How To Get Work Permit In UK After Study
If you are among the several international students in UK, who aspire to work in the country after graduation then you must know about the work permit for UK. In order to succeed in your dream of staying and working in UK after completing your programme, it is compulsory for you to know about the necessary procedure that needs to be followed.
When you are studying in a foreign country for some years, you can apply for work permit if you really want to work in that country. This will give you the opportunity to be able to work and earn money that could help you pay the bills while staying in a foreign country. Wait though because there are things that you need to think about so you could qualify for this. The first thing we are going to discuss here is what is it all about having a work permit?
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How To Get Work Permit In UK After Study
Work permit for UK students was changed in 2012. In order for a student to study in the UK, they must have a Tier 4 visa which is issued by the UK Home Office, with the exception of international students from New Zealand, Australia and Canada.
It’s difficult to imagine that more than two years have passed since I started writing for the HouseTrip blog. The time has flown by and I feel as though I’ve said it all. Yet we still get new questions coming in every day, and some are quite frequently asked. Over the last few weeks, we’ve been readdressing many of our FAQs, but there is definitely one that keeps getting raised: How to get a work visa after studying in the UK?
What does it take to remain a student of the world? You have to be open to the opportunities that spring up at home and abroad. You have to be ready and willing to hustle. And you have to have patience and strategy and persistence. With these traits, you will be in a strong position to succeed in whichever business and career that you choose.
Post Study Visa UK
What is a Graduate route?
The Graduate route is designed in such a way that international students who have earned their degree from a recognised university in the UK to stay there and look for work for at least two years. Graduates need not have a job offer to apply for a post-study work visa. Also, there are no minimum salary caps on numbers that allow students to work flexibly and build their careers in the UK.
From 1st-July 2021, international students who completed either an undergraduate or a master’s degree will be able to stay and work in UK for two years through the newly announced Graduate Route. Also, PhD students can stay up to three years through the Graduate Route visa.
Candidates who began their education in autumn 2020 or in spring 2021 will need to be in the UK on a student visa by September 27, 2021. Also, students who are going to start their studies later this year or early next year need to be in the UK by April 6, 2022.
In order to apply under the new Graduate route, international students must have completed their course (undergraduate or higher level) from a recognised UK higher education institute. Graduates who will apply through the new route will be eligible to work or look for work for a maximum period of two years after completing their degree. Doctoral Ph.D. students will be eligible for three years stay back.
The UK has always been an attractive study destination for Indian students, but staying in the UK after you finish your course can be difficult. In view of the recent developments, students who are to enroll for courses starting 2020/21 can stay back for two years after course completion.
Previously, bachelor or master’s degree holders can stay for only four months in the UK to look for a job. With the new rules, international students can stay for two years. This is an extension of visa rule changes that allowed PhDs to stay in the UK after graduation. The UK administration wants to grow and make its STEM-related fields.
Now international students who enroll from 2020/21 can stay up to two years before they are required to change their visa or leave the country. International students are required to find a job with a minimum salary of £20,800 with a Tier 2 sponsor license. Also, students pursuing Ph.D. are allowed to stay up to 12 months after completing their degree.
In statements issued by the UK Govt., they have stressed that “the brightest and best of students should not come here and do menial jobs”.
PSW Visa UK Latest News 2022
UK post-study work visa for graduates
The UK post-study work visa allows international students to stay back in the UK to search for work for a period of 2 years after completing their graduate studies.
The new visa rules will come into effect from September/autumn 2020 or later. During the first year after graduation, PSW visa holders can work in any job until they find work to move towards a general work visa.
This rule of staying in the UK after graduation will again makes the UK a topmost choice for international students. International students who were looking for other countries in Europe will again seek to study in the UK.
Who are eligible for a UK post-study work visa?
Any international student having a Tier-4 visa and is enrolled in a recognized UK higher education from September 2020 is eligible for stay back period after their graduation.
Post-study work visa for graduates in the UK?
The new visa rules that will be applicable from September 2020 or later that allow international students to stay in the United Kingdom after graduation for up to two years.
Are students allowed to work in the UK after graduation?
The new post-study work visa rules allow international students to work in the UK after graduation. This rule will be applicable to a bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. graduates.
