Routes 1
How to apply for the Graduate visa
Apply from inside the UK before your Student visa expires, once your university has told the Home Office you completed your course.
| Figure | In force | Since | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate visa length | 2 years Scheduled: 18 months for applications from | Start date not verified | GR 8.1, HC 1333 (gov.uk) |
| Graduate visa application fee | £937 | Graduate visa: How much it costs; Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 April 2026 (gov.uk) |
| Length | 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026 Authority Appendix Graduate, GR 8.1, as amended by HC 1333 (gov.uk). The passage relied on2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026 |
|---|---|
| Needs a sponsor | No: it is an unsponsored route Authority Immigration Rules, Appendix Graduate (introduction) (gov.uk). The passage relied onThe Graduate route is an unsponsored route. |
| Can switch to Skilled Worker inside the UK | You may be able to. The Graduate visa itself cannot be extended. Authority GOV.UK guidance, Graduate visa: Overview (gov.uk). The passage relied onYou cannot extend your Graduate visa. However, you may be able to switch to a different visa, for example a Skilled Worker visa. |
The Graduate visa is applied for from inside the UK, as a switch from your Student visa. The six steps below follow the order of the application. Other routes are compared on the Routes page.
Before you apply: two things must be true
Step 1: check you are eligible. You must be in the UK on a Student visa, and have studied here long enough: the minimum depends on your course length. The course must be one that qualifies, from a licensed sponsor with a track record of compliance.
| Usually one of | a UK bachelor’s degree, a UK master’s degree or a UK PhD or doctorate Authority GOV.UK guidance, Graduate visa: The course you studied (gov.uk). The passage relied onYou usually must have one of the following to apply: |
|---|---|
| You can also apply after | 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) or a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) Authority GOV.UK guidance, Graduate visa: The course you studied (gov.uk). The passage relied onYou can also apply if you completed any of the following: |
at least 12 months, if your course’s total length is more than 12 months
Step 2: your course completion is reported. Your university or college must tell the Home Office that you completed your course successfully. You do not need to wait for your graduation ceremony.
Apply before your Student visa expires
Step 3: apply in time. The application must be made before your Student visa expires. When that is, for your course, is worked out on After your course ends.
Step 4: pay the fee and the health surcharge. You pay both when you apply. The surcharge depends on the length of visa you are applying for; the split is on Graduate visa costs.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee | £937 Authority GOV.UK guidance, Graduate visa: How much it costs (gov.uk). The passage relied onpay the £937 application fee |
| Health surcharge, 2-year visa | £2,070 Authority GOV.UK guidance, Graduate visa: How much it costs (gov.uk). The passage relied on2 years, it will cost £2,070 |
| Health surcharge, 3-year visa after a doctorate | £3,105 Authority GOV.UK guidance, Graduate visa: How much it costs (gov.uk). The passage relied on3 years, it will cost £3,105 |
| Health surcharge, 18-month visa | The yearly cost of £1,035 plus half the yearly cost Authority GOV.UK guidance, Pay for UK healthcare as part of your immigration application: How much you have to pay (gov.uk). The passage relied onthe yearly cost plus half the yearly cost, if it’s for 18 months or less |
Documents, identity and the decision
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| Step 5: prove your identity | You need a valid passport or other travel document that shows identity and nationality, the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) reference number from the Student visa application and the biometric residence permit (BRP), to prove a valid Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa. You prove your identity with the UK Immigration: ID Check app, or with fingerprints and a photo at a UKVCAS service point. Authority GOV.UK guidance, Graduate visa: Documents you’ll need to apply (gov.uk). The passage relied onWhen you apply you’ll need to provide: Identity GOV.UK guidance, Graduate visa: Apply (gov.uk). The passage relied onuse the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your identity document |
| Step 6: wait for the decision | GOV.UK’s published processing time for a Graduate application inside the UK was 8 weeks as at . Authority GOV.UK guidance, Visa processing times: applications inside the UK (gov.uk). The passage relied onWork visas you can apply for without a job offer Category Processing time Global Talent 8 weeks Graduate 8 weeks |
Your application date sets the length
It lasts 2 years if you apply by , or 3 years after a doctorate.
