The course you studied

To be eligible for a Graduate visa, you need to have successfully completed the course you took with your current Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa. Whether you can apply will also depend on: the education provider for your course, for example your university or college the kind of course you took how long you studied in the UK for If your education provider allowed you to change course without applying for a new Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa, you only need to have completed the course you changed to. Your education provider The education provider for your course must be a licensed sponsor with a ‘track record of compliance’. Check if your education provider has a track record of compliance - it will have ‘Student Sponsor - Track Record’ in the ‘Status’ column. Your course You usually must have one of the following to apply: a UK bachelor’s degree a UK master’s degree a UK PhD or doctorate You can also apply if you completed any of the following: 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 foundation programme in medicine or dentistry a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) You may also be able to apply if passing your course made you eligible for a job that’s regulated by UK law or a UK public authority. Your education provider can tell you if your course is eligible. If you’re on a Student visa because you’re a Student Union Sabbatical Officer You can apply for a Graduate visa if you’re on your current Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa because you’re a Student Union Sabbatical Officer. To be eligible, you need to have successfully completed one of these courses in the UK just before you started your current visa. How long you studied in the UK for You need to have studied in the UK for either: at least 12 months, if your course’s total length is more than 12 months the total length of your course, if its total length is shorter than 12 months You must also be in the UK when you apply for a Graduate visa. What counts as time spent studying in the UK Studying your course in the UK means that you were in the UK when your education provider needed you to be there - for example, to go to lectures or meet with a tutor. Example If you were taking a 1 year master’s degree, but left the UK during term breaks or on weekends, that would still count as studying in the UK for 1 year. If you could not study in the UK because of coronavirus (COVID-19) The rules on how long you need to have studied your course in the UK may not apply if you needed to study outside the UK because of COVID-19. Your Student visa or Tier 4 visa was for more than 12 months You can count any time spent studying outside the UK between 24 January 2020 and 30 June 2022 as time spent studying in the UK. Your Student visa or Tier 4 visa was for 12 months or less You can apply if either of the following are true: you started your course before 21 June 2021 and you entered the UK on a Student visa on or before 27 September 2021 you started your course between 21 June 2021 and 30 June 2022 and you entered the UK on a Student visa on or before 30 June 2022

When you apply for a Graduate visa, you’ll need to: pay the £822 application fee pay the healthcare surcharge - this is usually £1,035 for each year you’ll be in the UK You’ll be told how much you need to pay when you apply. Healthcare surcharge You’ll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge when you apply. If you’re eligible for a Graduate visa for: 2 years - it will cost £2,070 3 years - it will cost £3,105 If you work in public sector healthcare If you get a job in public sector healthcare after you have paid the healthcare surcharge, you may be able to get a refund .

Documents you'll need to apply

When you apply you’ll need to provide: a valid passport or other travel document that shows your identity and nationality your biometric residence permit ( BRP ) or eVisa (online proof of your immigration status), if you were given either of them when you applied for your Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies ( CAS ) reference number from when you applied for your Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa Your CAS reference number was sent to you by your education provider when they offered you a place on the course you completed with your Student visa. If you cannot find it, ask your education provider what it is. Other documents you might need Depending on your circumstances, you might be asked to provide: proof of your relationship with your partner or children if they’re applying with you a letter from your scholarship or sponsorship provider approving your application, if they paid for both your course fees and living costs in the last 12 months If your documents are not in English or Welsh you’ll also need to provide a certified translation . When you’ve got your documents ready You can apply online once your documents are ready.

