1st Citizen Lawyer

UK Visas

Student and Graduate Visas UK 2026: Routes, Fees and Switching

Student and Graduate visas 2026: who qualifies, the £558 and £937 fees, how long each lasts and how to switch into work.

One journey, two visas

Most people who study in the UK and want to stay move through the same sequence: a Student visa for the course, a Graduate visa for the period afterwards, and then a work visa that can lead to settlement. Each step has its own rules and its own deadlines, and a mistake at one step can close off the next. This page explains how they connect. The detail on each is on its own page.

The sequence

Stage Visa Fee Read more
Studying Student visa £558 Student visa
After the course Graduate visa, up to 2 years for applications to 31 December 2026, 18 months after £937 Graduate visa
Staying to work Skilled Worker or another work visa See the page Skilled Worker visa
Settling Indefinite leave to remain, after 5 years on the work route £3,226 Indefinite leave to remain

The immigration health surcharge is £776 a year for a Student visa and usually £1,035 a year for a Graduate or work visa. See the Immigration Health Surcharge.

What to plan from the start

  • Time on a Student or Graduate visa does not count towards settlement. The five-year clock on a work visa starts only when the work visa begins.
  • The date you apply for the Graduate visa decides how long you get. Two years if you apply by 31 December 2026, eighteen months after that. See the Graduate visa shortens on 1 January 2027.
  • You need a sponsor for a Skilled Worker visa. Employers who do not hold a licence need time to apply for one. See sponsor licences.
  • English matters at every stage. See English language requirements.
  • Dependants are limited on a Student visa. Check before you commit to a course. See dependant visas.

Other routes for graduates

A graduate of a top global university may qualify for the High Potential Individual visa. A leader in their field may qualify for Global Talent. A graduate with a business idea may qualify for Innovator Founder.

How we help

We plan the whole journey from the first Student visa, and we advise employers who need to obtain a sponsor licence to hire a graduate. Book a consultation below.

What you must show

  1. I

    An offer from a licensed sponsor

    For a Student visa, a confirmation of acceptance for studies from a licensed student sponsor.

  2. II

    Money

    Enough to pay your course fees and support yourself, held for the period the rules require.

  3. III

    English

    At the level set for your course.

  4. IV

    For the Graduate visa

    You must be in the UK on a Student visa, have completed an eligible course, and your sponsor must have confirmed that to the Home Office.

How it works

  1. 01

    Student visa

    Apply up to six months before the course starts from outside the UK, or up to three months before from inside.

  2. 02

    During your studies

    Keep to the limits on work, and keep your sponsor informed of any changes.

  3. 03

    Graduate visa

    Apply online from inside the UK before your Student visa expires.

  4. 04

    Plan the next step

    If you want to stay beyond the Graduate visa, look at the Skilled Worker and other routes well before it ends.

Questions we are asked

How long is the Graduate visa now?

Two years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026, and eighteen months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027. If you have a PhD or other doctoral qualification it is three years.

Can I extend a Graduate visa?

No. It cannot be extended. To stay longer you must switch to another route, such as the Skilled Worker visa, before it ends.

Does time as a student count towards settlement?

Not on the five-year work routes. It can count towards the ten years needed for settlement on the basis of long residence.

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Your next step

Speak to an adviser about Student and Graduate visas

Tell us where you stand and we will tell you what the options are, what each would cost and what to do first. The fee is fixed and agreed before you book.

  • Regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority
  • A lawyer, not a call centre
  • You decide afterwards, with no obligation

How would you like to meet?

Would you rather talk? Telephone +44 (0)20 7112 7575 or WhatsApp us

This page is general information, not legal advice. The Immigration Rules, fees and waiting times change often, sometimes at short notice. Check the official source, or ask us about your own circumstances, before you act on it.

How we handle it

From first consultation to final decision.

  1. Book an initial consultation

    Initial consultation

    A lawyer maps your best route with you: your options, the risks in each and what each will cost, before you commit to anything.

    Fixed fee from £99

  2. Document preparation

    We tell you exactly what is needed, check every document against the rules and chase what is missing, so that nothing is left to chance.

    Checked by a lawyer

  3. Application filing and tracking

    We prepare and file your application with full legal representation: detailed legal arguments, set out on our official letterhead, in support of you. Then we track it to a decision.

    Fee agreed first

  4. Decision and what follows

    We stay with you after the decision: your next steps and, if it is wrong, your options on review or appeal.

    Ongoing

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