United Kingdom - Study - Graduate Visa
The Graduate Visa route has been available since 1 July 2021. You may be eligible for this visa if you:
a) are currently resident in the UK on the UK’s Student Visa or Tier 4 (General) visa; AND
b) you have successfully completed a bachelor’s degree, post graduate degree or another eligible course at a UK-based University.
If eligible, you will be granted a 2-year work visa on the basis of having successfully completed a bachelor’s degree. A 3-year visa will be granted if you have successfully completed a PHD or other doctoral courses. The Graduate visa allows you to work, look for work, be self-employed or do voluntary work in the UK. The Graduate visa cannot be extended, and you can usually add dependants on this visa.
This visa is "non-qualifying visa" in that it cannot itself lead to settlement in the UK. However, the Graduate Visa can be used to secure future sponsored employment in the UK enabling a switch (in country) to a Skilled person visa (which IS a qualifying visa that can lead to settlement in the UK).