UK opens post-study work visa route for overseas students. Here’s how to apply

The United Kingdom Home Office on Thursday announced a post-study visa for international students. The new immigration route will provide a greater opportunity for international graduates, the Home Department’s website read. This visa would offer overseas graduates an option to apply for the right to stay on for job experience at the end of their courses.

Home Secretary Priti Patel, who announced the Graduate route visa in 2020, said, “Our world leading universities welcome thousands of international students every year. As we build back better, it is vital that the UK continues to be a beacon for talented young people across the globe who want to make a difference.”

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She added that the Graduate route will give the brightest students an opportunity to continue contributing to the UK’s prosperity and freedom.

The visa will benefit international graduates who have been awarded a degree from a recognised UK university to stay on and look for work for at least two years.

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“Under the UK Government’s points-based immigration system, talented students from India and across the globe now have the opportunity to kick start their careers in the UK at the highest levels of business, science, technology and the arts,” ANI quoted Patel. 

“Once they’ve received their world-leading qualification from one of our fantastic education institutions, this new visa will give them the freedom to fulfil their aspirations and advance their careers,” she added.

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The British High Commission’s website notes that one can only apply for the Graduate visa if he/she is in the UK and his/her current visa is a Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa. The website adds that one needs to have completed a UK bachelor’s degree, postgraduate degree or other eligible courses for a minimum period of time with your Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa. One will have to apply for the visa on the UK government’s official website. 

In the last year, more than 56,000 Indian nationals were granted a Student visa – a 13% increase on the previous year and almost a quarter of all Student visas the UK issued, ANI reported.