Life Abroad | The Pathways To Working In The UK: What You Must Know!

The Graduate Visa allows international students to apply to stay in the UK. During this period, they can work or start looking for work upon graduation. This is the most straightforward and arguably the easiest pathway to staying in the UK. You will have maximum flexibility to build your career how you see fit. With a graduate visa, you’ll be able to work in most jobs or even be self-employed as a freelancer.

In fact, you could even take a gap year and explore the UK and Europe and still be able to return to the UK during the duration of your visa. If you graduated with an undergraduate or master’s degree, you can stay in the country for up to 2 years. If you are a PhD graduate, you can stay for up to 3 years post-graduation.

The Start-up visa is aimed at people, including recent graduates, looking to establish a business in the UK and possess a business plan endorsed by a Home Office endorsing body. The authorised body can either be from a UK higher education institution or a business organisation that supports UK entrepreneurs. In order to be approved, however, you will need to show that you have an exciting new idea that isn’t in business yet, it has to be innovative and not just an existing commercial model and has the ability to scale up for growth.

If you manage to obtain a start-up visa, you can stay for up to 2 years. If you want to extend this visa, you will need to switch to an innovator visa which will have additional conditions. This includes ensuring your business is sustainable and is approved by the endorsing body.

The skilled worker route allows you to stay and work in the UK. However, this route will require you to have sponsorship from a licensed employer to do a specific job that meets a certain set of criteria. This includes earning at least £25,600 per year and ensuring your job is eligible while matching your job description. There are very limited circumstances that will allow your salary to be just £20,480.

In order to apply for this visa, you’ll need to obtain sponsorship and then apply for the visa up to 3 months before you are due to start work in the UK. This visa will last up to a maximum of 5 years.

As part of providing quality essential workers to the UK, you can apply for a Health and Care worker visa if you are a medical professional. This will allow you to stay and work in the UK in an eligible job with the NHS, an NHS supplier or in adult social care.

Similar to the skilled work visa, you will need a certificate of sponsorship from your employer in addition to being either a qualified doctor, nurse or health professional. Because of the nature of healthcare, you need to also prove your level of English proficiency. This will is equivalent to an IELTS band score of 5.0. With this visa, you’ll be able to stay and work in the UK for up to 5 years before you have to extend it.

If you are from Hong Kong and you are a British National (Overseas), you are eligible to apply for a British National (Overseas) visa. This is a special visa that will allow you to live, work and study in the UK. However, there are some criteria to apply. Your permanent home must be in Hong Kong if you are applying from outside of the UK. In addition, any family members applying will also have to be eligible. This includes dependents such as a child, grandchild or grandparents as well as your partner.

In addition, you’ll be able to apply for access to certain benefits if you have financial difficulties adjusting to living in the country. You can apply to stay for up to a maximum of 5 years and you can also apply to live in the UK as a permanent resident once you cross the 5-year mark!

Looking to work in the UK but not exactly sure which pathway is the best option for you? We have you covered. At IDP, our expert team of education counsellors will help you make the best decision, including helping you select the right university course if you are still deciding on your degree. This means you’ll be selecting the right course at the right institution and avoiding any pitfalls along the way. We’ll help guide you toward your best decision possible!

Get started with a free counselling session today. Alternatively, do make an appointment to chat with us online by filling up this form!