Graduate
Must be in the UK holding a valid Student visa.
Must have successfully completed a Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD.
The rest of the key points ↓↑
- Applications made on or after 1 January 2027 for non-doctoral degrees will receive 18 months (reduced from 2 years).
- Applications made before 1 January 2027 receive 2 years.
- PhD graduates receive 3 years regardless of application date.
- Does not lead directly to settlement.
The Graduate Visa allows international students to stay in the UK to work, or look for work, after successfully completing an eligible course.
Eligibility Checker
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You must apply from inside the UK before your Student visa expires
Your university must have reported your successful completion (Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD)
Including spent and unspent convictions
5 questions still to answer
- Are you currently in the UK holding a valid Student visa?
- Have you completed an eligible UK degree?
- What level of qualification did you complete?
- When do you plan to submit your Graduate Visa application?
- Do you have any criminal convictions?
Graduate Updates & Policy Breakdown
No published updates for this category yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Visa duration depends on degree level and application date: PhD/doctoral graduates receive 3 years regardless of application date. Non-doctoral degrees (Bachelor's or Master's) receive 2 years for applications submitted before 1 January 2027, and 18 months for applications submitted on or after 1 January 2027.
Yes. You must be in the UK holding a valid Student visa (or Tier 4 student visa) when you apply. You must have successfully completed an eligible Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD degree reported by your student sponsor to the Home Office.
The Graduate Visa does not lead directly to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). However, time spent lawfully on a Graduate Visa counts toward the 10-Year Long Residence settlement route, and you can switch into a settlement-track visa (e.g. Skilled Worker) while your visa is valid.
No. You must be in the UK, holding valid permission as a Student, when you apply. If you leave before applying, or your Student permission ends first, the route closes to you. This is the most common way people lose access to it.
No. It cannot be extended. If you want to stay beyond it you need to switch to another route — most commonly Skilled Worker, which requires a licensed sponsor. Start looking early in the Graduate period, because sponsorship takes time on the employer's side.