About this handbook
A plain-English rulebook of the UK visa rules for international students and graduates of UK universities, with dates.
What this handbook is for
UK Visa Sponsor Guide states what the UK immigration rules say about working after study, in plain English, with each rule’s start date, GOV.UK source and own words.
We write it for international students in the UK and graduates of UK universities: finishing a course, on the Graduate visa, in a first sponsored job, or coming back after study. Careers advisers, journalists and solicitors can quote it.
What it covers
| Section | What it holds |
|---|---|
| Routes | The visa routes open after study |
| Rules | The salary, switching and job rules, dated |
| Costs | Fees and charges, and who pays each |
| Changes | Every rule change in the Statements reviewed so far |
| Figures in force | Each figure, dated and sourced |
What it does not cover
- Advice on your own case.
- Job hunting, CVs or lists of employers.
- Salary checks by occupation code, or sponsor searches.
- Visiting, family visas or first applications to study.
This is not a government website. For advice on your own case, use a solicitor or an adviser regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority (gov.uk).
Who writes it
Every page is written and checked by the UK Visa Sponsor Guide desk, against the sources in Sources and method and under our editorial standards.
Report an error or ask about a page at desk@ukvisasponsorguide.com; fixes are listed in the corrections log.
The accessibility statement explains how to report a barrier, and the nationality notes gather the rules by country.