Graduate Visa UK

Overview

The Graduate Visa allows eligible international students to stay in the UK after successfully completing a UK course.

It is often called the Post-Study Work visa or PSW visa. It does not require employer sponsorship, which means you can work, look for work, become self-employed, or gain UK experience after your studies.

You must apply from inside the UK before your Student Visa or Tier 4 Student Visa expires. You also need your education provider to have told the Home Office that you successfully completed your course.

💡 A Quick Note from Kris: The Graduate Visa can be a useful bridge between studying and sponsored work, but it is not a permanent route by itself. If your long-term goal is to stay in the UK, start thinking about your next visa early.

📌 Key facts at a glance

Route type: Post-study work route for eligible UK graduates.

Sponsorship: Not required. You do not need a UK employer to sponsor you.

Where you apply from: You must be in the UK when you apply.

Current visa required: You must usually hold a Student Visa or Tier 4 Student Visa.

Length of stay: 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026, 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027, or 3 years if you completed a PhD or other doctoral qualification.

Work rights: You can work in most jobs, look for work, be self-employed, or do voluntary work.

Extension: You cannot extend a Graduate Visa, but you may be able to switch to another route such as Skilled Worker.

Settlement: The Graduate Visa does not directly lead to ILR, but time on this route may help you gain UK work experience and find sponsorship later.

🎓 Who This Visa Is Best For

The Graduate Visa may suit you if you have completed an eligible UK course and want time to work, gain experience, search for sponsorship, or explore your next step after university.

It can be useful if you are not yet ready for a Skilled Worker Visa because you do not have a sponsored job offer. It gives you time in the UK job market without being tied to one employer.

However, if your aim is long-term settlement, you should treat the Graduate Visa as a temporary route and plan what comes next.

✅ Graduate Visa UK Eligibility

To qualify for the Graduate Visa, you must usually:

• be in the UK
• currently hold a Student Visa or Tier 4 Student Visa
• have successfully completed an eligible UK course
• have studied that course for the required period in the UK
• have completed a UK bachelor’s degree, postgraduate degree, PhD, doctorate, or another eligible qualification
• have an education provider that is a licensed sponsor with a track record of compliance
• apply before your current Student Visa or Tier 4 Visa expires

Your university or college must tell the Home Office that you successfully completed your course before you apply. If you are unsure, ask your education provider before submitting the application.

⏳How Long Can You Stay?

The length of your Graduate Visa depends on when you apply and the qualification you completed.

If you apply on or before 31 December 2026, the Graduate Visa usually lasts 2 years.

If you apply on or after 1 January 2027, it usually lasts 18 months.

If you completed a PhD or other doctoral qualification, it lasts 3 years.

Your Graduate Visa starts from the day your application is approved.

💼Can You Work on a Graduate Visa?

Yes. The Graduate Visa gives you broad work rights in the UK.

You can work in most jobs, look for work, be self-employed, do voluntary work, and build UK work experience without needing sponsorship.

This can be especially useful if you want to move into a sponsored role later. Many graduates use the route to gain experience, build contacts, and look for an employer that can sponsor them under the Skilled Worker route.

You should still check the conditions attached to your visa, as some restrictions may apply.

👨‍👩‍👧Can You Bring Family on a Graduate Visa?

Family rules for the Graduate Visa are more limited than many people expect.

Your partner or children can usually apply to stay as dependants on your Graduate Visa only if they were already dependants on your Student Visa or Tier 4 Student Visa. A child born in the UK during your Student Visa may also be able to apply.

New dependants usually cannot join you on the Graduate Visa from outside the UK unless they are eligible under the rules.

GOV.UK says each family member must apply separately and pay the visa fee. If approved, their visa will usually end on the same date as yours.

🏠Does the Graduate Visa Lead to ILR or British Citizenship?

The Graduate Visa does not directly lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain or British citizenship.

Time spent on a Graduate Visa usually does not count towards the standard 5-year settlement route in the same way as routes such as Skilled Worker.

However, the Graduate Visa can still be useful because it gives you time to gain UK work experience and find an employer that may sponsor you later.

If you switch to a Skilled Worker Visa or another settlement route, your settlement clock will usually depend on the rules of that new route.