Scheduled: Applications made on or after get 18 months; after a doctorate the length stays 3 years. (HC 1333)
After you are granted
A Graduate visa cannot be extended; a holder may be able to switch from inside the UK, for example to Skilled Worker, as After your course ends explains.
You cannot extend your Graduate visa. However, you may be able to switch to a different visa, for example a Skilled Worker visa.
A child born in the UK
Statement of ChangesStatement of Changes A document laid before Parliament that amends the Immigration Rules. Each has an HC number and one or more commencement dates. HC 259 made this change: Appendix Graduate: a child born in the UK during a parent’s Graduate permission can apply as a dependant. It took effect on .
Employers have a one-page note. Holders of a listed non-UK degree can compare HPI or Graduate.
History
- 1 January 2027. Scheduled. Graduate visa shortened for new applications, HC 1333.
- . Entry updated.
- . Entry first published.
- 3 August 2026. In force. Children born in the UK on the Graduate route, HC 259.
Common questions
Can I apply for the Graduate visa before graduation?
Yes. The Home Office must first hear from your university or college that you completed the course successfully. You do not need to wait for the graduation ceremony, but you must apply before your Student visa expires.
How much does the Graduate visa cost?
The application fee is £937. The health surcharge is £2,070 for a 2-year visa, or £3,105 for a 3-year visa after a doctorate.
Is the Graduate visa still 2 years?
Yes, for applications made on or before 31 December 2026. Applications made on or after 1 January 2027 get 18 months. After a PhD or other doctorate it stays 3 years.
How long does a Graduate visa application take?
This handbook does not hold processing times. GOV.UK publishes them, and the step on the decision above links to the page.
Sources
- Graduate visa: Overview (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
You must apply before your Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa expires.
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.
- Graduate visa: The course you studied (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
at least 12 months, if your course’s total length is more than 12 months
You usually must have one of the following to apply:
You can also apply if you completed any of the following:
The education provider for your course must be a licensed sponsor with a ‘track record of compliance’.
- Graduate visa: How much it costs (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
pay the £937 application fee
2 years, it will cost £2,070
3 years, it will cost £3,105
- Government: Publications (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
Fee from 8 April 2026
- 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.
6.4 For the changes that introduce a visa requirement on Botswana, those changes will come into effect at 1500 BST on 14 October 2025. The changes regarding appendix HPI, will come into effect on 4 November 2025, the changes relating to Students transitioning to the Innovator Founder route come into effect on 25 November 2025 and the changes to English language requirements for economic migration routes will come into effect on 8 January 2026. All other changes will come into effect on 11 November 2025 and are detailed in the implementation section of the Statement of Changes.
- 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)
- Immigration Rules: Appendix Graduate (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
The Graduate route is an unsponsored route.
(d) they must be a child born in the UK to a Graduate who holds existing permission to stay in the Graduate route.
- Pay for UK healthcare as part of your immigration application: How much you have to pay (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
£1,035 per year for all other visa and immigration applications, for example £3,105 for a 3-year visa
the yearly cost plus half the yearly cost, if it’s for 18 months or less
- Statement of Changes HC 259 (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
APP GR3. After GR 9.4A(c), insert:
- Graduate visa: Documents youll need to apply (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
When you apply you’ll need to provide:
To prove you have a valid Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa, you’ll need to provide your biometric residence permit (BRP).
- Graduate visa: Apply (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your identity document
have your fingerprints and photo (biometric information) taken at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point
Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision within 8 weeks.
- Guidance: Visa processing times applications inside the uk (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
Work visas you can apply for without a job offer Category Processing time Global Talent 8 weeks Graduate 8 weeks
- Statement of Changes HC 259: explanatory memorandum (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
6.3 These changes will come into effect on various dates from 30 July 2026 and are detailed in the implementation section of the Statement of Changes.
5.1 This amendment will allow a child born in the UK during a parent’s current grant of Graduate route permission to apply as a dependant, and be granted permission in line with the parent.
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).