Graduate Route Visa
The Graduate Route Visa allows international students who have successfully completed a UK degree to remain in the country for work purposes without requiring employer sponsorship.
How does the Graduate Route Visa work?
The Graduate Route Visa is a:
- 3-year visa for PhD or other research degree holders
- 2-year visa for those who have completed a Bachelor's or Master’s degree (including Masters by Research) if applying before 1 January 2027
- 18-month visa for those who have completed a Bachelor's or Master’s degree (including Masters by Research) if applying on or after 1 January 2027
Graduates can take up most forms of employment on the Graduate Route Visa, including paid or unpaid work, self-employment, or running a business. However, working as a professional sportsperson and accessing most public funds (benefits) is not permitted.
Making your Graduate Route Visa application
Make sure you are eligible
Make sure to check your eligibility for the Graduate Route Visa before then making your application.
Find the costs to apply
Find the information on the costs of this Graduate Route Visa, including the cost for the visa and application costs.
How to make your application
Find guidance on applying for the Graduate Route Visa including the information you'll need and the online application link.
If you plan to finish your course outside of your original Student Visa period, this may affect your eligibility for the Graduate Route Visa. As such, any resits or repeats can affect your eligibility as they will extend this period.
- PhD students should submit their thesis well before their course end date to allow time for viva and corrections.
- In some cases, the University might issue another CAS to extend your student visa before you apply for the Graduate Route, but this will depend on your academic circumstances.
For questions or advice, join an online drop-in session with the Immigration and Compliance team.
If you finish your course early, the University will notify the Home Office of your new end date. You’ll receive an email confirming this. The Home Office will then shorten your Student Visa, giving you 4 months from the new end date to apply for the Graduate Route Visa, to extend or renew your Student Visa, or to leave the UK.
If you plan to travel abroad, please wait until your Graduate Route Visa is granted. Leaving the UK before this may cause your Student Visa to end immediately, preventing your return and losing your chance to apply for the Graduate Route Visa. This is because the application for this visa route must be done from within the UK while your Student Visa is valid.
If this was an optional work placement as part of your course, you'll still be eligible to apply for the Graduate Route Visa if you completed your course without doing said placement.
You should not apply for a fee waiver to later pay for your Graduate Route Visa.
A fee waiver is only used in exceptional cases when you want to apply for a visa but cannot afford to pay the application fees. Fee waivers are not valid for those staying in the UK to await results or who have plans to pay fees later on. Applying for a fee waiver without meeting the strict criteria could then affect future visa applications.
No, to be eligible you must have held a Student Visa and studied in the UK for at least 12 months before completing your degree. This includes the Doctorate Extension Scheme Visa.
You can apply for the Graduate Route Visa even if you previously held a Tier 1 (Post-Study Work), International Graduates Scheme (IGS), or Fresh Talent Working in Scotland Visa.
You cannot apply for the Graduate Route Visa if you have previously held a DES visa.
Only existing dependants (e.g. spouse/partner or children already on your Student Visa) can apply with you. New dependants cannot be added under this route, except new-borns born in the UK.
Yes, if the course was less than 12 months and you studied the full duration in the UK, you are eligible to apply for the Graduate Route Visa.
You can study only on short courses (e.g. English, recreational, or online courses). Graduate Route Visa holders cannot study on full-time courses that require a Student Visa.
Unfortunately the Graduate Route Visa does not count towards settlement. However, you may switch into other routes following this type of visa (e.g. the Skilled Worker Visa) which do lead to settlement in the UK.