UK graduate visa: how to stay in the UK

After completing an eligible UK course, many international students can switch to the Graduate route to stay on and start working or job hunting. The key is timing: you must apply from within the UK, only after your university has confirmed your award and notified the Home Office, and before your Student permission runs out. This guide walks through who qualifies, when to apply, what it costs, your work rights, and what options to consider afterwards.

Key takeaways

• You must apply from inside the UK before your Student visa, or eligible Tier 4 permission, expires.
• You do not need a job offer. The Graduate route is unsponsored.
• Most bachelor’s and master’s graduates get 2 years if they apply on or before 31 December 2026, or 18 months if they apply from 1 January 2027. PhD and other doctoral graduates get 3 years.
• The application fee is £937. The Immigration Health Surcharge is £1,152.50 for 18 months, £2,070 for 2 years, or £3,105 for 3 years.
• The visa cannot be extended and does not directly lead to settlement.
• Decisions usually take up to 8 weeks after you apply, prove your identity, and provide your documents.

That timing gap can catch graduates out. Rules, fees, and processing times can change, so confirm the latest details on GOV.UK before you apply. Below, you’ll find the eligibility rules, the order of events, the application steps, the main costs, your work rights, and what comes next.

What is the UK Graduate visa and how long does it last?

The UK Graduate visa, also called the Graduate route, is for international students who have successfully completed an eligible UK qualification and want to stay after study to work, look for work, or plan their next move. It matters because it gives you time in the UK without employer sponsorship, unlike routes such as Skilled Worker.

For many graduates, that extra time makes job hunting and next-step planning easier. The length of the visa depends on what you studied and when you apply.

If you finish a bachelor’s or master’s level course and apply on or before 31 December 2026, the visa lasts 2 years. If you make the same kind of application on or after 1 January 2027, it lasts 18 months. If you complete a PhD or other doctoral qualification, it lasts 3 years. Your visa starts on the day UKVI approves it, not on the day your course ends.

Who can apply for a UK Graduate visa?

To meet UK Graduate visa eligibility, you must be in the UK with valid Student permission, or eligible legacy Tier 4 leave, when you apply. If you need to check the route you are switching from, Expatica’s guide to Student visas in the UK explains the current student route and the older Tier 4 wording.

You also need to have completed an eligible qualification with a higher education provider that has a track record of compliance, and your provider must tell the Home Office that you completed it.You do not need a job offer to apply. If you are unsure about your qualification, study pattern, or reporting date, ask your university’s international office before you submit.

• You are physically in the UK, not overseas, on the day you apply.
• You still hold a valid Student visa or eligible Tier 4 permission.
• You completed an eligible UK qualification, such as a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, PhD, PGCE, or PGDE in Scotland.
• Your university or other student sponsor has reported your successful completion to the Home Office.
• You apply before your current permission expires.
• You have not used the Graduate route before, because it is normally a one-time route.

What counts as successful completion?

Successful completion is confirmed by your university, not by the graduation ceremony or your last day of teaching. It can also arrive later than your final class, dissertation hand-in, or viva. Many graduates assume classes are over so they can file immediately, but the key step is the university report to the Home Office.

When should you apply and what can delay you?

Your application window usually opens once your university confirms you have successfully completed the course and closes on the expiry date of your Student visa. That is why the post-graduation period can feel tight, especially if results come late or you are waiting on reassessment outcomes.

Universities do not all report to the Home Office on the same day they release results. UKCISA advises students to check reporting times with their institution. If you make a valid in-country application before your Student visa expires, your current permission is automatically extended until a decision is made under the section 3C leave rules.

Think of the next five steps as the order of events, not the full application checklist.

Do not travel outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man while your application is pending, because your application will be withdrawn if you do.

What if your Student visa is close to expiring?

Act quickly, but confirm the facts first. Check whether your university has already reported your successful completion, then speak to the international advice team. Result delays, resits, appeals, and course changes can all affect timing, and you normally cannot apply after your Student visa expires.

How to apply for a UK Graduate visa step by step

The process is fully online. Two points are especially important: wait until your university has reported your successful completion and make sure you have the required documents ready.

After approval, your status is digital. Employers and landlords will usually check your right to work or rent through your eVisa record rather than a physical visa sticker.

What does it cost and how should you plan your money?

