📋 In This Guide
- UK Graduate visa at a glance
- Who is eligible for the Graduate visa?
- Duration — how long the Graduate visa lasts
- Work rights on the Graduate visa
- Dependants on the Graduate visa
- Documents required
- Fees and costs
- How to apply — step by step
- Processing times
- The path from Graduate visa to Skilled Worker and beyond
- Common mistakes and how to avoid them
- Frequently asked questions
- Conclusion and next steps
UK Graduate Visa 2026 — How to Stay After Your Degree
The Graduate visa allows international students who have successfully completed an eligible course in the UK to stay and work — or look for work — for 2 years after graduation (3 years for PhD and other doctoral qualifications) without needing a sponsor, a job offer, or any minimum salary. It replaced the previous Tier 1 Post-Study Work visa and is currently the primary bridge between UK study and the UK skilled labour market.
Many international students assume they need a job offer before they can stay in the UK after graduating — the Graduate visa requires neither a sponsor nor a job offer, making it the most flexible post-study route the UK has ever offered. Unlike the Skilled Worker visa, the Graduate visa grants completely unrestricted work rights with only narrow exceptions. Critically, it can only be used once — there is no extension and no second Graduate visa after a further qualification in most circumstances. The Graduate visa has also been the subject of ongoing government review since 2024 amid wider debate about international student numbers, so applicants should monitor gov.uk for any policy changes that could affect future cohorts. This guide covers eligibility, duration, work rights, fees, the application process, and the pathway from the Graduate visa to the Skilled Worker visa and long-term settlement.
- Who qualifies — international students who have completed an eligible course at a UK Student visa sponsor with a track record of compliance
- Duration — 2 years for bachelor's and master's graduates; 3 years for PhD and other doctoral-level graduates
- Work rights — unrestricted; any employer, any role, full-time or part-time; self-employment permitted (unlike the Student visa)
- Sponsor or job offer required — no
- Fee — £822 application fee + £1,035 per year Immigration Health Surcharge
- Renewable — no, one-time only
Source: gov.uk/graduate-visa — verified April 2026.
Who Is Eligible for the Graduate Visa?
Core eligibility requirements — all must be met
- You must currently hold a valid UK Student visa (or the older Tier 4 student visa) at the time you apply
- You must have successfully completed an eligible course — a bachelor's degree, master's degree, PhD, or another eligible qualification at degree level (RQF Level 6) or above — at a higher education provider that holds a Student visa sponsor licence with a track record of compliance
- Your education provider must have reported your successful course completion to the Home Office through the student sponsorship system — if your provider has not yet reported your completion, you cannot apply; contact your institution's international student office to confirm this has been done before applying
- You must be in the UK when you apply — the Graduate visa cannot be applied for from outside the UK
- You must have studied your course for the minimum required time in the UK — for most courses, this means the entire course was completed with in-person study in the UK
Who is NOT eligible
| Category | Why excluded |
|---|---|
| Graduates of below-degree-level courses (diplomas, foundation courses below Level 6) | Graduate visa requires at least bachelor's degree level (RQF Level 6) |
| Government-sponsored students whose sponsor restricts the route | Some scholarship sponsors (Chevening, certain country-specific schemes) require students to return home and contractually restrict Graduate visa eligibility — check your specific scholarship terms |
| Graduates who studied via distance learning entirely outside the UK | Must have studied in the UK for the qualifying period |
| Students who switched visa category mid-course in a way that breaks continuity | Seek advice if you changed visa categories during your studies |
| Previous Graduate visa holders applying for a second Graduate visa | In most circumstances only one Graduate visa is permitted per person — check current rules at gov.uk |
Duration — How Long the Graduate Visa Lasts
| Qualification completed | Graduate visa duration |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree | 2 years |
| Master's degree (taught or research) | 2 years |
| PhD / Doctorate | 3 years |
| Other doctoral-level qualification | 3 years |
When the visa period starts and ends
- The Graduate visa period begins from the date the visa is granted — not from your course completion date or your previous Student visa expiry date
- If you apply close to your Student visa expiry, apply as early as possible (you can apply before your final results are confirmed, provided your institution has reported your successful completion) to avoid any gap in your UK status
- The visa cannot be extended — once the 2 or 3-year period ends, you must have either secured a different visa route (most commonly the Skilled Worker visa) or you must leave the UK
Work Rights on the Graduate Visa
What you can do
- Work for any UK employer — full-time, part-time, any industry, any role, with no maximum hours
- Be self-employed or set up your own business — unlike the Student visa, self-employment IS permitted on the Graduate visa
- Switch employers freely — no sponsor tie, no need to notify the Home Office of a job change
- Take on multiple jobs simultaneously
- Volunteer
- Travel in and out of the UK freely during the visa period
What you cannot do
| Restriction | Detail |
|---|---|
| Cannot work as a professional sportsperson | Specifically excluded — playing or coaching sport professionally requires a different visa category |
| Cannot claim most public funds | Same restriction as most temporary UK visas — no access to most welfare benefits |
