Graduate visa
🇬🇧 United Kingdom visas · Work
What it is
A post-study work visa that lets recent graduates of UK degrees stay to work, look for work or be self-employed without needing employer sponsorship.
Key facts
- Category
- Work
- Duration
- 2 years after a bachelor's/master's (18 months from Jan 2027); 3 years after a PhD
- Processing time
- 8 weeks
- Maximum validity
- 3 years
- Extendable
- No
- Path to permanent residence
- Indirect route
- Dependants
- Conditional
- How to apply
- Online
- Health insurance
- Not required
Standard figures for this route. Some applicants pay a reduced fee or none at all, so confirm your own case on the official page.
Fees
- Application fee (application fee (in-country only))
- GBP 937
- Health surcharge
- GBP 1,035 per year
Key requirements
- Currently in the UK on a Student or Tier 4 (General) visa
- Successfully completed an eligible UK degree
- Education provider has confirmed completion to the Home Office
- Apply from inside the UK before your Student visa expires
Working on this visa
With a Graduate visa you can: work in most jobs; look for work; be self-employed; continue living in the UK with your partner and children, if they're eligible; travel abroad and return to the UK; do voluntary work.
Bringing family
conditional - only partners/children who were already dependants on the Student or Tier 4 visa (or a child born in the UK during that visa) can stay; new dependants cannot join
After this visa
The Graduate visa is the post-study route: at least 18 months (2 years if applied on or before 31 Dec 2026; 3 years for PhD) to work, look for work or be self-employed after your course.
Facts checked against the official source. Last updated 19 July 2026.