What the Graduate visa is
The Graduate visa lets international students stay in the UK after finishing a degree. You can work in most jobs, look for work and be self-employed, and you do not need a sponsor or a job offer. It is a bridge: it cannot be extended, so the aim is to move onto a longer route, such as a Skilled Worker visa, before it ends.
How long it lasts: the change on 1 January 2027
| Qualification | Apply on or before 31 December 2026 | Apply from 1 January 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s or master’s degree | 2 years | 18 months |
| PhD or other doctorate | 3 years | 3 years |
The date of your application, not the date your course ends, sets the length. If you are about to finish a course, applying before the end of the year can save you six months. The visa starts on the day the application is approved. See our note on the Graduate visa shortening on 1 January 2027.
Who can apply
- You are in the UK on a Student visa (or a Tier 4 visa), and apply before it expires.
- You have successfully completed the course you took on that visa, and your education provider has told the Home Office. You do not have to wait for your graduation or certificate.
- Your provider is a licensed sponsor with a track record of compliance. It will show as “Student Sponsor – Track Record” on the register.
- You have studied in the UK for at least 12 months, or for the whole length of your course if it was shorter.
Which courses qualify
A UK bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or PhD or doctorate normally qualifies. So do the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s law conversion course, the Legal Practice Course (or the Solicitors Course in Northern Ireland, or the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice in Scotland), the Bar Practice Course, a PGCE or a PGDE. Another course may qualify if passing it made you eligible for a job regulated by UK law or a public authority. If your provider let you change course without a new visa, you need only have completed the course you changed to. Time away during term breaks and weekends still counts as time studying in the UK.
Cost and timing
| Item | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Application fee | £937, for you and each dependant |
| Health surcharge, 18 months | £1,552.50 |
| Health surcharge, 2 years | £2,070 |
| Health surcharge, 3 years | £3,105 |
| Decision | Usually within eight weeks, and you can stay in the UK while you wait |
The surcharge is £1,035 for each year of the visa, and half that for the half year. If you get a job in public-sector healthcare you may be able to claim some of it back, and a doctor, nurse or care worker may do better on the cheaper Health and Care Worker visa.
What you can and cannot do
You can work in most jobs, look for work, be self-employed, volunteer for a charity or voluntary body, and travel in and out of the UK. You cannot claim most public benefits or the State Pension, or work as a professional sportsperson. You can study only if your course is not eligible for a Student visa. If it is, extend the Student visa instead. Your partner and children can apply with you only if they were already your dependants.
What comes next
Time on a Graduate visa does not count towards the five years needed for settlement on a work route, so planning the next step matters. Most graduates who want to stay switch to a Skilled Worker visa, which needs a sponsor and a qualifying job, or to another route such as Global Talent or Innovator Founder. Start the conversation with an employer well before the visa ends: an employer without a sponsor licence needs time to get one. See sponsor licences.
How we help
We check your eligibility and the date of your application, prepare it, and plan the switch into work, including advising employers who need a licence. A consultation costs from £99.
