Graduate visa

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Graduate visa
Stay duration	2 years (18 months from 2027); PhD 3 years
Application cost	£937
Healthcare surcharge	Usually £1,035 per year of stay
Eligibility timing	Before current Student/Tier 4 visa expires
Location when applying	Must be in the UK
Processing time	Usually within 8 weeks
Extension options	Cannot be extended; switch to other visas
Work rights	Permitted in most jobs; self-employment allowed
Work restrictions	No professional sportsperson work
Study rights	Only courses not eligible for Student visa
Public funds access	No access to most benefits or State Pension
Travel facility	Travel abroad permitted; restrictions during application
Family sponsorship	Eligible partner and children can apply as dependants
Visa record	Issued as an eVisa
Citizenship	UK birth does not automatically grant British citizenship
Medicare	Not stated in the source

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Purpose and Overview

A Graduate visa allows individuals to stay in the UK after successfully completing an eligible course. The visa begins on the day the application is approved.

Stay Duration

• Applications on or before 31 December 2026: 2 years.
• Applications on or after 1 January 2027: 18 months.
• PhD or other doctoral qualification: 3 years.

Graduate visas cannot be extended. To stay longer, applicants may be able to switch to another route, such as the Skilled Worker visa.

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Eligibility Requirements

To apply, you must meet all of the following:

• Be in the UK.
• Hold a valid Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa.
• Have studied an eligible bachelor’s degree, postgraduate degree, or other qualifying course for a required minimum duration.
• Have confirmation from your education provider to the Home Office that you have successfully completed your course (you do not need to wait for graduation or a certificate).

Provider Requirements

Your course provider must be a licensed sponsor listed with a "Student Sponsor - Track Record" of compliance on the register of licensed sponsors.

Eligible Courses

• UK bachelor’s degree
• UK master’s degree
• UK PhD or doctorate
• Law conversion course approved by the Solicitors Regulation Authority
• Legal Practice Course (England and Wales), Solicitors Course (Northern Ireland), or Diploma in Professional Legal Practice (Scotland)
• Bar Practice Course (England and Wales) or Bar Course (Northern Ireland)
• Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) or Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE)
• Courses leading to a job regulated by UK law or a UK public authority

Note: If you hold your current student visa as a Student Union Sabbatical Officer, you can apply if you completed an eligible course immediately before starting that visa.

Study Duration in the UK

• Courses longer than 12 months: Studied in the UK for at least 12 months.
• Courses 12 months or shorter: Studied in the UK for the total length of the course.

COVID-19 Concessions

• Visas over 12 months: Distance learning outside the UK between 24 January 2020 and 30 June 2022 counts as UK study time.
• Visas of 12 months or less: Eligible if you started before 21 June 2021 and entered the UK by 27 September 2021, or started between 21 June 2021 and 30 June 2022 and entered the UK by 30 June 2022.

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Fees and Costs

• Visa Application Fee: £937 per applicant.
• Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS):
  • 18-month visa: £1,152.50
  • 2-year visa: £2,070
  • 3-year visa: £3,105

Note: Healthcare workers may consider the Health and Care Worker visa as an alternative. Those who work in public sector healthcare after paying the surcharge may apply for an IHS refund.

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Rights and Conditions

Permitted Activities

• Working in most jobs and searching for employment.
• Self-employment.
• Unpaid voluntary work for a registered charity, voluntary organisation, associated fundraising body, or statutory body.
• Travelling abroad and returning to the UK.
• Studying courses that are not eligible for a Student visa (an ATAS certificate may be required for sensitive topics).

Prohibited Activities

• Accessing public funds or the State Pension.
• Working as a professional sportsperson.

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Dependants (Partner and Children)

Family members can apply to stay as dependants if they are already in the UK as dependants on your Student or Tier 4 visa (or were born in the UK during your stay). Dependant visas expire on the same date as the main applicant’s visa.

Partner Eligibility

Must have been a dependant on the student visa and prove:

• A marriage or civil partnership recognised in the UK, or
• At least 2 years of living together in a relationship, or
• At least 2 years in a relationship if unable to live together (requires evidence of ongoing commitment, regular communication, financial support, shared parenting, or shared holidays).

Child Eligibility

• Must live with the applicant (unless in full-time education away from home) and not be married/in a civil partnership.
• Children under 18: Must have held student dependant status, unless born in the UK during your permission.
• Children 18 or over: Must have held permission as your dependant on your Student/Tier 4 or Graduate visa.
• UK Births: Children born in the UK do not automatically acquire British citizenship. You must apply for a dependant visa if you plan to travel outside the UK with them.

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Required Documents

• Valid passport or travel document.
• Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) reference number from the student visa application.
• Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), which can be used up to 24 months past its expiry date or until 31 December 2026, whichever comes first.
• Proof of relationship for dependants (e.g., full UK birth certificate showing both parents' names for UK-born children).
• Written approval from your scholarship or sponsorship provider if they paid for your course fees and living costs within the last 12 months.
• Certified translations for any documents not in English or Welsh.

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Application Process

1. Apply before your current visa expires using the online application form. Dependants must submit separate forms: partner application or child application using your Unique Application Number (UAN).
2. Prove your identity:
   • Scan your identity document using the UK Immigration: ID Check app and sign in to your UKVI account, or
   • Provide fingerprints and a photo at a UKVCAS service point.
3. Pay the visa fee and healthcare surcharge.
4. Receive a digital status (eVisa). A UKVI account is required to access your eVisa.

Processing and Warnings

• Processing Timeline: Decisions take approximately 8 weeks. You may legally remain in the UK while awaiting a decision.
• Travel Restriction: Do not travel outside the Common Travel Area (UK, Ireland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man) while your application is pending, or your application will be automatically withdrawn.
• Cancellations: You can cancel an application, but fees are only refunded if UKVI has not started processing.