💡 A Quick Note from Kris: I would not treat the Graduate Visa as the final plan. Use it as a window to build work experience, improve your CV, and target employers that can sponsor Skilled Worker visas.

💰Graduate Visa UK Cost

The Graduate Visa has two main costs:

Application fee: £880

Immigration Health Surcharge: usually £1,035 per year

This means the total cost can vary depending on whether your Graduate Visa is granted for 18 months, 2 years, or 3 years.

Each dependant must also pay their own application fee and healthcare surcharge if they apply with you.

You do not need to show funds it you have been living in the UK for 12 months or more with permission on the date of application.

🧾Documentation You May Need for Graduate Visa UK

When applying for the Graduate Visa, you will usually need:

• a valid passport or other travel document
• your CAS reference number from your Student Visa or Tier 4 application
• proof of your current immigration status, such as an eVisa share code or eligible BRP evidence
• proof of relationship if your partner or children are applying with you
• a letter from your financial sponsor or scholarship provider if they paid for both your course fees and living costs in the last 12 months
• certified translations if any documents are not in English or Welsh

You normally do not need a new CAS for the Graduate Visa. You need the CAS reference from the course you completed.

🧭 How to Apply for the Graduate Visa

You must apply online from inside the UK.

The basic process is:

1. Check that your university or college has reported your successful course completion to the Home Office.
2. Prepare your passport, CAS reference and any extra documents.
3. Complete the online Graduate Visa application.
4. Pay the application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge.
5. Prove your identity using the UK Immigration: ID Check app or a UKVCAS appointment if required.
6. Wait for a decision.

You should not travel outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man while waiting for a decision, because your application may be withdrawn.

⏱️ Processing Times

After you apply online, prove your identity and provide your documents, you will usually get a decision within 8 weeks.

You can stay in the UK while waiting for a decision, as long as you applied before your current visa expired.

✈️What Happens After Your Graduate Visa Is Approved?

If your Graduate Visa is approved, you will receive digital immigration status through an eVisa.

You can then use your time in the UK to work, search for jobs, become self-employed, build contacts, and plan your next step.

If you want to stay in the UK after your Graduate Visa ends, start researching future routes early. For many graduates, the next step is finding a licensed employer that can sponsor a Skilled Worker Visa.

Useful guides:

👉 Skilled Worker Visa
👉 Certificate of Sponsorship UK
👉 List of Companies That Sponsor Work Visas in the UK
👉 Work in the UK
👉 First 90 Days in the UK

⚠️Common Mistakes to Avoid

One common mistake is waiting too long to think about what happens after the Graduate Visa. Because this route cannot be extended, you should start planning your next step well before it expires.

Another mistake is assuming that any job can lead to sponsorship later. If your long-term plan is to switch to Skilled Worker, focus on employers that are licensed sponsors and roles that meet the skill and salary rules.

Some graduates also apply before their university has reported successful course completion to the Home Office. Check this with your education provider first.

Finally, do not leave the UK while your application is pending, as this can cause your application to be withdrawn.

❓ Graduate Visa UK FAQs

Is the Graduate Visa the same as the Post-Study Work visa?

Yes, many people call it the Post-Study Work visa or PSW visa. The official name is the Graduate Visa.

Do I need a job offer for the Graduate Visa?

No. You do not need a job offer or employer sponsorship to apply.

Can I extend the Graduate Visa?

No. The Graduate Visa cannot be extended. You may be able to switch to another route, such as Skilled Worker, if you meet the requirements.

Can I switch from Graduate Visa to Skilled Worker?

Yes, you may be able to switch to a Skilled Worker Visa if you have an eligible job offer from a licensed sponsor and meet the salary, skill and other requirements.

Can my family join me on a Graduate Visa?

Usually, only dependants who were already dependants on your Student Visa or Tier 4 Student Visa can apply to stay with you on the Graduate Visa. Children born in the UK during your Student Visa may also be eligible.

Does the Graduate Visa lead to ILR?

No. The Graduate Visa does not directly lead to ILR. It may help you gain UK work experience and later switch to a visa route that can lead to settlement.

How long does the Graduate Visa last?

It lasts 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026, 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027, or 3 years if you completed a PhD or other doctoral qualification.

Can I apply from outside the UK?

No. You must be in the UK when you apply.

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