| Cannot bring new dependants after the visa is granted | Dependants must usually have been included in your original Student visa or apply at the same time as your Graduate visa application — check current rules |
Dependants on the Graduate Visa
Your partner (spouse, civil partner, or unmarried partner in a relationship akin to marriage) and dependent children can apply for the Graduate visa as dependants. In most cases, dependants must have already held permission as your dependant under your Student visa — new dependants who did not hold a Student visa dependant permission generally cannot be added at the Graduate visa stage, with limited exceptions (such as a child born in the UK during your studies). Each dependant has full work rights on the Graduate visa — there is no restriction on their employment.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Dependant visa fee | £822 per dependant |
| Dependant IHS | £1,035 per year per dependant — same rate as the main applicant |
| Dependant work rights | Unrestricted — same as main applicant |
| New dependants (not previously on Student visa) | Generally not eligible — verify specific exceptions at gov.uk |
Documents Required
Mandatory documents
- Valid passport or other travel document
- Current UK Student visa (BRP or eVisa) — you must hold valid Student visa status at the time of application
- Confirmation of successful course completion — reported electronically by your institution to the Home Office through the sponsor management system; check with your international student office that this has been submitted before applying
- Tuberculosis test results — if originally required for your Student visa and not yet provided, or if requested
Supporting documents — situational
- Evidence of relationship to dependants — marriage certificate, birth certificates for children
- Evidence of dependants' previous Student visa dependant status
- If applying before final results are confirmed: evidence that your institution has reported provisional successful completion
What you do NOT need
- A job offer — none required
- A sponsoring employer — none required
- Evidence of funds — not required for the Graduate visa itself
- English language test — not required again if already demonstrated for the Student visa
Fees and Costs
| Fee item | Amount (2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate visa application fee — main applicant | £822 | Non-refundable regardless of outcome |
| Graduate visa application fee — each dependant | £822 | Per dependant included |
| Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) — per year | £1,035 | Standard rate (not the reduced student rate) — paid for the full 2 or 3-year visa duration upfront |
| IHS total — 2-year Graduate visa | £2,070 | 2 × £1,035 |
| IHS total — 3-year Graduate visa (PhD) | £3,105 | 3 × £1,035 |
| Total — 2-year Graduate visa, single applicant | £2,892 | £822 + £2,070 |
| Total — 3-year Graduate visa, single applicant (PhD) | £3,927 | £822 + £3,105 |
| Total — 2-year Graduate visa, applicant + 1 dependant | £5,784 | 2 × (£822 + £2,070) |
How to Apply — Step by Step
Confirm your course completion has been reported
Contact your institution's international student office to confirm they have submitted your successful course completion report to the Home Office. You cannot apply successfully until this has been done.
Check your application window
You can apply from the point your institution reports your successful completion, up until your current Student visa expires. Do not let your Student visa expire before applying.
Create or log in to your UKVI account
Use the same account associated with your Student visa.
Complete the online Graduate visa application
Select 'Graduate' as the visa category — the form is significantly shorter than most UK visa applications since no sponsor, job, or salary information is required.
Pay the application fee and IHS
£822 application fee plus the IHS for the full visa duration (£2,070 for 2 years; £3,105 for 3 years), payable online by credit or debit card.
Provide biometrics if required
Most applicants already in the UK on a Student visa with recent biometrics on file may not need to provide them again — the system will advise if a new enrolment is needed.
Upload supporting documents
Passport, current visa details, and any dependant evidence if applicable.
Monitor your application
Log in to your UKVI account regularly and respond promptly to any requests for additional information.
Receive your decision
If approved, your UKVI account is updated to show your Graduate visa status and new expiry date — no physical BRP is issued; your status is recorded digitally on the eVisa system.
Processing Times
| Service type | Processing time |
|---|---|
| Standard service (in-country) | Usually within 8 weeks |
| Priority service | Not generally available for the Graduate visa — verify current availability at gov.uk |
What affects processing time
- Course completion reporting delays — if your institution has not reported your successful completion, your application cannot be properly processed; confirm this has been done before applying
- Completeness — missing dependant evidence or inconsistent personal details pause processing
- Volume — applications peak around graduation periods (June–September); applying as early as your completion is confirmed reduces the risk of delays affecting your ability to work without a gap
The Path From Graduate Visa to Skilled Worker Visa and Beyond
The Graduate visa is designed as a bridge — most holders use the 2 or 3-year period to find an employer willing to sponsor them under the Skilled Worker visa before the Graduate visa expires. You can switch from the Graduate visa to the Skilled Worker visa from inside the UK at any point during the Graduate visa period — there is no need to wait until the Graduate visa is about to expire. The Skilled Worker visa has its own salary and going rate requirements — finding an employer who will sponsor you is the central task during the Graduate visa period.
