New Green MSP is only able to live in UK on temporary student visa...which expires later this year

By MICHAEL BLACKLEY, SCOTTISH DAILY MAIL POLITICAL EDITOR Published: 21:47, 11 May 2026 | Updated: 21:47, 11 May 2026 A newly elected Green MSP is only able to live in the UK on a temporary student visa which expires later this year. Q Manivannan last night confirmed the looming deadline for securing a further graduate visa, which would permit another three years of work. The new MSP for Edinburgh and Lothian East is also applying for a ‘global talent visa’ which would grant the right to live and work in the UK for the entire five-year parliamentary term and beyond. Normally, a student visa includes a series of restrictions such as only being able to work part-time during term time for a maximum of 20 hours a week, and not being able to fill a permanent vacancy. But the Home Office last night confirmed that elected posts in local or devolved government are not considered to be employment for the purposes of the immigration rules, and that restrictions on employment do not affect their ability to carry out these roles. In a statement last night, the new MSP, who identifies as a ‘transgender’ Tamil immigrant with the pronouns they/them, said: ‘Every MSP from every party represented in the Scottish parliament unanimously voted to allow everyone with the right to live here to stand in elections, including new Scots on visas like me. ‘I am a Commonwealth citizen and am currently on a student visa which will expire later this year. Having passed my grant-funded PhD, I am able to work full time. ‘I am in the process of transitioning to a graduate visa which will allow me to stay in the UK for a further three years. Q Manivannan is  applying for a global talent visa  which would grant the right to live and work in the UK for the entire five year parliamentary term and beyond ‘At the same time, I am also applying for a global talent visa, recognising my contributions to the country, which will allow me to stay in the UK for my parliamentary term and beyond.’ The Mail recently revealed that the politician had pleaded with colleagues for help to raise £2,089 for a graduate route visa application and to allow time to save for the £5,047 cost of applying for a global talent visa. As of earlier this month, £1,161 had been committed on the fundraising page. Those who donated included other Green candidates Mridul Wadhwa – controversial former chief executive of the Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre – and Kate Nevens, who proposed the abolition of prisons. But the fundraising page was removed yesterday and the Scottish Greens have so far refused to confirm the reasons or whether those who donated would get their money back. Dr Manivannan said: ‘I am proud of my heritage and who I am.  'I am also proud to be a voice for all my constituents, including migrants and people on visas who are often shut out of our national debate.  'I am also proud to have been awarded and recognised for my local work in arts and culture, academia and human rights in Scotland – serving our people during my time here. Scotland is home, in every way. ‘The Scottish Greens want to build a fair and humane system that treats people with dignity and respect rather than the current Home Office system that is costly, difficult and often dehumanising. ‘With my election, I seek to represent that goal.’ A Scottish parliament spokesman said: ‘It is the responsibility of individual candidates and political parties to ensure that all relevant qualifications for standing for election are met. ‘There is no role for the parliament in carrying out checks on candidates who are elected.’ The comments below have been moderated in advance. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.