From September 2020, any international student enrolling in a UK university can stay there for up to two years.
What to do after the post-study work visa ends?
The post-study work visa allows graduates to work to stay up to two years and look for work. During this period, students are allowed to do any work other than their area of study.
Can I Get Work Permit In UK After Study
Types of Post Study Work Visa in UK
To stay back in UK after studying, you will need to apply for a UK PGWP or UK Post Graduate Work Permit. There are 4 categories of long-term work visas that are provided by the UK Government based on the type of work you are planning to do.
- Skilled worker visa
- Health and care work visa
- Senior or specialist worker visa
- Minister of religion visa
- International sportsperson visa
You just have to be aware of the rules to apply for a post study work permit in UK which have been discussed below:
1. Skilled Worker Visa
The skilled worker visa has replaced the Tier 2 (General) work visa in UK and allows you to stay in UK to do an eligible job with an approved employer.
Eligibility criteria:
- Your employer in the UK must be approved by the Home Office.
- Your employer must provide a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ specifying your job role while working in the UK.
- The job you have applied for must be on the list of eligible occupations.
- You must be paid a minimum salary.
- You will have to provide proof of English language proficiency when you apply for a work permit.
Note: You cannot apply for public funds or state pension schemes. You are also not supposed to change jobs or employers without updating your visa.
| What you can do with a Skilled Worker Visa?Work in an eligible job;Study;Your partner and children can come to UK as your dependants;Apply for additional work;Take up voluntary work;Travel outside UK and return to UK;Apply to settle in the UK permanently after living in the UK for 5 years and complying with the requirements. |
2. Health and Care Worker Visa
This type of visa allows professionals in the field of medicine to stay in UK and work with the NHS, an NHS supplier or an adult social care unit.
Eligibility criteria:
- You must be a doctor, nurse, health or adult social care professional
- Have eligible health or social care-related job
- Be employed under a UK employer approved by the Home Office
- Have a ‘Certificate of Sponsorship’ from your employer stating your job role in the UK
- Be paid the minimum salary depending on your job type
- Provide proof of English language proficiency
3. Senior or Specialist Worker Visa
This visa is applicable if you come to UK to do an eligible job at the UK branch of your employer. This visa has been relplaced by Intra Company Transfer Visa (Tier 2.)
Eligibility criteria:
- Be an existing employee of an organisation approved by the Home Office
- Have a ‘Certificate of Sponsorship’ from your employer describing your job role in the UK
- Be employed in an eligible occupation
- Have a minimum salary of £42,400 to be eligible for an Intra-company Transfer visa or £23,000 to be eligible for an Intra-company Graduate Trainee visa.
4. Minister of Religion Visa
You will need this type of visa if you are offered a job in a faith community in the UK.
Eligibility criteria:
- Have a ‘Certificate of Sponsorship’ for your job
- Provide proof of English language proficiency
- Be 18 years or above at the time of application
- Provide tuberculosis test results if you are from a listed country
- Show personal savings to support yourself in the UK
- Provide travel history from the last 5 years
5. International Sportsperson Visa
International Sportsperson Visa is applicable under the following situations:
- You have been certified as an elite sportsperson or qualified coach at the highest level of your profession by the sport’s governing body.
- Your application has an endorsement from a sport’s governing body.
- If your employer can potentially help in the development of sports in UK.
Eligibility criteria:
- Provide a valid ‘Certificate of Sponsorship’ for your job
- Submit proof of English language proficiency
- Provide tuberculosis test results if you are from a listed country
- Have personal savings to support yourself while staying in the UK
- Provide travel and travel history from the last 5 years
- Must have an eligible qualification
Next, let’s check the post study work visa UK eligibility.
Eligibility Criteria to Apply for a Graduate Visa
Now that we have discussed the latest update on work permit after study in UK, let us take a look at the eligibility criteria to apply for a UK post study visa:
- You must apply from UK;
- You must have a Tier 4 (General) student visa;
- You are required to complete a UK undergraduate or postgraduate degree with your student visa;
- You can submit the application once your education provider confirms that you have successfully completed the program that you are enrolled in.
