Graduate visa reprieve could have ‘sting in the tail’

Plans to abolish UK visa could resurface, with sector leaders warning of “monumental task” ahead

The government’s reprieve for the graduate route visa has prompted sector relief, along with warnings that plans to abolish it could resurface in the election campaign and that a wider battle on international recruitment still awaits.

On 23 May, a joint statement by the Home Office and the Department for Education confirmed that the visa route will remain in place but be “kept under review”, with measures announced to target perceived abuse of the route as well as students’ and universities’ visa compliance. That followed a report by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) that recommended the government retain the route, warning of damage to research if the government hit universities’ funding by restricting international recruitment.