Visa routes after study
Which routes a UK graduate can use, how long each lasts, and whether it needs a sponsor.
The routes, side by side
Pin up to two routes to keep them at the top.
| Route | Who it is for | Length | Needs a sponsor | Can switch to Skilled Worker inside the UK | Counts towards settlement | Where to read the rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student | People offered a course place by a licensed student sponsor | Your course, then 4 months more after a course of 12 months or longer | Yes, a licensed student sponsor assigns the CAS | Yes, if one of three conditions applies | No. It is not a route to settlement | Student visa rules; GOV.UK |
| Graduate | Student visa holders who have completed an eligible course | 2 years if you apply by 31 December 2026; 18 months after that; 3 years after a doctorate | No. It is an unsponsored route | Yes, you may be able to switch | No. It is not a route to settlement | Graduate visa rules; GOV.UK |
| Skilled Worker | People with a job whose occupation code is listed as higher skilled | Up to 5 years before you need to extend | Yes, an employer listed as A-rated on the register | This is the Skilled Worker route | Yes, after 5 years you may be able to apply to settle | Skilled Worker visa rules; GOV.UK |
| High Potential Individual | Graduates of an eligible university outside the UK, with an award in the last 5 years | 2 years | No. You do not need a job offer to apply | Yes, before the HPI visa expires | No. Time on it does not count | High Potential Individual visa rules; GOV.UK |
| Youth Mobility Scheme | Nationals of listed countries and territories, within an age band | Up to 24 months | See GOV.UK | Yes, inside the UK | No. It is not a route to settlement | Youth Mobility Scheme visa rules; GOV.UK |
| BN(O) | British nationals (overseas) and some of their family members | 2 years and 6 months, or 5 years | See GOV.UK | Yes, inside the UK | Yes, after you have lived in the UK for the qualifying period | BN(O) visa rules; GOV.UK |
| Global Talent | Leaders or potential leaders in academia or research, arts and culture and digital technology | Up to 5 years at a time | No. You do not need a job offer | Yes, inside the UK | You may be able to settle after a qualifying period | Global Talent visa rules; GOV.UK |
The answers rest on these rules
Authority GOV.UK guidance, Student visa: Overview (gov.uk).
The passage relied on
You can apply for a Student visa to study in the UK if you’re 16 or over and you:
Authority Appendix Student, ST 25.3 (table) (gov.uk).
The passage relied on
A course of 12 months or longer 1 Month 4 Months
Authority Appendix Student, ST 7.1 (gov.uk).
The passage relied on
ST 7.1. The Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies must have been issued by a student sponsor whose licence is still valid on the date on which the application is decided.
Authority Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 1.5A (Conditions A, B and C) (gov.uk).
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If you’re currently in the UK on a Student visa, you must also meet one of the following requirements:
Authority Immigration Rules, Appendix Student (introduction) (gov.uk).
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The Student route is not a route to settlement.
Authority GOV.UK guidance, Graduate visa: Overview (gov.uk).
The passage relied on
You must apply before your Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa expires.
You cannot extend your Graduate visa. However, you may be able to switch to a different visa, for example a Skilled Worker visa.
Authority Appendix Graduate, GR 8.1, as amended by HC 1333 (gov.uk).
The passage relied on
2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026
Authority Immigration Rules, Appendix Graduate (introduction) (gov.uk).
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The Graduate route is an unsponsored route.
The Graduate route is not a route to settlement.
Authority Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 6.1 as substituted by HC 997 (APP SW7) (gov.uk).
The passage relied on
If your occupation code is listed as a ‘higher skilled’ job, you can apply for this visa.
Authority GOV.UK guidance, Skilled Worker visa: Overview (gov.uk).
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Your visa can last for up to 5 years before you need to extend it. You’ll need to apply to extend or update your visa when it expires or if you change jobs or employer.
After 5 years, you may be able to apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’).
Authority Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 5.3 (gov.uk).
The passage relied on
SW 5.3. The sponsor must be listed as A-rated on the Home Office’s register of licensed sponsors, unless the applicant was last granted permission as a Skilled Worker and is applying to continue working for the same sponsor as in their last permission.
Authority Appendix High Potential Individual, HPI 5.1 (gov.uk).
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You must have been awarded your qualification in the last 5 years.
Authority GOV.UK guidance, High Potential Individual (HPI) visa: Overview (gov.uk).
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An HPI visa lasts for 2 years. If you have a PhD or other doctoral qualification, it will last for 3 years.
However, you may be able to switch to a different visa, for example a Skilled Worker visa. You can switch to a different visa before your HPI visa expires.
Your time on an HPI visa will not count as time spent in the UK if you apply to settle in the UK.
Authority GOV.UK guidance, High Potential Individual (HPI) visa: Eligibility (gov.uk).
The passage relied on
You do not need to have a job offer to apply.
Authority GOV.UK guidance, Youth Mobility Scheme visa: Eligibility (gov.uk).
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You can apply for the visa if you’re aged 18 to 35 and from:
Authority GOV.UK guidance, Youth Mobility Scheme visa: Overview (gov.uk).
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You’ll be given a visa to live and work in the UK for up to 24 months.
Authority Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 1.5ZA and SW 1.5A (gov.uk).
The passage relied on
SW 1.5ZA. If applying for permission to stay, the applicant must not have, or have last been granted, permission:
Authority Immigration Rules, Appendix Youth Mobility Scheme (introduction) (gov.uk).
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The Youth Mobility Scheme route is not a route to settlement.
Authority GOV.UK guidance, British National (Overseas) visa: Overview (gov.uk).
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If you’re the child of a British national (overseas) aged 18 or older and born on or after 1 July 1979, you can apply separately from your parent.
