Two-year post-study work visa for international students

13 Sep 2019 02:47 PM

The Prime Minister has announced a two year post-study work visa for international students who graduate from UK universities.

The new “graduate route” will allow eligible students to work, or look for work, at any skill level, for a period of two years after completing their courses, and there will be no cap on the number of students who can apply for the new route. This new route will mean talented international students can study in the UK and then continue to live and work her, contributing to the UK’s economy and society.

With the UK facing a digital skills gap of £63 billion a year, it has been a source of enormous frustration for employers in our sector who could not access the talent on their doorstep due to immigration restrictions.

The reinstatement of this visa, which was abolished in 2012 by Theresa May as Home Secretary, is hugely welcome and something techUK has been campaigning on for many years. It’s an important step forward in creating a fair and managed immigration system, and a win for the techUK backed #FullStrength campaign.

This policy change follows a shake-up of immigration rules announced by the Prime Minister in August to encourage the world’s top scientists to move to the UK.

The new route will launch for the 2020/21 intake of students. After the two years, they will be able to switch onto the skilled work visa if they find a job which meets the skill requirement of the route.