What is the difference between a graduate visa and a work visa? This is one of the search queries many international students studying abroad begin to ask as graduation approaches. If you are an international student who wants to stay in your country of study to build a career, then this is for you.
What is a Graduate Visa?
A graduate visa, also referred to as a post-study visa, allows international graduates to stay and look for work in the country for a set period. In the United Kingdom, for example, International graduates are eligible to stay at least 18 months after completing a bachelor’s or master’s degree. For PhD graduates, they can stay up to three years post-study.
In Canada, graduates can stay and work under the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) for 8 months to 3 years. The duration of stay depends on the program of study, whether bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD. In Germany, international graduates have only 18 months to stay on their graduate visa. They can either find a job that will sponsor their visa or return to their home country.
How to Qualify for a Graduate Visa
To qualify for a graduate visa after completing your studies abroad, there are certain criteria you must meet. These include:
- Complete your program in a recognised institution in the country.
- Your institution will send a notification to formally report that you have completed your program.
- Your student visa must still be valid, and you must have stayed in the country for at least 12 months, as specified by the country.
- In Canada, for example, you may need to complete an IRCC-approved English or French language test.
- Apply for the graduate visa online, depending on your country of residence.
- You need to be physically present in the country throughout your application process.
- Pay the application fee, submit your biometrics, and wait for approval.
What you should know about the graduate visa is that you cannot extend it in most countries. Instead, they expect you to transition to another type of visa that will legally sponsor your stay in the country. This is where the work visa comes into play.
Read Also: How to Apply for the UK Health and Care Worker Visa
What is a Work Visa?
A work visa is technically the right you get to work legally in a foreign country. To get a work visa, you need to be sponsored by an employer that is recognised by the immigration or Home Office, as the case may be.
You don’t necessarily need to have completed a degree in the country before getting a work visa. While graduates can transition to a work visa if they get a job that will sponsor their visa, foreigners from other countries who did not study in the country can also obtain a work visa.
With a work visa, you can stay legally in the country for 1 to 6 years, depending on the permit granted and the country where you are working. For instance, in the United States, foreigners can obtain a work permit for up to 6 years, which can be renewed multiple times during their employment.
In Australia, a work permit lasts between two and four years, depending on the worker’s skills and the employer. In the UK, workers on this visa can stay for up to 5 years, and it is renewable. Also, your work visa can lead to permanent residency in some cases if you have stayed for up to 5 years in countries such as Canada and the United Kingdom. In Sweden, your work visa can last as long as your employment contract.
How to Qualify for a Work Visa
- You need to be employed by a licensed employer in the country.
- The employer must be willing to sponsor your visa for the duration of your stay in the country.
- An employment contract must be presented, and the salary must meet the minimum wage.
- Workers must have a clean criminal record and pass the medical test before they can begin working.
- Employees may also need to submit documents such as their passport, school certificates, CV, and other vital information.
- Depending on the country, you may need to attend an in-person interview at the embassy and submit biometrics for processing.
