Scotland proposes Scottish Graduate Visa to help international students qualify for skilled worker visas

The Scottish government has proposed a dedicated visa for international graduates from Scottish universities or colleges who want to stay in Scotland after their studies.

The ‘Scottish Graduate Visa’ would be linked to a Scottish tax code and be based on a requirement to live and work in Scotland. It would be granted for up to two years and would act as a bridge between Study and Graduate visas and the Skilled Worker Visa, giving international students an additional two years to gain the professional experience required to qualify for roles on the Skilled Worker Visa route.

Scottish employers need a worker sponsor licence, to sponsor international skilled workers to work in Scotland with a Skilled Worker visa. Skilled workers need a confirmed job offer that is eligible for this visa and is considered highly skilled. They need to earn an annual salary of at least £38,700 or the ‘going rate’ for the job, whichever is higher. This does not apply to some health and education jobs.

The ‘going rate’ is the annual minimum gross salary for a 37.5-hour working week for a specific job. This can range from £30,960 to £84,100, for those under the new rules, depending on the skilled worker’s job. A worker must also be paid a minimum hourly rate of £15.88 for a 37.5-hour week.

There are discounts for workers who hold a PhD, are new entrants,or have a job on the immigration salary list. Discounts can reduce the starting salary to a minimum of £30,960, instead of £38,700 and the going rate to anywhere between £30,960 and £75,690.

Skilled workers can work in the job and for the sponsor named on their visa application. They can also work in a second job for another employer as long as their visa conditions allow it.

To apply, skilled foreign workers need to have an eligible job offer. Foreign workers can apply online  from outside the UK and if they meet the requirements, workers can apply to switch to a Skilled Worker visa from inside the UK. For example, someone with a valid Student or Graduate visa may be able to switch to a Skilled Worker visa. If they meet the requirements, workers can apply to extend a Skilled Worker visa from inside the UK.

The ‘Scottish Graduate Visa’ is expected to be an attractive proposition for international students as it will ensure they can gain experience as they work towards the high salary threshold for a Skilled Worker Visa. The tailored visa route for international students who have completed their studies is expected to tackle population challenges in Scotland and grow the economy.

As migration is a reserved issue, developing and delivering the Scottish Graduate Visa would require the cooperation of the UK Government ahead of it coming into force.

The UK previously had a tailored migration route based on geography. In 2005, the then-Scottish and UK Governments established the ‘Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland’ scheme. This was a post-study visa route for international students in Scotland which ran from 2005 to 2008 and was then replaced by a UK-wide post-study work route before being disbanded in 2012.