Does A Graduate Visa Lead To Permanent Residence In The UK?

The Graduate visa is open to sponsored international students studying at university in the UK.

The visa is granted for a period of 2 years, or 3 years if you have a PHD or other doctoral qualification.

A Graduate visa cannot be extended and is not a route which leads to permanent residence in its own right. You may be able to switch to a different visa, should you wish to remain in the UK beyond the expiry of your Graduate visa.

If you successfully switch to another visa, which does lead to settlement, for example, a Skilled Worker visa, you will not be able to count the period for which you were in the UK as a Graduate towards the qualifying period for settlement. It is, however, possible to combine time spent in the UK as a Graduate with other periods of leave for the purpose of a settlement application on the basis of 10 years’ long residence.

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The information in this blog is for general information purposes only and does not purport to be comprehensive or to provide legal advice. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the information and law is current as of the date of publication it should be stressed that, due to the passage of time, this does not necessarily reflect the present legal position. Gherson accepts no responsibility for loss which may arise from accessing or reliance on information contained in this blog. For formal advice on the current law please do not hesitate to contact Gherson. Legal advice is only provided pursuant to a written agreement, identified as such, and signed by the client and by or on behalf of Gherson.

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