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Graduate visa

United KingdomStudy

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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Get your free results Read the five questions ↓

What education or training is this pathway designed for?

The Graduate visa is for students who have successfully completed an eligible course in the UK. The course must be a UK bachelor’s degree, postgraduate degree or other eligible course studied for a minimum period of time with a Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa.

See recorded sources
  • Overview
    A Graduate visa gives you permission to stay in the UK for at least 18 months after successfully completing an eligible course in the UK.
  • Eligibility
    you studied a UK bachelor’s degree, postgraduate degree or other eligible course for a minimum period of time with your Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa

What type of institution/course must accept or enrol the applicant?

The applicant's current visa must be a Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa, and their education provider (such as a university or college) must have told the Home Office they have successfully completed the course. The course must be an eligible one, and there is a required length of study in the UK.

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What are the most important financial or study-related conditions: tuition, funds, insurance, full-time study, attendance or equivalent?

The Graduate visa requires payment of the £937 application fee and the healthcare surcharge (usually £1,035 for each year in the UK). The applicant must have studied an eligible course for a minimum period of time with a Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa.

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Limits of the record
  • The document does not specify the exact minimum period of study required.
  • The document does not mention tuition fees, funds, insurance, full-time study, attendance or equivalent conditions beyond the application fee and healthcare surcharge.
  • How much it costs
    pay the £937 application fee
  • How much it costs
    pay the healthcare surcharge - this is usually £1,035 for each year you’ll be in the UK
  • Eligibility
    you studied a UK bachelor’s degree, postgraduate degree or other eligible course for a minimum period of time with your Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa

Can the student work? Under what major restrictions? What is the family position where clearly stated?

A Graduate visa holder can work in most jobs, look for work, be self-employed, continue living in the UK with their partner and children if they are eligible, travel abroad and return, and do voluntary work, which must be unpaid and for a registered charity, a voluntary organisation, an associated fundraising body or a statutory body. They cannot apply for most benefits (public funds) or the State Pension, or work as a professional sportsperson.

See recorded sources
  • https://www.gov.uk/graduate-visa
    With a Graduate visa you can: work in most jobs look for work be self-employed continue living in the UK with your partner and children, if they’re eligible travel abroad and return to the UK do voluntary work
  • https://www.gov.uk/graduate-visa
    Any voluntary work you do must be unpaid and for one of the following: a registered charity a voluntary organisation an associated fundraising body (an organisation that raises money for a charity or voluntary organisation) a statutory body (a government-appointed body, for example Historic England)
  • https://www.gov.uk/graduate-visa
    You cannot: apply for most benefits (public funds), or the State Pension work as a professional sportsperson

How long does the status last, how is it renewed, and what officially documented post-study work or residence possibilities exist?

A Graduate visa lasts 2 years if applied for on or before 31 December 2026, or 18 months if applied for on or after 1 January 2027; holders of a PhD or other doctoral qualification get 3 years. It cannot be extended, but the holder may be able to switch to a different visa, for example a Skilled Worker visa.

See recorded sources
  • https://www.gov.uk/graduate-visa
    A Graduate visa lasts for: 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027 If you have a PhD or other doctoral qualification, it will last for 3 years.
  • https://www.gov.uk/graduate-visa
    You cannot extend your Graduate visa. However, you may be able to switch to a different visa, for example a Skilled Worker visa.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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