You must apply online for a Graduate visa. Check which documents you’ll need to apply . Your partner or children will need to apply separately. Proving your identity and providing supporting documents As part of your application, you’ll need to prove your identity. You usually do this by scanning your biometric residence permit ( BRP ) with the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app. If you’re from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, scan your passport instead. You’ll need to sign into an existing UK Visas and Immigration ( UKVI ) account, or create a new one. If you cannot scan your BRP or passport with the app, you’ll be asked to have your fingerprints and photo (biometric information) taken at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point. You’ll be told what you need to do when you apply. If you do need an appointment, the centre may need to keep your passport and documents while they process your application. You must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision. Your application will be withdrawn if you do. Apply for a Graduate visa Once you’ve started your application, you can save your form and complete it later. Start now Continue your application You can sign back into your application if you’ve saved it. Find out how to sign in to your account . Get help to apply online You can get help with completing the online form if you: do not feel confident using a computer or mobile device do not have internet access You can only use this service if you’re applying for a visa in the UK. You cannot get immigration advice through this service. How long it takes to get a decision Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision within 8 weeks. After you apply You’ll be contacted if your application will take longer, for example because: your supporting documents need to be verified of your personal circumstances, for example if you have a criminal conviction You can ask to cancel your application . You’ll only get your fee refunded if UKVI has not started processing your application. If your application is successful You’ll get an eVisa (an online record of your immigration status). Your decision email or letter will tell you how to get access to your eVisa . You’ll need to create a UKVI account. Find out how to get your biometric residence permit (BRP) if you were told you’d get one when you applied.

Graduate visa

Overview

A Graduate visa gives you permission to stay in the UK for at least 2 years after successfully completing a course in the UK.

You must be in the UK when you apply.

Eligibility

You can apply for a Graduate visa if all of the following are true:

you’re in the UK
your current visa is a Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa
you studied a UK bachelor’s degree, postgraduate degree or other eligible course for a minimum period of time with your Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa
your education provider (such as your university or college) has told the Home Office you’ve successfully completed your course

You can ask your education provider if you’re not sure whether they’ve told the Home Office you’ve successfully completed your course.

Check if your course is eligible and how long you need to have studied in the UK.

If you’re not eligible for a Graduate visa, you may be eligible for another type of visa to stay in the UK.

How long you can stay

A Graduate visa lasts for 2 years. If you have a PHD or other doctoral qualification, it will last for 3 years.

Your visa will start from the day your application is approved.

If you want to stay longer in the UK

You cannot extend your Graduate visa. However, you may be able to switch to a different visa, for example a Skilled Worker visa.

Check you can apply for another type of visa to stay in the UK.

How to apply

You must apply online.

Your partner and children can also apply to stay in the UK if they are eligible.

When to apply

You must apply before your Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa expires.

You can apply after your education provider (such as your university or college) has told the Home Office that you’ve successfully completed the course you took with your Student or Tier 4 (General) student visa. You do not have to wait until you’ve graduated or have been given a certificate.

As part of your application, you’ll need to prove your identity and provide your documents.

Your application may take longer if you need an appointment to do this. You’ll find out if you need one when you start your application.

Getting a decision

Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision on your visa within 8 weeks.

You can stay in the UK while you wait for a decision.

How much it costs

When you apply for a Graduate visa, you’ll need to:

pay the £822 application fee
pay the healthcare surcharge - this is usually £1,035 for each year you’ll be in the UK

Check how much it will cost.

If you work in public sector healthcare

If you’re a doctor or nurse, or you work in health or adult social care, check if you’re eligible to apply for the Health and Care Worker visa instead. It’s cheaper to apply for and you do not need to pay the annual immigration health surcharge.

If you get a job in public sector healthcare after you have paid the healthcare surcharge, you may be able to get a refund.

What you can and cannot do

With a Graduate visa you can:

work in most jobs
look for work
be self-employed
continue living in the UK with your partner and children, if they’re eligible
do voluntary work
travel abroad and return to the UK

You cannot:

apply for most benefits (public funds), or the State Pension
work as a professional sportsperson

If your application is successful, you’ll get a full list of what you can and cannot do with a Graduate visa.

Studying with a Graduate visa

You can only study with a Graduate visa if your chosen course is not eligible for a Student visa. If your course is eligible for a Student visa, you can extend your Student visa instead.

You may need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate if you’re studying or researching sensitive topics.

View a printable version of the whole guide

Graduate visa

Overview

Eligibility

How long you can stay

If you want to stay longer in the UK

How to apply

When to apply

Getting a decision

How much it costs

If you work in public sector healthcare

What you can and cannot do

Studying with a Graduate visa

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Graduate visa

Overview

Eligibility

How long you can stay

If you want to stay longer in the UK

How to apply

When to apply

Getting a decision

How much it costs

If you work in public sector healthcare

What you can and cannot do

Studying with a Graduate visa

Is this page useful?

Help us improve GOV.UK

Help us improve GOV.UK