Key Differences Between A Graduate Visa and a Work Visa
| Graduate Visa | Work Visa |
| Can transition from a student visa to a graduate visa. | Does not necessarily require a transition, as foreigners can get direct employment for this visa. |
| Graduates can stay within a short time frame of 18 months to 3 years, depending on the degree completed. | Workers can stay for up to six years or for the duration of their employment contract. |
| The graduate visa is non-renewable. | The work is renewable for as long as it is required. |
| The university or institution must formally notify the immigration office of the program’s end. | This requires an employer to submit a sponsorship letter or petition to the immigration office. |
| It may not lead to a permit to reside except in countries like Canada. | Can create a path to permanent residency. |
| Graduates can change jobs throughout the visa period. | Employees on this work visa cannot change jobs at will, as their stay depends on their employer’s sponsorship. |
| Salaries can be flexible as they do not need to follow strict rules. | The job must pay at least the minimum wage or comply with the country’s specific salary rules. |
| This visa does not require sponsorship to transition from a student visa. | The work visa requires the sponsorship of a licensed employer. |
| May not necessarily permit graduates to bring their families unless they are already together before the transition from the student visa. | Allows workers to bring along their families, including children, under specific guidelines. |
Read Also: How to Get a Job in Ireland After Graduation
Comparison Between Different Countries’ Graduate and Work Visa Routes
United Kingdom
| Graduate Visa Route | Work Visa Route |
| Allows graduates to stay for at least 18 months for bachelor’s and master’s degrees and 3 years for PhD graduates. | 1-5 years. |
| Completed a program that is eligible under the immigration rule, and the student’s Tier 4 visa must remain valid throughout the application. | Graduate visa holders can transition to this visa. Also, other foreigners who did not study in the country can get this visa through valid employment. |
| The university or institution must notify the UK Home Office of the completion of studies. | The employer must provide a certificate of sponsorship for the employee. |
| It is a one-time application. | It can be renewed throughout your employment. |
| Graduates can find jobs, start a business of their own, and work in multiple places. They can also travel outside the UK and return. | It is a rigid visa that allows workers to stay with the employer that sponsors their visa. In the event of a change of job, they must notify the Home Office. |
| Does not count toward the path to permanent residency. | Workers who have stayed for at least 5 years can apply for permanent residency. |
Australia
| Graduate Visa Route | Work Visa Route |
| The Australian Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) allows graduates to stay for 2 or 4 years depending on their program. | Up to 5 years. |
| Applicants must be no older than 35 years and must have a student visa valid for at least 6 months. They must also have finished a CRICOS-registered course of at least two years before applying. | Employees must not be older than 45 years. They can apply for a work visa if they get a job that will sponsor their visa. |
| Graduates must submit an official letter from their institution via their ImmiAccount as proof of completion of their studies. Other documents to submit include their transcripts, English test results, police and medical reports and so on. | Employers must submit an application to the Australian Department of Home Affairs through regulated processes. If an employer also wants to terminate the work contract, they must notify the department again. Workers in the case are given 60 days to find a new employer to sponsor their visa. |
| It is a one-time application which must be done within 6 months of your course completion date. | It can be renewed throughout your employment. |
| Graduates can find jobs and work in multiple places. They can also change jobs, travel outside Australia, and return. | It is not a flexible visa and requires the worker to stay with the job that sponsors their visa. In the event of a change of job, they must notify the immigration office. |
| May indirectly count towards permanent residency under Australia’s Points Based Skilled Migration System. | Workers who have stayed with their current employers for at least two years can apply for permanent residency. |
Canada
| Graduate Visa Route | Work Visa Route |
| The Canadian Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) allows international graduates to stay and work in Canada for up to three years after graduation. | 1 to 2 years |
| Applicants must have completed their studies, received a letter of completion, and applied within 180 days. Their student visa should also be valid during this time. | Workers must have received employment from a licensed employer in Canada or through the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). |
| Graduates must submit an official letter of completion of their studies on their IRCC account online. | The employer provides an employment letter and contract, which will then be used to apply online to IRCC. |
| It is a one-time application which must be done within 180 days of your course completion date. | It is highly renewable and has no limit on how many times it can be renewed, depending on the job contract. |
| Allows holders to find jobs and travel in and out of Canada. To travel outside Canada and return, visa holders must have a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or electronic travel authorisation (eTA). | Workers can travel outside Canada on this visa, provided they have a valid Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or an electronic travel authorisation (eTA). |
| It counts towards permanent residency, provided the visa holder obtains the required work experience. | Workers must have worked in Canada in skilled labour for at least 12 months and accumulated over 1,500 work hours. There are other guidelines from the IRCC that you must complete to achieve permanent residency. |
Takeaway
The key difference between a graduate visa and a work visa lies mainly in the right to work abroad as a foreigner. If you are seeking to build a thriving and lasting career, going through the graduate visa and transitioning to the work visa can give you a better edge.
Whether you go through the work visa by getting employment or through the graduate visa route, both give you the opportunity to thrive, build your career and above all, to legally remain in the country.
Before submitting your immigration application for whichever visa route you choose, check your eligibility and the immigration requirements for each country.