After you’ve lived in the UK for 5 years, you can apply to live in the UK permanently.
Authority Appendix Hong Kong British National (Overseas), HK 9.1 (gov.uk).
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(a) a period of 5 years, where the applicant has applied for a period of 5 years; or
Authority GOV.UK guidance, Apply for the Global Talent visa: Overview (gov.uk).
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You can apply for a Global Talent visa to work in the UK if you’re a leader or potential leader in one of the following fields:
You can live and work in the UK for up to 5 years at a time.
You may be able to get indefinite leave to remain so you can settle in the UK after 3 or 5 years, depending on which field you work in and how you apply.
Authority GOV.UK guidance, Visa processing times: applications inside the UK (gov.uk).
The passage relied on
Work visas you can apply for without a job offer Category Processing time Global Talent
Answers bound to a checked rule: 32 of 34. The others link to GOV.UK until the rule is checked.
Switching between routes inside the UK
| From | To Student | To Graduate | To Skilled Worker | To High Potential Individual | To Youth Mobility Scheme | To BN(O) | To Global Talent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| From Student | Same route | Apply before the Student visa expires | Yes, if a condition applies | Yes, with conditions | No | Yes | Yes, with conditions |
| From Graduate | Yes | Same route | You may be able to | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| From Skilled Worker | Yes | No | Same route | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| From High Potential Individual | Yes | No | Yes, before the HPI visa expires | Same route | No | Yes | Yes |
| From Youth Mobility Scheme | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Same route | Yes | Yes |
| From BN(O) | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Same route | Yes |
| From Global Talent | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Same route |
The answers rest on these rules
Authority GOV.UK guidance, Graduate visa: Overview (gov.uk).
The passage relied on
You must apply before your Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa expires.
Authority Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 1.5A (Conditions A, B and C) (gov.uk).
The passage relied on
If you’re currently in the UK on a Student visa, you must also meet one of the following requirements:
Authority Appendix High Potential Individual, HPI 1.5ZA, HPI 1.5A and HPI 1.6 (gov.uk).
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HPI 1.5ZA. If applying for permission to stay, the applicant must not have, or have last been granted, permission:
Authority Appendix Youth Mobility Scheme, YMS 3.1 and YMS 1.4.A (gov.uk).
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YMS 3.1. A person seeking to come to the UK on the Youth Mobility Scheme route must have applied for and obtained entry clearance under the Youth Mobility Scheme route before they arrive in the UK.
Authority Appendix Hong Kong British National (Overseas), HK 5.2 (gov.uk).
The passage relied on
HK 5.2. An applicant applying for permission to stay must be in the UK, and must be ordinarily resident in the UK, the Bailiwick of Guernsey, Bailiwick of Jersey, the Isle of Man or Hong Kong on the date of application.
Authority Appendix Global Talent, GT 1.5ZA and GT 1.5A (gov.uk).
The passage relied on
GT 1.5ZA. If applying for permission to stay, the applicant must not have, or have last been granted, permission:
Authority Appendix Student, ST 1.4A (gov.uk).
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ST 1.4A. If applying for permission to stay, the applicant must not have, or have last been granted, permission:
Authority Appendix Graduate, GR 1.3 (gov.uk).
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GR 1.3. The applicant must have, or have last had, permission as a Student.
Authority GOV.UK guidance, High Potential Individual (HPI) visa: Overview (gov.uk).
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However, you may be able to switch to a different visa, for example a Skilled Worker visa. You can switch to a different visa before your HPI visa expires.
Authority Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 1.5ZA and SW 1.5A (gov.uk).
The passage relied on
SW 1.5ZA. If applying for permission to stay, the applicant must not have, or have last been granted, permission:
Contents
| Entry | Title | Updated | Changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Routes 1 | Graduate visa | ||
| Routes 2 | For employers | None recorded | |
| Routes 3 | High Potential Individual | ||
| Routes 4 | HPI university list | ||
| Routes 5 | HPI or Graduate visa | None recorded | |
| Routes 6 | Youth Mobility Scheme | None recorded | |
| Routes 7 | BN(O) or Graduate visa | ||
| Routes 8 | Global Talent | None recorded |
Notes for readers from particular countries are in the nationality notes.
Common questions
What visa can I get after graduating in the UK?
The routes are in the sheet above: the Graduate visa, Skilled Worker, and, if you meet their own conditions, High Potential Individual, Youth Mobility, BN(O) or Global Talent. Each row says how long the route lasts and whether it needs a sponsor.
How long can I stay on a Graduate visa?
2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026, and 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027. After a PhD or other doctorate it lasts 3 years.
Can I switch from a Graduate visa to Skilled Worker?
You may be able to switch from inside the UK. The Graduate visa itself cannot be extended. See switching from the Graduate visa to Skilled Worker.
Sources
- Graduate visa: Overview (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
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.
You cannot extend your Graduate visa. However, you may be able to switch to a different visa, for example a Skilled Worker visa.
- Statement of Changes HC 1333 (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
2 years if the applicant has successfully completed a course at UK bachelor’s degree or master’s degree level, or another relevant qualification that meets the requirement of ST8.1/2/3 of the Rules, and the application is made before 1 January 2027.
- Statement of Changes HC 1333: explanatory memorandum (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
5.26 The change to 18 months will apply to applications submitted on or after 1 January 2027, with PhD graduates continuing to receive three years of leave.
- Skilled Worker visa: When you can be paid less (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
you’re currently in the UK on a Graduate visa (or you have been in the last 2 years, and a Graduate or visit visa was your most recent visa)
How each figure is checked: Sources and method.
This is general information about the rules, not legal advice. For advice on your own situation, use a solicitor or an adviser regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority (gov.uk).