Along with prestigious, top-class education and highly ranked universities, the UK offers a beautiful environment with every facility available. A multicultural society with people from all across the globe, Europe, India, Nigeria, and more

It also has many religions and traditions, offering a great spiritual living experience in the UK. The job and career advancement opportunities are another reason why students want to stay in the UK after studying.

So, is it possible to get a PR in the UK after studies? It’s indeed possible, but not directly. There’s a long way to go. Let’s discuss in detail how to get PR (permanent residency) in the UK as an international student after graduation.

Is It Possible To Get PR in the UK After Study?

It’s possible to get PR in the UK after graduation, but not directly, especially when you’re an international student. You enter the UK on a Student visa, which is temporary and requires you to leave after graduation.

The ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain), which is a form of permanent residency in the UK, issues you the visa only when you’ve spent 5 years in the country. The years spent on the Student visa don’t count for it. 

To get PR in the UK after studying, you first need the Graduate visa (also known as the Post-Study Work visa or graduate route). It allows you to stay in the country for 2 years to seek employment.

If you secure a job, you may qualify for a Skilled Worker visa, allowing a 5-year stay. This visa leads you to the ILR, the PR to stay in the UK. We’ll learn in detail, step by step, how to transition to the PR from a Student visa ahead.

Visas You Need to Get To PR

You need to transit from a Student visa to a Graduate visa, to a Skilled Worker visa, and then finally to the ILR, Permanent Residency. 

Therefore, you need to understand each of these and their requirements. You get the Student visa, complete the education, and then this transition starts towards getting the permanent residency in the UK as an international student.

Graduate Visa (Post-Study Work Visa)

The Post-Study Visa, also known as the Graduate Visa, is to let international students stay in the UK for 2 years more after their graduation so that they can find work and career opportunities. 

You can get this visa after your graduation. You don’t need to have a job to apply for the visa. You can work at any skill level or in any field that you want through this visa and explore the career opportunities for yourself.

The visa is only for 2 years, and you can’t extend it further. The only option to extend is to get another visa, which is the Skilled Worker Visa.

Requirements

1. Must be in the UK to apply.
2. Hold a valid Student or Tier 4 visa.
3. Completed an eligible UK course.
4. Education provider confirms course completion.

Skilled Worker Visa

The UK Skilled Worker Visa is given to graduates who are willing to work in the country full-time after their graduation. With this visa, the students can earn, gain experience in the field, and also stay in the UK for up to 5 years if they remain eligible for that long.

If you want to get this visa, you must have a job offer from a Home Office-approved UK employer who also gives you the CoS (Certificate of Sponsorship).

Requirements

1. Job offer from an approved employer.
2. CoS from employer.
3. The job must be on the eligible list.
4. Meet minimum salary.
5. English language proficiency.
6. Maintenance funds proof if needed.
7. Valid passport and good character.

Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)

When you stay in the UK for 5 years on the Skilled Worker Visa, the ILR grants you permanent residence. It’s a status that you get, which means you’ve become a permanent resident of the UK. When you have it, you can use public funds, healthcare, and the social benefits that are given to British citizens.

Requirements

1. 5 years of continuous stay on a qualifying visa.
2. Pass the Life in the UK Test.
3. English language proficiency.
4. No serious criminal record.
5. Biometric information and documents.

How To Get PR In The UK After Studying?

Let’s learn step by step how to get a PR in the United Kingdom as an international student while also understanding the requirements.

Step 1: Admission in UK Universities

The first step is to be admitted to a UK university. This will allow you to complete your studies in the UK on a Student Visa and then transition to other visas after graduation. 

To take admission in UK universities, you need to meet their eligibility criteria, which are different for each university.

Required documents

You must provide these documents.

1. All previous education mark sheets/transcripts
2. Statement of Purpose (SOP) explaining your study goals
3. Letters of Recommendation (LORs)
4. English language proficiency proof (IELTS, TOEFL, PTE)
5. Certificates of extracurricular activities

Step 2: Apply for a UK Student Visa (Tier-4)

If you’re already in the UK, you may already have the Tier 4, which is the UK Student Visa. If you don’t have it, you must apply for it at least 3 months before your course starts. 

With this visa, you’ll be able to stay in the UK and study at the university for as long as the course lasts. The Student visa application can cost you around £330, along with a £150/year surcharge for healthcare.

Required documents

You must provide these documents to apply for the Tier-4 student visa in the UK.

1. Valid passport and a filled Tier-4 visa application form
2. Latest passport-size photographs
3. Proof that you can financially support yourself during studies
4. CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) issued by the university
5. Tuberculosis (TB) test results, if applicable
6. English language proficiency proof
7. Any additional documents required by the university or UKVI

Step 3: Working During Studies

When you have a UK Student Visa and you’ve come to the UK, you can also work to support your studies. You can work up to 20 hours per week during term time and full-time during the holidays. Or you can simply complete your studies and then start working when you’re done.

Common jobs include

These are the jobs for UK international students that you can do.

1. Administrative: finance assistant, facilities assistant, admission officer, personal assistant
2. Academic: research assistant, personal tutor
3. Retail: cashier, sales assistant
4. Creative/tech: graphic designer, social media assistant, software intern, blogger
5. Others: fitness instructor, photographer
   

Step 4: Get A PSW And Skilled Worker Visa

When you’re done with your studies, the second step is to apply for the PSW (Post Study Work) Visa. With this visa, you can look for a job and stay in the country for two years, and also do the job if you get one. 

After you get a job in any firm, you can apply for the Skilled Worker Visa as well if you meet the requirements we’ve discussed above.

Then keep working for the approved employer for up to 5 years on the Skilled Worker Visa, and then you’ll be able to transit to the ILR, permanent residency.

Step 5: Applying for Permanent Residency (ILR)

When you’ve spent 5 years in the UK as a graduate worker on the Skilled Worker Visa, you meet the eligibility for the permanent residency ILR. 

To be qualified for it, you must be employed full-time with good conduct, have no criminal record, have passed the Life in the UK Test, and have an English proficiency certification. 

The approval of ILR can take up to 6 months. So, make sure that you apply it earlier and also be patient till you get the response.

Required Documents

When you meet the criteria of ILR in the UK, these are the documents that you need to submit for applying to ILR.

1. Current passport + 2 passport-size photographs
2. Digital prints of all 10 fingers
3. Signature
4. Name, date & place of birth
5. Current immigration and work/study status

Other Visa Options That Lead TO PR

You can also explore these visa options that lead to PR.

1. Innovator Visa: Set up a business in the UK, which can lead to PR.
2. Start-up Visa: Start a new business in the UK, which may lead to PR.
3. Global Talent Visa: Work in the UK as a skilled professional, which can lead to PR.
4. Family or Partner Route: Join a British citizen or settled partner, which can lead to PR.

StudyLead Consultants: Swiftly Navigate Studying The UK Process!

Is it possible to get a PR in the UK after studies? It’s indeed possible to get permanent residency in the UK after graduation, but not directly. You first need to complete your studies on a Student Visa and get the Post Study Visa to stay in the UK for another two years. Then, you can get a job and apply for the Skilled Worker Visa.

You can stay in the UK for 5 years on the Skilled Worker Visa, which makes you eligible for the ILR, permanent residence. After that, you can apply for the ILR, which is a form of PR, and it may take 6 months to get approved. When you’re approved for it, you become a permanent British resident in the UK.

If you don’t understand the documents, how to apply for the visas, what requirements to meet, and what to do if the application is rejected, contact StudyLeads consultants. We’re a leading UK study consultancy in Pakistan that takes care of everything for you to study and get settled in the UK.

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