Graduate Visa UK

The Graduate visa permits international students who have recently graduated from a UK university to work in the UK after graduation.

Currently, the visa is granted for 18 months to 3 years, depending on the type of degree you received and when you submit your application.

During this time, the holder can seek employment, work in most roles (both for an employer and in a self-employed capacity), and volunteer.

The Graduate visa does not provide a direct route to UK permanent settlement or citizenship.

For those looking to settle permanently in the UK, it will generally be necessary to switch to an eligible Work visa, such as the Skilled Worker visa.

Page Contents

• What is Graduate Visa in UK?
• UK Graduate Visa Changes 2027: How Long You Can Stay with a Graduate Visa in the UK?
• Eligibility Requirements for Graduate Visa
• Course Requirements for Graduate Visa UK
• Required Documents for UK Graduate Visa
• How to Apply for a Graduate Visa in the UK?
• How Much Does it Cost to Apply for a UK Graduate Visa?
• Dependants on Graduate Visa UK
• What You Can and Cannot Do With a Graduate Visa in the UK?
• Graduate Visa Extension UK: Can I Extend my Visa?
• What is the UK Graduate Visa Processing Time?
• Working after Studies in the UK
• How Manchester Immigration Lawyers Can Help You
• Frequently Asked Questions

From January 2027, the UK Graduate visa rules will be impacted by a change in immigration policy.

Previously, the Graduate visa generally lasted 2 years (except for PhD graduates, who received a 3-year visa), but this will be reduced to 18 months. So if you apply for a Graduate visa after January 2027, you will receive a visa valid for 18 months.

If you successfully apply for a Graduate visa before January 2027, however, you will still receive the 2-year visa. Therefore, if you are currently eligible to apply (or will be by January 2027), you should submit your application as soon as possible.

When in the UK on a Graduate visa, you will still be able to live and work in the UK, but you will be expected to leave upon the visa’s expiry unless you have successfully applied for a different visa type, such as a Skilled Worker visa.

Following the changes, PhD graduates will still receive a 3-year Graduate visa due to the higher level of study they have completed.

To satisfy the UK Graduate visa requirements, the applicant must meet a range of eligibility criteria, including:

• Be in the UK at the time of application
• Have a current, valid Student visa or Tier 4 (General) Student visa (meaning that you must apply for your Graduate visa before the expiry of your Student visa)
• Have graduated from a UK bachelor’s degree, postgraduate degree, or equivalent eligible course, and have been enrolled in the course in question for a sufficient period of time (details on the time requirements will be given later in this article)
• Your university or education provider will also need to inform the Home Office that you have completed your course successfully

When applying for a UK Graduate visa, you will need to submit a number of documents, including:

• Valid passport or equivalent travel document
• Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) reference number from your application for your original Student visa
• Online proof of immigration status
• Your education provider must provide evidence that you have successfully completed your course

If your documentation is not already in English or Welsh, you will need to provide certified translated copies.

When completing a UK Graduate visa application, you need to:

• Check that you satisfy the eligibility requirements and have the necessary supporting documents
• Submit your application online via the UK government website. You will need to be located in the UK at the time of application
• Verify your identity as part of the application process. You will be asked to do this in one of the following ways:
  • Via the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app, in which case you will need to scan your ID via the app
  • At a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point in the UK
• Wait for your application to be processed. If your application is successful, you will be granted a Graduate visa

When applying for a UK Graduate visa, you will need to pay a fee of £937.

You will also need to pay the National Health Service surcharge of £1035 a year, which allows you to access NHS treatment during your time in the UK.

You may also need to pay to have your documentation translated and certified into either English or Welsh.

Many applicants choose to pay for legal assistance in support of their application. To learn more about our range of services and pricing, contact Manchester Immigration Lawyers today.

In some circumstances, your immediate family may be able to apply as dependents under your Graduate visa. However, there are specific criteria they must meet.

If your partner and/or children were dependants under your Student visa, they will also be able to apply as dependants under your Graduate visa. In the case of partners, it is likely that they would only have been able to join you as a dependent under your Student visa if you were completing a full-time research-based postgraduate course with a duration of at least 9 months.

If your child was born in the UK during your studies, this does not automatically make them a British citizen. This is because the UK does not have birthright citizenship, meaning citizenship is determined by the parents’ nationality and residency status.

In order to be eligible as a dependant, your family member(s) must be one of the following:

• Spouse, civil partner, or unmarried partner
• Minor child
• Adult child currently in the UK as your dependant

In the event that your partner/child(ren) are granted a Dependant visa, their visa’s duration will be the same as your own.

Each family member who is applying to join you as your dependant will need to submit a separate application and pay an individual application fee.

The Graduate visa grants you a number of options for your time in the UK. However, it also involves several restrictions.

During your time in the UK, you will be able to:

• Work in most professions/roles
• Seek employment
• Work in a self-employed capacity
• Leave and re-enter the UK
• Do voluntary work for one of the following:
  • A registered charity or voluntary organisation
  • A fundraising body that is associated with a charity or voluntary organisation
  • A statutory body

However, you will generally not be able to:

• Apply for public welfare benefits or a state pension
• Work as a professional sportsperson
• Study whilst on a Graduate visa unless the course in question is not eligible for a Student visa

No, you cannot extend your Graduate visa. The Graduate visa is granted for a fixed period and does not provide a route to UK permanent settlement or citizenship, nor is it intended as a long-term Work visa.

If you wish to remain in the UK after the expiry of your Graduate visa, you will need to successfully obtain a new type of UK visa.

One common route is to apply for a Work visa, such as a Skilled Worker visa. Your employer must be a licensed sponsor, and your role must meet the criteria

Another option is the Innovator Founder visa. This allows the holder to set up their own business in the UK, provided that the business idea is new, innovative, viable, and scalable. You will need to receive an endorsement from an eligible endorsing body to confirm that your business idea meets these requirements.

You may also be eligible to apply for a Scale-Up visa, which allows you to work for a fast-growing UK business as it continues to ‘scale up’ its operations.

Other options include applying for a Family visa. If you are in a long-term and committed relationship with a UK citizen or someone with UK permanent settlement status, you may be able to apply for either an Unmarried Partner visa or a Spouse visa, both of which will allow you to live and work in the UK and provide a route to permanent settlement and citizenship.

If you are engaged to a UK citizen or someone with permanent settlement status, you can apply for a fiancé visa. This visa lasts for 6 months, during which time you are expected to have the wedding or civil ceremony. After this, you can apply for a Spouse visa.

If you do apply for UK permanent settlement under a different visa type, time spent in the UK on a Student or Graduate visa will not count towards meeting the minimum residency requirement.

After submitting your Graduate visa application, you will need to wait for the application to be processed.

You should expect to receive an answer within 8 weeks, although this can vary depending on demand and if the Home Office requests further info.

To minimise delays, you should provide any additional information promptly.

If you are hoping to work in the UK after graduating from a UK university and do not have an offer of employment, the Graduate visa is likely to be the best choice as it allows you to seek UK employment whilst legally residing in the UK. It also does not require your employer to be a licensed sponsor with the Home Office.

However, if you do have an offer of employment and your employer is a licensed sponsor, then you may qualify for a work visa. This means time spent on the work visa will count towards the minimum residency requirement if you later apply for UK permanent settlement.

The Graduate Visa is also suitable if you only wish to work in the UK temporarily after graduation and are not interested in long-term settlement.