UK Graduate visa: launch your career

Posted on 5 October 2026

The UK Graduate visa offers eligible international students the opportunity to stay in the UK after completing their studies, gain valuable work experience and explore exciting career opportunities without needing employer sponsorship.

Whether you want to develop your professional skills, build your network or take the first step towards a long-term career, this visa could be your gateway to a brighter future.  It lets eligible international graduates remain in the UK to work or look for work after completing their course.

• Eligibility (see note 1): Apply while in the UK with a valid Student or Tier 4 visa; complete an eligible UK bachelor’s, postgraduate, or other qualifying course; and have your education provider confirm completion to the Home Office.

• Length: 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027; 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026; 3 years if you have a PhD or other doctoral qualification.

• Work rights: No employer sponsorship or job offer is required. You can work full-time or part-time, change employers, be self-employed, freelance, or seek work. You generally cannot work as a professional sportsperson or access most public funds.

• Application: Apply online before your Student visa expires and after the university confirms completion. Typical evidence includes your passport, university confirmation, and Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) details. Identity verification may use the ID Check app or a biometric appointment.

• Costs: You pay the application fee plus the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). As of April 2026, the costs are £937 application fee + £2,070 IHS for a 2-year visa = about £3,007.

• Value: It offers flexible UK work experience and can support a later switch to a Skilled Worker visa, if eligible.

Costs of the Graduate visa as of April 2026:

Item	Amount	Notes
Application fee	£937	Payable at submission
IHS	£2,070	£1,035/year × 2 years
Total for a 2‑year visa	£3,007	Application + IHS
IHS	£3,105	£1,035/year × 3 years
Total for a 3‑year visa	£4,042	Application + IHS

Comparison of the Graduate visa and the Skilled Worker visa:

Requirement	Graduate visa	Skilled Worker visa
Employer sponsor	Not required	Required; the employer must be an approved sponsor
Job offer before applying	Not required	Required for an eligible skilled job
Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)	Not required	Required from the sponsoring employer
Employer sponsorship licence	Not relevant	Employer must hold a valid sponsorship licence
Minimum salary threshold	No minimum salary threshold stated	Salary requirements apply under the Skilled Worker route
Work flexibility	Can work full-time or part-time, change employers, freelance, be self-employed, or look for work	Work is tied to the sponsored role and employer; changes may require immigration action
Main purpose	Gain UK work experience and explore career options after study	Work in a qualifying, sponsored job, often as a longer-term immigration route

Metropolitan London

In short, the Graduate visa is more flexible immediately after graduation because you can accept work without sponsorship. A Skilled Worker visa becomes relevant once you have an eligible job offer from a licensed sponsor that meets the route’s requirements.

If your partner and children joined you in the UK as ‘dependants’ on your current Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa, they can apply to stay as dependants on your Graduate visa.

Take the next step

The UK Graduate visa can be an important stepping stone towards achieving your career ambitions. By gaining practical work experience, developing professional skills and building valuable industry connections, you can turn your UK education into a strong foundation for future success. Start planning ahead, explore the career opportunities and take the next step towards launching your career in the UK. Your journey does not have to end at graduation — it could be the beginning of an exciting new chapter in your professional life.

Join the UK workforce with Graduate visa

Note 1:

You need to have successfully completed the course you took with your current Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa. Whether you can apply will also depend on:

• the education provider for your course, for example your university or college

• the kind of course you took

• how long you studied in the UK for

If your education provider allowed you to change course without applying for a new Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa, you only need to have completed the course you changed to.

The education provider for your course must be a licensed sponsor with a ‘track record of compliance’. Check if your education provider has a track record of compliance - it will have ‘Student Sponsor - Track Record’ in the ‘Status’ column.

You usually must have one of the following to apply:

• a UK bachelor’s degree

• a UK master’s degree

• a UK PhD or doctorate

You can also apply if you completed any of the following:

• a law conversion course approved by the Solicitors Regulation Authority

• the Legal Practice Course in England and Wales, the Solicitors Course in Northern Ireland, or a Diploma in Professional Legal Practice in Scotland

• the Bar Practice Course in England and Wales, or the Bar Course in Northern Ireland

• a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)

• a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE)

You may also be able to apply if passing your course made you eligible for a job that’s regulated by UK law or a UK public authority. Your education provider can tell you if your course is eligible.

You can apply for a Graduate visa if you’re on your current Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa because you’re a Student Union Sabbatical Officer.  To be eligible, you need to have successfully completed one of these courses in the UK just before you started your current visa.

You need to have studied in the UK for either:

• at least 12 months, if your course’s total length is more than 12 months

• the total length of your course, if its total length is shorter than 12 months

You must also be in the UK when you apply for a Graduate visa.

Studying your course in the UK means that you were in the UK when your education provider needed you to be there - for example, to go to lectures or meet with a tutor. For example, if you were taking a 1 year master’s degree, but left the UK during term breaks or on weekends, that would still count as studying in the UK for 1 year.