GOV.UK lists a £937 application fee for each applicant. You also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, which depends on the length of the visa. Check the official fee page again before you pay, because visa fees can change.

Cost item	18 months	2 years	3 years
Application fee	£937	£937	£937
Immigration Health Surcharge	£1,152.50	£2,070	£3,105
Total per applicant	£2,089.50	£3,007	£4,042

Fees shown are based on GOV.UK figures checked on 19 September 2026 and can change. Confirm the current amounts before applying.

The visa fee is only part of the picture. Once you no longer qualify as a full-time student, your Council Tax position may change depending on your household and local circumstances, and you still cannot access most public funds. Budget for rent, utilities, transport, food, and job-search time as well.

Many graduates are also opening a bank account in the UK or changing accounts as they move into work. If you expect to manage money between the UK and home, compare major local banks such as HSBC UK, Barclays, and Lloyds with options like the Wise account before you choose how to receive money or send funds abroad.

What can you do on a Graduate visa?

Graduate visa work rights in the UK are broad. You can work in most jobs, look for work, change employers, be self-employed, do unpaid voluntary work, and travel in and out of the UK once the visa has been approved. The main limits are easy to miss when you are planning ahead.

Can	Cannot
Work in most jobs	Claim most public funds
Look for work	Extend the Graduate visa
Change employers without sponsorship	Work as a professional sportsperson or coach
Be self-employed	Use it as a direct route to settlement
Do unpaid voluntary work	Study a course that would normally need Student visa sponsorship

Can you work while your application is pending?

Sometimes, yes, but it depends on your current Student permission and the type of sponsor you studied with. UKCISA notes that some students at higher education providers with a track record of compliance can take a permanent full-time job while a Graduate route application is pending, while others cannot. Do not assume your post-approval work rights apply early, and check official guidance or your university if a start date depends on it.

What happens after the Graduate visa?

The Graduate visa is best treated as a transition period, not an endpoint. It cannot be extended and it does not directly lead to settlement, so if your goal is to stay longer, plan from the first months rather than the final weeks.

One common next step is the Skilled Worker visa. That usually means targeting licensed sponsors, understanding salary and job eligibility rules, and switching before your Graduate permission runs out. Some people may instead look at routes such as Health and Care Worker or Innovator Founder, depending on their plans.

If you are comparing onward routes, Expatica’s guides to work-related visas in the UK, UK visas and immigration, and finding jobs in the UK can help. Sort out practical basics early too, including banking, salary payments, and any money you need to move between the UK and home. Some graduates compare major local banks with services such as the Wise account at this stage.

Conclusion

The Graduate visa gives eligible international students a defined period to stay in the UK after study, but timing is critical because you must apply from inside the UK before your Student permission expires. Confirm that your education provider has reported successful completion before applying, budget for the application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge, and avoid travel while your application is pending. Once approved, you can work broadly without employer sponsorship, but the route cannot be extended and does not directly lead to settlement. If you plan to remain longer, use the Graduate period to research onward visa options and check the current GOV.UK rules before making decisions.

Sources

Expatica’s experts are all about providing the most up to date and accurate information. All guides are fact checked, and whenever we use external sources (like government websites or research papers) we’ll make a note of them here so you can check them out too.

1. Graduate route eligibility, visa length, work restrictions, decision timing, and duration rules, GOV.UK — Graduate visa
2. Online application process, identity checks, travel restrictions while an application is pending, and application outcome, GOV.UK — Apply for a Graduate visa
3. Application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge amounts for the Graduate route, GOV.UK — How much a Graduate visa costs
4. Passport, CAS reference, BRP, dependant documentation, and sponsor consent requirements, GOV.UK — Documents you’ll need to apply for a Graduate visa
5. Eligibility and application rules for partners and children on the Graduate route, GOV.UK — Graduate visa: your partner and children
6. Eligibility and requirements for the Skilled Worker route when planning a possible onward visa, GOV.UK — Skilled Worker visa
7. UKVI account setup and access to digital immigration status through an eVisa, GOV.UK — Set up a UKVI account to access your eVisa
8. Student-focused Graduate route guidance, application timing, section 3C leave, and work rights while an application is pending, UKCISA — Graduate route
9. Work options after study and practical guidance on planning employment after completing a course, UKCISA — Working after studies