UK Post Study Work Visa 2026: Complete Guide to the Graduate Route

One of the great advantages of choosing the UK as your study destination is that most international students become eligible for a Graduate visa once they have completed their studies. A type of post-study work visa, the Graduate visa, permits you to remain in the UK for two or three years after graduation. During this time, you can look for work, be employed, or even be self-employed, while you continue to soak up all the benefits of living abroad. You do not need to have secured a job to be eligible for a Graduate visa, and there is no minimum salary requirement.

Benefits of the Graduate visa include:

• Continuing to immerse yourself in UK culture and language.
• Gaining international work experience that will stand out on a resumé,
• Broadening your professional network
• Your partner and/or children (if eligible) can remain in the UK with you.
• You can continue to travel in and out of the UK.

Eligibility

After you graduate from your degree in the UK, you will be eligible for a UK Graduate visa if all of the following apply:

• You are still in the UK at the point of application.
• Your existing visa is a Student visa or a Tier 4 (General) Student visa, and it has not expired.
• You have completed your study programme.
• Your study programme was an eligible* course.
• You studied in the UK for at least 12 months, or the total length of your study programme, if its full duration was less than 12 months.

*Eligible courses include most:

• Bachelor’s degrees
• Master’s degrees
• PhDs and other doctorates
• Approved law conversion courses
• Foundation programmes in medicine and dentistry
• Legal Practice Courses (England and Wales), Solicitors Courses (Northern Ireland), and Diplomas in Professional Legal Practice (Scotland)
• Bar Practice Courses (England and Wales), and Bar Courses (Northern Ireland)
• PGCEs and PGDEs

If you are unsure if your course was eligible for a Graduate visa, your study institution will be able to provide further information.

When to apply

• You must apply for a Graduate visa before your existing student visa expires.
• Your university (or other education provider) must have informed the Home Office that you have completed your study programme.

You do not need to wait until you have officially graduated to apply for a Graduate visa.

Duration

The length of your Graduate visa will depend on the type of qualification you studied. Most graduates can remain in the UK with a Graduate visa for two years. For graduates with a doctoral qualification such as a PhD, the Graduate visa is valid for three years.

The validity period begins on the day your visa application is approved.

Here's all you need to know about studying in the UK.

Steps to apply

1. Gather your documents:

• Valid passport
• Biometric residence permit (BRP)
• Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) reference number from when you applied for your Student visa.
• Proof of your relationship with your partner and/or children if they are applying with you.
• Letter of approval from your scholarship/sponsorship provider if they paid your course fees and living costs in the previous 12 months.

2. Prove your identity:

• Download the UK Immigration: ID Check app.
• Sign into your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account or register for an account if you do not have one.
• Scan your BRP with the app.

If you cannot scan your BRP, you must make an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point to have your fingerprints and photograph taken. You will be advised what additional steps to take if this is the case.

3. Apply online:

• You must use the GOV.UK online application form to apply for a Graduate visa.
• You will receive a decision by email, usually within eight weeks of applying.

Factors to be aware of

How long does the UK Graduate visa application process take?

Once you have submitted your application, you must wait for it to be approved and for your visa to be issued. This could take up to eight weeks and may take longer if you have to attend a UKVCAS appointment as part of your application.

You must not leave the UK until you have received a decision. Your application will be withdrawn if you leave the country.

How much does the UK Graduate visa cost?

Costs associated with a Graduate visa in 2024 include:

• Application fee: GBP 822
• Healthcare surcharge: GBP 1,035 per year

What conditions are there on a UK Graduate visa?

A Graduate visa does not permit you to:

• Renew or extend the visa beyond the stated duration of either two or three years
• Continue your studies unless you study a course which is not eligible for a Student visa
• Apply for most public benefits, including a State Pension
• Work as a professional sportsperson
• Live in Jersey, Guernsey, or the Isle of Man

Other limitations may apply, and you must check your visa for the full list of conditions.

Will the UK Graduate visa still exist by the time I graduate?

All visas are subject to review and amendments from time to time. A 2024 assessment from the UK’s Migration Advisory Committee recommended that the Graduate visa provides several benefits to the UK economy, universities, and communities and should remain in place.

Other visas

There may be other visas more appropriate for your circumstances, instead of a Graduate visa. Examples include:

• Health and Care Worker visa (for eligible healthcare and adult social care workers who want to remain in the UK for up to five years, with an option to extend - this is a cheaper option than the Graduate visa)
• Skilled Worker visa (for those undertaking eligible jobs with approved employers and want to remain in the UK for up to five years, with an option to extend)
• Student visa (to continue your studies on an approved course)

Resources

• GOV.UK application overview
• GOV.UK digital application form
• Eligible course types
• Register of licensed (eligible) universities and other study institutions  

Note: All facts and figures are correct at the time of writing (June 2024) but may be subject to change at any time due to amendments to the local legislature.