Study visa

Graduate Visa: The Complete Guide

The Graduate visa lets international students who finish an eligible UK course stay on to work, or look for work, without a sponsor. It does not lead to settlement by itself, so most people use it to find a sponsored job and switch.

Who can apply

You completed an eligible UK degree or qualification on a Student visa
Your education provider told the Home Office you finished the course
You apply from inside the UK before your Student visa expires

Making it count

Because the Graduate visa cannot be extended, the most common next step is switching to the Skilled Worker visa once you have a sponsored job. Time on the Graduate visa does not count towards settlement, but time on the Skilled Worker route afterwards does.

Always check the official rules

This guide is a plain-English summary, not legal advice, and the rules change. Confirm the current requirements on the official Graduate page on GOV.UK or speak to a qualified immigration adviser before applying.

At a glance

Sponsor needed: No
Typical length: 2 years, or 3 with a PhD
Leads to settlement: Not directly, switch to another route
Dependants: Only those already in the UK as your dependants
Cost: Application fee plus the health surcharge

Graduate Visa: The Complete Guide

Who can apply

Making it count

At a glance

Tools for this route

Keep reading