Routes 2

Hiring someone on a Graduate visa

A Graduate visa holder can work for you without sponsorship, in most jobs, until the visa ends.

Route summary
Length	2 years for applications made on or before 31 December 2026; 3 years after a doctorate 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
Needs a sponsor	No. The Graduate route is an unsponsored route. Authority Immigration Rules, Appendix Graduate (introduction) (gov.uk). The passage relied on The Graduate route is an unsponsored route.
Can switch to Skilled Worker inside the UK	The holder may be able to. The Graduate visa itself cannot be extended. Authority GOV.UK guidance, Graduate visa: Overview (gov.uk). The passage relied on You cannot extend your Graduate visa. However, you may be able to switch to a different visa, for example a Skilled Worker visa.

This page is for employers and recruiters: “you” means the employer. Students and graduates may send it to you.

Scheduled: Applications made on or after 1 January 2027 get 18 months. (HC 1333)

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The Graduate route is an unsponsored route, so you do not sponsor the holder. Work is permitted, including self-employment and voluntary work, apart from work as a professional sportsperson.

Check their right to work first

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You must check that a job applicant is allowed to work for you in the UK before you employ them. You can check online if they give you their share code. Their status may be held as an eVisa, a digital record of their identity and immigration status.

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The worker chooses how to prove their right to work: with a share code or with eligible immigration documents. You cannot reject them because they gave you an eligible document instead of a share code.

You must check that a job applicant is allowed to work for you in the UK before you employ them.

gov.uk guidance, Checking a job applicant’s right to work (gov.uk). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.

Keeping them after the visa ends

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The Graduate visa cannot be extended. To keep the person, you would sponsor them as a Skilled Worker, and your licence must be listed as A-rated on the register.

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Someone on a Graduate visa can count as a new entrant, so a lower salary floor of £33,400 can apply. They need English at B2 to switch.

Immigration Skills Charge you pay as the sponsor
Sponsor size	First year	Each further half year
Small or charitable	£480 Authority GOV.UK guidance, UK visa sponsorship for employers: Immigration skills charge (gov.uk). The passage relied on First 12 months £480 £1,320	£240
Medium or large	£1,320 Authority GOV.UK guidance, UK visa sponsorship for employers: Immigration skills charge (gov.uk). The passage relied on First 12 months £480 £1,320	£660

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You must pay the charge yourself. Your licence may be revoked if you ask the worker to pay it, or any costs linked to your application. The full split is on Immigration Skills Charge.

History

8 October 2026. Entry updated.
7 October 2026. Entry first published.

Common questions

Do I need a sponsor licence to employ someone on a Graduate visa?

No. The Graduate route is an unsponsored route, and its holders may work in most jobs, apart from work as a professional sportsperson. You still check their right to work before you employ them.

How do I check a Graduate visa holder's right to work?

Online, with the share code they give you, or by checking their eligible immigration documents. The worker chooses which, and you cannot reject them for giving you a document instead of a share code.

What do I pay if I sponsor them later?

The Immigration Skills Charge: £480 or £1,320 for the first year, depending on your size, then a charge for each further half year. You must pay it yourself, never the worker.

Can a Graduate visa holder be paid the new-entrant rate?

A person switching from a Graduate visa can count as a new entrant, with a floor of £33,400. The full conditions are on GOV.UK.

Sources

Immigration Rules: Appendix Graduate (gov.uk). Checked 7 October 2026.
The passage relied on
The Graduate route is an unsponsored route.
(b) work (including self-employment and voluntary work) is permitted, apart from work as a professional sportsperson; and
GR 1.4. The applicant must not have been previously granted permission under the Doctorate Extension Scheme or as a Graduate.
Graduate visa: Overview (gov.uk). Checked 7 October 2026.
The passage relied on
work in most jobs
You cannot extend your Graduate visa.
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.
Check job applicant right to work: Overview (gov.uk). Checked 7 October 2026.
The passage relied on
You must check that a job applicant is allowed to work for you in the UK before you employ them.
check the applicant’s right to work online, if they’ve given you their share code
Prove right to work: Overview (gov.uk). Checked 7 October 2026.
The passage relied on
If you’re not a British or Irish citizen, you can prove your right to work with:
You can choose which option you use. Your employer cannot reject your application because you gave them an eligible immigration document instead of a share code, for example.
created one to get access to an eVisa (a digital record of your identity and immigration status)
Statement of Changes HC 1333 (gov.uk). Checked 7 October 2026.
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 7 October 2026.
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 7 October 2026.
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)
You can be paid 70% of your job’s standard going rate if your salary will be at least £33,400 per year and one of the following applies:
Immigration Rules: Appendix Skilled Worker (gov.uk). Checked 7 October 2026.
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.
(f) the applicant’s most recent permission (disregarding any permission as a visitor) was as a Graduate, and if that permission has expired, it must have expired less than 2 years before the date of application.
Statement of Changes HC 997 (gov.uk). Checked 7 October 2026.
The passage relied on
APP SW4. In rows C, D and E of the table following SW 4.4, for each instance of “£30,960”, substitute “£33,400”.
Skilled Worker visa: Knowledge of English (gov.uk). Checked 7 October 2026.
The passage relied on
If you’re applying to switch from a different visa, you need level B2.
UK visa sponsorship for employers: Immigration skills charge (gov.uk). Checked 7 October 2026.
The passage relied on
First 12 months £480 £1,320
Each additional 6 months £240 £660
You must pay the immigration skills charge yourself. Your licence may be revoked if you ask the sponsored worker to pay the fee or any costs linked to your application.

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).