Originally published: September 18, 2020. Last updated: Oct 10, 2026.
Immigration rules change frequently. This guide reflects the position published on the official UK government website as checked on 10 October 2026. Always confirm the current rules on gov.uk’s Graduate visa pages before making plans or paying any fees.
The UK’s post-study work route is officially called the Graduate visa (often still referred to as the Graduate route). It lets international students who have successfully completed an eligible course in the UK stay on to work, look for work, or start a business, without needing a job offer first. The route is fully operational, and it has changed since it launched: most notably, the standard grant is shortening for later applicants, so the date you apply now matters. This guide explains the current guidelines and answers the most common questions, all sourced from gov.uk.
What the Graduate visa is
A Graduate visa gives you permission to stay in the UK after successfully completing an eligible course. You do not need a job offer, employer sponsorship, or a minimum salary to apply: the whole point of the route is to give graduates time to find their footing in the UK labour market. You must be in the UK when you apply.
Who can apply: eligibility
According to gov.uk, you can apply if all of the following are true:
- You are in the UK.
- Your current visa is a Student visa or a Tier 4 (General) student visa (Tier 4 was the predecessor name; current grants are Student visas).
- You studied a UK bachelor’s degree, postgraduate degree, or other eligible course for the minimum required period on that visa: at least 12 months if your course was longer than 12 months, or the full length of the course if it was shorter.
- Your education provider (for example, your university) has a track record of compliance as a licensed sponsor and has told the Home Office that you have successfully completed your course.
Eligible courses are usually a UK bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or PhD/doctorate, plus a limited set of professional qualifications such as the Legal Practice Course, the Bar Practice Course, and postgraduate teaching qualifications. If you are unsure whether your course qualifies, ask your education provider before you apply.
How long the visa lasts
This is the rule most older guides get wrong. A Graduate visa lasts for:
- 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026;
- 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027;
- 3 years if you have a PhD or other doctoral qualification.
Your visa starts from the day your application is approved. You cannot extend a Graduate visa, and the Immigration Rules state explicitly that the Graduate route is not a route to settlement: time spent on it does not count toward indefinite leave to remain. You can, however, switch to a different visa before it expires, such as the Skilled Worker visa (see below).
What you can and cannot do
With a Graduate visa you can work in most jobs, look for work, be self-employed, do voluntary work, travel abroad and return to the UK, and continue living in the UK with your partner and children if they are eligible.
You cannot claim most benefits (public funds) or the State Pension, and you cannot work as a professional sportsperson. Study is restricted: you can only study on a course that is not eligible for a Student visa (if your course qualifies for a Student visa, you would extend that visa instead), and you may need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate for sensitive subjects.
Fees and the immigration health surcharge
When you apply, you need to pay the £937 application fee and the immigration health surcharge, which is usually £1,035 for each year you will be in the UK. Partners and children applying with you pay the same fee and surcharge each. Fees change over time, so use gov.uk’s fee checker for the exact amount before you apply.
Partners and children: the dependant rules
Your partner and children can apply to stay as your dependants only if they joined you in the UK as dependants on your current Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa. You cannot bring new dependants who were not already your Student-visa dependants. A child born in the UK during your Student visa, Tier 4 visa, or Graduate visa can also apply. Each family member applies and pays separately, and a dependant’s permission ends on the same date as yours. If you later switch to a different visa, such as a Skilled Worker visa, new dependants may be able to join you from outside the UK under that route’s rules.
How and when to apply
You apply online. You can apply after your education provider has told the Home Office you completed your course (you do not have to wait for graduation or your certificate), and you must apply before your Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa expires. You will need your passport or travel document, the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) reference number from your Student visa application, and your biometric residence permit, plus proof of relationships if dependants are applying with you.
Once you have applied online, proved your identity, and provided your documents, you will usually get a decision within 8 weeks, and you can stay in the UK while you wait. Do not travel outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man until you get a decision: leaving will withdraw your application.
After the Graduate visa: switching to a Skilled Worker visa
Because the Graduate visa cannot be extended and does not lead to settlement, many graduates use it as a bridge to the Skilled Worker visa, which replaced the old Tier 2 route and can lead to settlement. To switch, you need a confirmed job offer from a UK employer approved by the Home Office, a certificate of sponsorship from that employer, a job in an eligible occupation, and the required minimum salary for the role. Start the job search well before your Graduate visa expires: securing sponsorship takes time, and the Skilled Worker route has its own salary and English-language requirements to meet.
Study and settle in the UK
The Graduate visa has made the UK a more attractive study destination by giving graduates a genuine window to build a career after their degree. If you are still choosing where to study, a UK university with a strong track record of compliance as a licensed sponsor is essential, since your provider’s status is part of the eligibility test. For applicants who want to avoid English-language testing hurdles, see our guide to the top UK universities to apply for study without IELTS. Whatever your plans, verify every detail against gov.uk before you act: on immigration, the official source is the only one that counts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a job offer to apply for the Graduate visa?
No. You do not need a job offer, employer sponsorship, or a minimum salary to apply for the Graduate visa. You can look for work, work in most jobs, or be self-employed once it is granted.
How long does the Graduate visa last?
Two years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026, 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027, and 3 years if you have a PhD or other doctoral qualification. It cannot be extended.
Can my partner and children stay in the UK with me?
Only if they were already your dependants on your Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa, or if your child was born in the UK during your stay. You cannot bring new dependants on the Graduate route, and their permission ends on the same date as yours.
How much does the Graduate visa cost?
The application fee is £937, plus the immigration health surcharge of usually £1,035 for each year of the visa. Each dependant pays the same. Check gov.uk for the current figures before applying, as fees change.
Can I extend the Graduate visa or settle in the UK on it?
No. The Graduate visa cannot be extended and is not a route to settlement. Before it expires you may be able to switch to another visa, such as the Skilled Worker visa, which can lead to settlement.
What work can I do on a Graduate visa?
Most jobs, self-employment, and voluntary work are allowed, and you can travel abroad and return. You cannot claim public funds, work as a professional sportsperson, or study on a course that is eligible for a Student visa.
When should I apply for the Graduate visa?
Apply online after your education provider has told the Home Office you completed your course, and before your Student visa expires. Decisions usually take up to 8 weeks, and you must not travel outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man while your application is pending.
