United KingdomWork

UK Graduate visa: stay and work after your degree

Graduate visa (post-study work)

In short

The Graduate visa lets international students who have completed an eligible UK degree stay and work, look for work or be self-employed without a sponsor. It lasts 2 years for applications made by 31 December 2026, 18 months for applications from 1 January 2027, and 3 years after a PhD. It is applied for only inside the UK and costs £937.

Apply on GOV.UK – Graduate visa checked 23 October 2026

Key facts

Maximum stay
2 years (applications by 31 December 2026), 18 months (from 1 January 2027), 3 years for PhD graduates
Validity
Starts on the day the application is approved; cannot be extended
Fee
£937Plus £1,035 health surcharge per year, e.g. £2,070 for 2 years (fee table from 8 October 2026)
Processing time
Usually within 8 weeks; you can stay while waiting
Work
Most jobs, job-seeking and self-employment; not professional sport
Family
Partner and children already in the UK as your Student dependants can stay
Path to permanent residence
Not directly; switch to Skilled Worker or another route
Where to apply
Inside the UK only, before the Student visa expires

Who is eligible

You must be in the UK on a Student (or Tier 4) visa and have successfully completed, with that visa, a UK bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree or another listed course such as a law conversion course, the Legal Practice Course or a PGCE. Your university must be a licensed sponsor with a track record of compliance and must have reported your successful completion to the Home Office. You must have studied in the UK for at least 12 months, or the full course if it was shorter. You cannot apply if you already had a Graduate visa or a Doctorate Extension Scheme visa.

Cost

The fee is £937. The health surcharge is £1,035 a year: £1,152.50 for an 18-month visa, £2,070 for 2 years and £3,105 for 3 years. Healthcare workers who later move into public sector healthcare may be able to reclaim surcharge. No proof of funds is required.

Applying

Apply online before your Student visa expires, once your university has reported completion; you do not need to wait for graduation. You need your passport and the CAS number from your Student application, and you may prove identity by app or at a UKVCAS service point. Do not travel outside the Common Travel Area until you get a decision.

  1. Check that your university has told the Home Office you completed your course.
  2. Apply online from inside the UK before your Student visa expires.
  3. Pay £937 and the health surcharge for the length of visa you qualify for.
  4. Prove your identity with the ID Check app or at a UKVCAS appointment.
  5. Stay in the UK until the decision (usually 8 weeks) and then check your new conditions in your eVisa.

Forms

What you can do and next steps

You can work in most jobs, look for work, be self-employed, volunteer and travel. You can only study on courses not eligible for a Student visa. The visa cannot be extended; to stay longer, switch to Skilled Worker (graduates switching can qualify for the 70% new-entrant salary rate) or another route before it ends.

Documents

Required documents

Identity

  • Valid passport or travel document
  • eVisa share code or BRP (BRPs usable until 31 December 2026 at the latest)

Study

  • CAS reference number from the Student visa used for the completed course

Supporting documents (where they apply)

Money

  • Consent from a scholarship provider that paid fees and living costs in the last 12 months

Family

  • Marriage or birth certificates for any partner or children applying with you

Frequently asked questions

Is the Graduate visa still 2 years?

Yes for applications made on or before 31 December 2026. From 1 January 2027 it will be 18 months, while PhD graduates keep 3 years.

Can I apply for the Graduate visa from outside the UK?

No. You must be in the UK on your Student visa when you apply.

Do I need a job offer?

No. You can look for work, work for any employer in most jobs or be self-employed.

Official sources

Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.

Other visa types for the United Kingdom

Visits and short stays

Business and self-employment

Study and training

  • Student visa Maximum stay: Course length plus extra time; usually up to 5 years at degree level and 2 years below degree level
  • Language course visa Maximum stay: Course length plus 30 days, no more than 11 months
  • Researcher visa Maximum stay: Up to 5 years per grant, renewable in 1 to 5-year periods
  • Internship and trainee visa Maximum stay: 12 or 24 months, depending on the scheme

Work

  • Skilled worker visa Maximum stay: Up to 5 years per grant; can be extended without limit
  • Job seeker visa Maximum stay: 2 years, or 3 years for PhD holders
  • Intra-company transfer visa Maximum stay: Certificate length plus 14 days, up to 5 years; 5 years in any 6 (9 in 10 if paid £73,900+)
  • Seasonal work visa Maximum stay: Horticulture: up to 6 months in any 10-month period; poultry: 2 October to 31 December
  • Working holiday visa Maximum stay: Up to 2 years; Australian, Canadian and New Zealand nationals can extend once by 1 year

Family

  • Spouse and partner visa Maximum stay: 2 years 9 months on entry, then extensions of 2 years 6 months; fiancé(e)s 6 months
  • Family reunification visa Maximum stay: Child and parent visas 2 years 9 months, renewable; adult dependent relatives of British or settled people get unlimited leave

Residence

  • Permanent residence Validity: Permanent, but can lapse after more than 2 years outside the UK

Online travel permits

Faster processing

Protection

  • Asylum and international protection Validity: Refugee status or humanitarian protection: at least 30 months for claims from 2 March 2026 (5 years for earlier claims and unaccompanied children)

United Kingdom visa guide