Post Study Work Visa In UK, Bnefits, Eligibility, How to Apply?
Candidates can discover everything about the Post-Study Work Visa in the UK, including eligibility, application process, benefits, and UK post-study work visa fees for Indian students.
Krati Saraswat18 Sept, 2025
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Post Study Work Visa In UK: The United Kingdom is recognised as one of the popular destinations for studying abroad for Indian students. The introduction of the Post Study Visa has been among the major reasons for this large-scale migration of students from different countries. Post Study Visa visa means “Post-Study Work Visa”. This Post Study Visa was first introduced by the UK government in 2021 for all international students.
As per the Post Study Visa in UK, overseas students can apply for a 2 years extension to live in the UK to live and work in the country. The post-study work visa validity is 2 years for undergraduate and masters students, whereas, up to 3 years for PhD students. International students holding a Tier 4 visa can apply for a 2-year post-study work visa UK providing they have been residing in the country for at least 12 months. Additionally, students have to submit various documents including a passport, Biometric residence permit, CAS, etc to demonstrate their eligibility for the visa. In this article, a detailed insight into the Post Study Visa in UK, its fees, application process, key benefits, etc has been provided to help Indian students who wish to live and work in the country.Read More: UK Student Visa From India
Post Study Work Visa In UK Highlights
Here’s a quick overview of the ‘Graduate route visa’ or post-study work visa UK for Indian students who wish to work after studying in UK.| Post Study Work Visa In UK Highlights | |
|---|---|
| Feature | Details |
| Visa Name | Graduate Route Visa |
| Eligibility | International students who completed an undergraduate, master’s, or Ph.D in the UK. |
| Application Timeline | Within the validity of the current student visa |
| Duration | - 2 years for undergraduate or master’s graduates. - 3 years for Ph.D. graduates. |
| Dependents | Dependents already in the UK on a student visa can stay, but new dependents are not allowed. |
| Work Rights | No restrictions |
| Renewability | Cannot be extended but can lead to other visa pathways (e.g., Skilled Worker Visa). |
| 2-year post-study work visa UK Application Fee | £822 |
| Healthcare Surcharge | £1035 per year |
| 2-year post-study work visa UK Processing Time | 8 weeks |
| Minimum Stay | Must have spent 12 months in the UK |
What is Post Study Visa in UK?
The Post Study Visa full form in UK is “post study work visa UK”. A Post Study Work Visa In UK is an unsponsored route that allows international students to work and live in the United Kingdom after completing their higher education in the country. This visa allows international students to live up to 2 years in the country for undergraduate and master’s students and up to 3 years for PhD students. The post-study work visa additionally allows candidates to apply for PR in UK or a Skilled workers visa for future purposes. The Post Study Visa or UK Graduate Route was introduced on 1 July 2021 which has influenced the increasing migration of international students to UK for studies, work, and living purposes.| January Intake Universities In UK | New Immigration Rules For International Students In The UK |
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Key Benefits of 2-year Post-study Work Visa UK
Living and working in the UK offers a wide range of opportunities for international students. Overseas candidates can work in various multinational companies in UK with high salary packages. Additionally, it will improve the overall lifestyle of the candidates and their families. Apart from these, some popular advantages of Post Study Visa in UK for Indian students are as follows:- Work opportunities without restrictions.
- Duration to build a career.
- Self-employment and business startups.
- Global employability in popular companies in the world.
- No sponsorship requirement for further studies and livelihood.
- Pathway to long-term residency in the UK
- Dependents can stay with the candidates.
- Access to the UK job market.
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Post study Work Visa UK Eligibility
The Post Study Work Visa In UK provides an opportunity for international students to stay and work in the UK after completing their studies. However, students must qualify for the 2-year post-study work visa UK eligibility requirements before applying for a work permit in the country. Here are the eligibility criteria for the Post-Study Work Visa (Graduate Route) in the UK:- The candidates must apply for a visa while staying in the country.
- The candidate should be a student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa holder.
- A minimum qualification of a bachelor’s degree, postgraduate degree, or other eligible course for at least 12 months is mandatory.
- The education provider (such as a university or college) must have informed the Home Office about the successful completion of the course.
- A letter of consent from the sponsor.
How to apply for Post Study Visa visa in the UK?
International students can apply for a Post Study Visa in UK online on the Gov.UK website. Students must prepare all the documents beforehand before applying. Here’s the process to apply for a Post-Study Work Visa in the UK:- Step 1: Visit the official website to create a UK visa and immigration account.
- Step 2: Fill out the application form using accurate information.
- Step 3: Download the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your biometric residence permit (BRP) information.
- Step 4: Attend the UK visa interview.
- Step 5: Generally, visa processing is done within 8 weeks.
Documents Required for Post Study Work Visa In UK
Submitting the necessary documents is crucial for applying UK Post Study Visa for Indian candidates. Here are the key documents required to apply for the Post-Study Work Visa (Graduate Route) in the UK:- A valid passport
- Biometric residence permit (BRP)
- Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)
- Proof of relationship (for dependants)
- Sponsorship/scholarship letter to support the cost of living in UK
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When to apply for your UK post-study work visa?
Candidates must apply for a Post Study Visa in UK after completing their education in the country. Please note that the application must be submitted before the expiry of the existing Tier 4 (General) student visa.UK Post-study Work Visa Fees
UK post-study work visa fees for Indian students is GBP 822. All students must pay the necessary UK Post Study Visa fees at the time of application submission. Additionally, GBP 1,035 per year is charged for healthcare surcharge for 2 years. Planning to fly to UK? Join our popular IELTS coaching in India to crack IELTS in one attempt. Also, check our official Physics Wallah website for Free IELTS Online Courses .| IELTS Practice Tests | Free IELTS General Practice Tests PDFs |
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Post Study Work Visa in UK
Q. How long is a post study work visa for UK?
Ans. The duration of a post study work visa for UK is 2 years for undergraduate and master students. Whereas, for PhD students, the validity period is extended up to 3 years.
Q. Who is eligible for 2 year post study work visa UK?
Ans. Candidates who have completed their undergraduate, postgraduate, or PhD studies in the UK are eligible to apply for a Post Study Visa in UK provided they have a Tier 4 visa while residing in the country. Additionally, they have to submit a list of documents such as CAS, passport, Biometric residence permit, etc to become eligible for a 2-year post-study work visa UK.
Q. What is the new rule for post study work visa in the UK?
Ans. As per the new rule imposed by the UK government, international students who have graduated from a recognised UK university can apply for a Post Study Visa in UK to live and work up to 2 years in the country. Meanwhile, for PhD students, the validity is up to 3 years.
Q. Who is eligible for Post Study Visa in the UK?
Ans. International students who have completed their higher education from a UK university can apply for a Post Study Visa in the UK. However, they have to live and study in the country for at least 12 months.
Q. What happens after 2 years of Post Study Visa in UK?
Ans. After the expiry of the post study work visa UK validity, candidates can apply for a skilled work visa general work visa (Tier 2 visa), or any other relevant visa if they wish to extend their stay in the country.
Q. Why is Post Study Visa rejected in the UK?
Ans. The Post-Study Work Visa (Post Study Visa) in the UK can be rejected due to incomplete or inaccurate documentation, inability to clear all the eligibility criteria, payment failure, and many more. Candidates who apply for a Post Study Visa in the UK outside the country often get rejected due to visa rule violations.
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