• Graduate Trainee Visa

Graduate Trainee Visa

A Grdauate Trainee Visa is ideal for individuals looking to come to the UK who work in an eligible job and are part of their company’s graduate managerial or specialist training programme.

To qualify for this visa, you must show that:

  • you are an existing employee of an organisation with a Home Office-issued sponsor licence
  • you have worked for the company outside the UK for at least 3 months when you apply
  • you are paid at least the equivalent of £24220 per year

If you do not meet these criteria but still want to work in the UK for your non-UK employer, you may be able to apply for a Senior or Specialist Worker Visa instead.

A Graduate Trainee Visa can be issued for up to 12 months, and must be applied for from outside the UK. This visa can not be extended and it is not possible to switch to this visa from inside the UK. It may be possible to apply for a new Graduate Trainee Visa, but only from outside the UK.

Managers and HR: Be careful when considering visa options for an employee who has previously worked in the UK on other types of intra-company or Global Business Mobility category visas. Individuals who have spent time in the UK on many of these visas are usually limited to a maximum stay of five years in any six year period.

Check your eligibility for this visa

Graduate Trainee Visa process and costs

Once an application for a Graduate Trainee Visa has been submitted, a decision is usually received within three weeks. The application itself can be submitted up to three months before work in the UK is intended to begin.

In addition to being able to do the work in the UK for which they have been sponsored, individuals with a Graduate Trainee Visa are also permitted to study, undertake voluntary work, and to travel abroad and return to the UK. They can also bring a partner and/or children with them as dependants, provided they are eligible and submit visa applications of their own.

To apply for a Graduate Trainee Visa costs £298 plus an additional healthcare surcharge, the cost of which can vary. Any dependants will also be required to submit their own application and pay the healthcare surcharge.

Neveen Galal

Neveen is a UK Immigration Solicitor with over 20 years experience in UK Immigration Law. She represents corporate and individual clients seeking assistance with any visa category to the UK. Neveen is a graduate of Westminster University, from which she was awarded the 2021 Westminster Alumni Outstanding Achievement Award.

Neveen’s rapid career trajectory saw her progress at pace from paralegal to Head of Department level, and then to earning a place on her firm’s Board of Directors by the age of 28. This achievement was recognised by Who’s Who placing her in their directory of ‘Britain’s Business Elite’ in 2008. Neveen then went on to establish her own boutique Immigration Law Firm in the City of London in 2015. She also co-founded the Hexagon Legal Network in 2017.

Neveen is passionate about all aspects of UK immigration law, and is committed to providing bespoke residence and citizenship solutions to citizens across the globe that wish to relocate to the UK. Neveen’s immigration advisory services are predominately geared towards highly skilled workers and companies wishing to have a UK presence, however she and her team of experienced immigration advisors can also assist with partner-based applications, student visas and all other personal and business immigration matters.

If you would like to discuss your UK immigration matter or have any questions about your options for immigrating to the UK, you can book a consultation here.