The complete pathway — Graduate visa to settlement
| Stage | Visa | Typical duration |
|---|---|---|
| Study | Student visa | Course duration |
| Post-study | Graduate visa | 2–3 years (one-time only) |
| Sponsored work | Skilled Worker visa | 5 years (or until ILR eligible) |
| Settlement | Indefinite Leave to Remain | After 5 years on Skilled Worker route |
| Citizenship | British Naturalisation | 12 months after ILR |
For complete Skilled Worker visa requirements including salary thresholds and eligible occupations, see our dedicated guides: UK Skilled Worker Visa — Who Qualifies and How to Apply and UK Skilled Worker Visa — List of Eligible Occupations 2026.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
| Mistake | How to avoid it |
|---|---|
| Applying before the institution has reported course completion | Confirm with your international student office that the completion report has been submitted before applying — applying too early results in delay or refusal |
| Letting the Student visa expire before applying for the Graduate visa | Apply for the Graduate visa before your Student visa expires — there is no Section 3C-style automatic protection if you wait too long and your Student visa lapses |
| Assuming the Graduate visa is renewable | The Graduate visa is one-time only in nearly all circumstances; plan your transition to the Skilled Worker visa (or another route) well before the Graduate visa expires — do not wait until the final months |
| Believing a job offer is required to apply | No job offer, sponsor, or salary threshold is required for the Graduate visa itself — do not delay applying while searching for a job; apply as soon as eligible and use the visa period to search |
| Assuming new dependants can be added freely at this stage | Dependant eligibility on the Graduate visa is generally limited to those already on the Student visa as a dependant; check specific exceptions at gov.uk before assuming a new partner or child can be added |
| Forgetting the IHS is charged at the standard (non-student) rate | Budget for £1,035 per year IHS — not the £776 reduced student rate that applied during your studies |
Frequently Asked Questions
No — the Graduate visa does not require a job offer, a sponsoring employer, or a minimum salary. You can apply as soon as your education provider has reported your successful course completion, regardless of your employment situation. This is the key feature that distinguishes the Graduate visa from the Skilled Worker visa. Source: gov.uk.
2 years for bachelor's and master's degree graduates; 3 years for PhD and other doctoral-level graduates. The visa is not renewable or extendable — once it expires you must have secured a different UK visa route or leave the UK. Source: gov.uk.
Yes — unlike the Student visa, self-employment is permitted on the Graduate visa. You can start your own business, work as a freelancer, or take on any form of self-employed work in addition to or instead of standard employment. Source: gov.uk.
The application fee is £822 plus the Immigration Health Surcharge of £1,035 per year — totalling £2,070 for the 2-year visa or £3,105 for the 3-year visa, giving a combined total of £2,892 (2 years) or £3,927 (3 years) per applicant. Each dependant included pays the same fees separately. Source: gov.uk.
No — you must be in the UK and hold a valid Student visa when you apply. The Graduate visa cannot be applied for from outside the UK, and it cannot be applied for after your Student visa has already expired. Source: gov.uk.
If you have not secured a Skilled Worker visa, another eligible UK visa route, or another form of permission to stay before your Graduate visa expires, you must leave the UK. There is no automatic extension or grace period beyond the visa's expiry date. Plan your transition to a long-term route well before the final months of the Graduate visa to avoid this situation. Source: gov.uk.
In most circumstances, no — the Graduate visa is generally available only once per person. If you complete a further qualification after already using a Graduate visa, you would typically need to switch into the Student visa category again for the new course, but would not normally be eligible for a second Graduate visa afterward. Verify current rules at gov.uk as this is an area that has been subject to review. Source: gov.uk.
Conclusion and Next Steps
Three things matter above everything else with the Graduate visa. No job offer, sponsor, or salary threshold is required to apply — apply as soon as your course completion is confirmed rather than waiting for employment. The visa is one-time only and not renewable — use the 2 or 3-year window deliberately to secure a Skilled Worker sponsor or another long-term route. And the IHS is charged at the standard £1,035/year rate, not the reduced student rate, so budget accordingly when planning your finances for the visa period.
Treat the Graduate visa as a fixed-length runway, not an open-ended stay. The most successful graduates begin searching for Skilled Worker sponsorship within the first year of the Graduate visa rather than waiting until the final months — giving themselves the maximum possible time to find the right employer and avoid a last-minute scramble.
Searching for sponsored employment? Read our complete UK Skilled Worker Visa guide and our List of Eligible Occupations guide to understand salary thresholds and which roles qualify — links below.
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