on the Home Office occupation list, there is a “going rate” which details the recommended annual and hourly salary that an individual must earn for the role. The rates are based on a 39-hour week of work. Those applying for the Skilled Worker visa need 50 points to do so. These are gained from sponsorship, skill level and English language requirements. However, 20 further tradable points can be given to those that meet the minimum salary requirement.
You cannot move to the UK without a job offer from a company that has a UK sponsor licence, unless you apply for the Global Talent visa where this is not a requirement. When you are applying for a Skilled Worker visa you must provide a certificate of sponsorship reference number which proves that you have a job offer and therefore permission to work in the UK with a registered sponsor.
The general Skilled Worker visa requirements are that you must have a job offer from a company that is a UK-registered sponsor and have a certificate of sponsorship that confirms that you have permission to work in the UK within a specific job role. You must be paid the required minimum salary for the occupation, have the required skill level and English language ability to do the job and have enough funds to support yourself in the UK.
Once all the correct documentation has been submitted, it takes around 3 weeks for an application for a Skilled Worker visa to be processed by the Home Office when applying outside of the UK. For applications within the UK, the standard processing time is 8 weeks, although this can take around 9 weeks on average.
For the Skilled Worker visa, you will need to provide a valid passport and proof that you have a job in the UK with details about your job role, salary, and employer information. You will also need the reference number for your certificate of sponsorship which proves that you have an approved job offer with a registered UK sponsor. In addition, you will need to provide bank statements that show you are able to support yourself in the UK and proof of the required qualifications needed for the role such as an English language test and degree certificate.
Yes, you can study whilst on a Skilled Worker visa. There is no restriction on the number of hours you can study as long as it does not interfere with your work. Another requirement is that workers who study must first get an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate for their studies and present it to the education provider.
Skilled Workers are not allowed to run their own businesses.