The New Graduate route (Post-Study Work Visa) will open for applications on 1 July 2021

The Government has announced today (04 March 2021) that the new Graduate route will open for applications on 1 July 2021, to allow the UK to retain the brightest and the best international students from around the world. The new route enhances the UK’s higher education offer and ensures that international students will continue to choose the UK as the destination to study and build their careers. 

As detailed in the Immigration Rules laid in Parliament today 4 March, the route will enable international students to remain in the UK to work, or look for work, for two years (three years for doctoral students) after they have completed their studies. All international students who have successfully completed a degree (or other permitted qualification) at undergraduate level or above at a Higher Education Provider with a track record of compliance, and who have valid Student (or Tier 4) permission at the time of application, will be able to apply.

The Graduate route will be unsponsored, meaning applicants will not need a job offer in order to be eligible. There will be no minimum salary requirements nor caps on numbers. Graduates on the route will be able to work flexibly, switch jobs, and develop their career as required.

Whilst the route will not lead to settlement, those on the route will be able to move into another work-based route, such as the Skilled Worker route – which does lead to settlement – once they meet the requirements.

Source: UK Home Office