In September 2019, the UK Government announced plans to introduce a new Graduate Immigration Route. This will be a 2-year post study work visa that Tier 4 international students will be able to apply for when they complete their studies in the UK.
This route has not yet been passed into law but below is some information we have received from the Home Office about the proposed visa route. We will update our information when details of the new visa route are fully confirmed:
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Intention is to introduce the route in summer 2021
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International students who complete their course in or after the summer of 2021 will be eligible to apply. The student must have entered the UK to study by no later than the 6th April 2021
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Students can only apply from within the UK and must hold a valid Tier 4 visa at the time of application
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Student must have ‘successfully completed’ a course at undergraduate, postgraduate or research level. This must be the same course that the student was sponsored to undertake
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The visa will be granted for a period of 2 years (or 3 years if studied at PhD level) and will allow a graduate to work, or look for work, in any sector and at any level in the UK
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The visa will not be extendable and will not lead to settlement in the UK. However, those on the Graduate Route can switch into a Tier 2 work visa at any point
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It will not have any maintenance or English language requirements.