Documents Required to Apply for Post Study Work Permit in UK
A checklist of documents required to complete the application process is given below:
- The reference number on your certificate of sponsorship
- Proof of English language proficiency
- Copy of passport or other document showing proof of identity and nationality
- Details of job title and annual salary
- Occupation code of your job
- Name of your employer and their sponsor license number
Additionally, keep the following documents handy as these may be required to complete the application process:
- Proof of personal savings such as bank statements to support yourself in the UK
- Tuberculosis test results if you are from a listed country
- Certificate of criminal records
- Proof of relationship with partner or children who are applying as your dependents
- Valid ATAS certificate
IMPORTANT: You must have a job offer before applying for a visa.
How to Apply for a Post Study Work Permit in UK?
Now that you know about your stay back options after studying in UK, you must be wondering, how can I get a work permit after study in UK? You can apply for a work visa up to 3 months before the scheduled work start date in the UK. Applications to apply for a work permit can be submitted online along with the application fee and necessary documents. Besides, the standard processing time is 3 weeks if you are applying from outside the UK and 8 weeks if you are applying from within the UK.
UK PSW Visa Fee
How Much Does a Work Permit after Study in UK Cost?
When you apply for a UK student visa post study work permit, you must keep in mind the following expenses:
- Application fee ranging between £625 to £1,423 depending on where you are applying from and your duration of stay in UK;
- Annual healthcare surcharge of £624;
- Minimum £1,270 to support yourself when you arrive in UK.
How To Apply For PSW Visa In UK
In order to apply under the Skilled Worker route you need sponsorship by a licensed employer to do a specific job that meets minimum levels of skill and salary. This overview of the route is specifically tailored to those who have studied in the UK with a Tier 4 or Student route visa and who now wish to apply under the Skilled Worker route, either in the UK or in their home country.
Most people who apply in the UK to switch from Tier 4, Student route or Graduate route permission to the Skilled Worker route, and many former UK students who apply later in their home country, are considered a “new entrant” under the Skilled Worker rules about “tradable points”. This means they can meet a lower minimum salary than other applicants. (This guide does not cover the other ways non-student applicants can gain “tradable points” but you can read the full details in the Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Worker, paragraph 4.2)
We cover the basics about eligible employers, jobs and salaries, but for the fine detail of whether your specific job, salary and situation make you eligible for sponsorship as a Skilled Worker, you will need to discuss it directly with your employer, usually the Human Resources department. The Skilled Worker route is new, having launched on 1 December 2020, so you may find that employers take some time to understand all aspects, especially the key differences from the old Tier 2 route that it has replaced. We explain these difference below.
The Home Office has a full guide to the Skilled Worker route for all types of applicant, including students and former students. There are also separate routes for some specialised areas of skilled work: see the Home Office guides to the Health and Care Worker visa, Intra-company visas, Minister of Religion visa and Sportsperson visa.
The international student adviser at your university or college specialises in student immigration applications and is probably unable to offer one-to-one advice on work-based immigration applications, but they may be able to refer you to someone who can.
Start-up and Innovator
The Start-up route is aimed at people, including those with Tier 4, Student and Graduate route permission, who wish to establish a business in the UK, and who have a business plan endorsed by a Home Office-approved endorsing body. It replaced the Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur route.
The Start-up route has a broader remit than the old Graduate Entrepreneur scheme. Our information here is aimed at those with Tier 4, Student or Graduate route permission who wish to switch into the Start-up route, and those switching in from the Graduate Entrepreneur scheme. You can also apply if you have Tier 2 or Skilled worker permission or if you are in the UK as a visitor undertaking permitted prospective entrepreneur activities.
The full rules and eligibility for this route are contained in Immigration Rules Appendix Start-up. The Home Office website has a guide to applying for the Start-up route and they have published guidance for Home Office staff assessing applications.
The separate Innovator route replaced the old Tier 1 Entrepreneur route and is aimed at experienced businesspeople seeking to establish an innovative business in the UK. You cannot switch from Tier 4 or Student permission straight to the Innovator scheme within the UK, but you can switch if you hold leave as a Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur. Applicants must meet investment fund criteria, require endorsement from an independent endorsing body and must meet other eligibility requirements which are contained in full in Immigration Rules Appendix Innovator. For details of the Innovator scheme, see the guide to the Innovator scheme on the Home Office website.