PSW in UK or a Post Work Study permit, is a visa that allows international students who have graduated from a UK university to stay in the country after graduation.
The UK Graduate Visa allows you to live and work for up to three years after your studies, depending on if you achieved a bachelors degree or a PhD. After this, you can switch to another work visa through graduate jobs with visa sponsorship in UK.
There are potential changes to PSW UK in 2024, more information is to be announced by the UK government in the coming weeks. There may be stricter rules on family members coming to the UK with you.
PSW in UK
The Graduate Visa UK is a common choice for recently graduated students from a British university so they can remain in the country. It allows young professionals to stay in the UK for up to three years. It is sometimes referred to as a Post Study Work visa or PSW UK.
One of the benefits of this route to work in the UK is you do not need to be sponsored by an employer. This allows you to find an employer that will sponsor you on a Skilled Worker visa or Health and Care Worker visa.
This is an advantage over applicants from overseas as you already have work experience in the UK and employers do not need to pay for sponsorship.
PSW UK Changes 2024
The UK government is currently reviewing the PSW in UK visa. The review is expected to be published in May 2024 and we will update this article with the details.
Post Study Work visa UK eligibility
Eligibility for PSW in UK will require 70 points under the Graduate Visa.
You will need to be on a Student Visa UK when applying and on course to achieve at least a bachelors degree from an eligible university. You must be currently still living in the UK and your course must have been at least 12 months to complete.
Documents required for PSW in UK include having a valid passport and a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) document, that is linked to your current Student Visa.
PSW in UK will also require you to prove your identity, this is normally done through your passport or a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP).
UK PSW visa fee
PSW fees in UK include the application fee which is currently £822 for your entire duration.
The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) entitles you to use the NHS if you become unwell or have an accident while in the UK.
You have to pay the IHS even if you do not use the NHS or even if you have your own private health insurance, the cost is £1,035 per year.
If you are applying for a 2-year visa you will have to pay £1,035 each year, therefore you will have to pay a total of £2,070.
If you are applying for a 3-year visa you will have to pay £1,035 each year, therefore you will have to pay a total of £3,105.
How to apply for PSW visa in UK
How to apply for PSW in UK? You can apply for PSW in UK online through the Graduate Visa UK route. As soon as you have evidence you have passed enough modules for a degree from your university you should apply. You must still be on a Student Visa so waiting until graduation is too late.
Graduates that have achieved a bachelors degree at a UK university can apply to stay for two years, while a PHD graduate can stay for three years.
The current processing time for the PSW in UK application is within 8 weeks.
Applying for a work visa in the UK
There are graduate jobs with visa sponsorship in UK, and being a recent graduate you are desirable.
You can only apply for the UK Graduate Visa only once, which will last two or three years. But this will give you time to earn trust with an employer who will sponsor you on another visa. There are many different ways to stay in the UK after your Student or Graduate visa, we discuss this more in our recent article.
The Skilled Worker Visa UK allows you to live and work in the UK for up to five years. You must be eligible by securing a job on the Skilled Worker Occupations List and finding an employer to sponsor you. You will need to earn a salary of at least £38,700 from April 2024 to qualify for this visa. After five years you can apply to settle in the UK or apply again for this visa.
The Health and Care Worker UK visa is the most popular work visa in the United Kingdom. This visa allows healthcare professionals such as doctors, nurses and care workers to work in the UK. The advantage of this visa over the Skilled Worker visa is the minimum salary will remain £26,200. You will also be exempt from paying for the Immigration Health Surcharge. To be eligible the occupation must be listed on the Health and Care Worker Occupations List
The Scale-Up Visa UK is an ideal work visa for skilled workers or recent graduates looking to join a fast growing British company. You must meet the minimum salary threshold and be offered a job role on the Scale-Up Occupations List. You can switch from this job role after 6 months and switch to an unsponsored job role.
The India Young Professionals Scheme is a great way for young Indian graduates to live and work in the UK for up to two years. You must have a graduate degree and apply through a ballot. In 2023, there were 3000 places available in which all were taken. You do not need to be sponsored by an employer or meet a minimum salary threshold.
The Youth Mobility Visa UK is a working holiday visa that allows young people aged between 18-35 to live and work in the UK for up to three years. You must be from an eligible country and can only enter the UK on this visa once. You can work without job sponsorship and is a good pathway to switch to a longer term visa such as the Skilled Worker.
Family visa to UK
PSW UK does allow family members otherwise known as “dependants”, to continue living in the United Kingdom. Family members must already be living in the UK with you as part of the Student Visa, no new dependants will be allowed to join you. A UK PSW visa fee for a dependent will cost £1,048 if you are switching from a Student Visa.
Family members will need complete their own application online.
The UK government is expected to restrict family members on this visa from May 2024. A further announcement with more details will be made in the first quarter of 2024.
Family members include:
- Husband
- Wife
- Unmarried Partner
- Child
CAN THIS LEAD TO BRITISH CITIZENSHIP?
This visa does not count towards becoming a British citizen, only other work visas will contribute towards this. The Graduate Visa however does allow you to work and build relationships with employers who will sponsor you after the visa ends. This is an advantage over applicants who have never worked in the UK and are applying abroad.
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