UK Graduate visa
Who it's for: Students who have completed a UK degree or other eligible course on a Student visa and are still in the UK.
Information, not immigration advice. This page summarises what the government publishes. Confirm every figure on the official page before you pay or apply.
Last checked 29 Oct 2026
Requirements at a glance
- You must be in the UK on a Student visa when you apply
- You must have completed the course you studied on that Student visa
- Lasts 2 years if you apply by 31 December 2026; 18 months from 1 January 2027; 3 years after a PhD
- Visa fee of £937, plus the health surcharge of £1,035 a year
- No job offer or sponsor needed; you can work at any level
- It can't be extended; switch to another visa, such as Skilled Worker, to stay longer
Figures and costs
| Item | Amount | In your currency | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa fee | £937 | — | gov.ukOfficial · 29 Oct 2026 |
| Immigration Health Surcharge, per year | £1,035 | — | gov.ukOfficial · 29 Oct 2026 |
| Length (bachelor's or master's) | 24 monthsFrom 1 Jan 2027: 18 months | gov.ukOfficial · 29 Oct 2026 | |
| Length (PhD) | 36 months | gov.ukOfficial · 29 Oct 2026 | |
| Usual decision time | 8 weeks | gov.ukOfficial · 29 Oct 2026 |
Figures marked check come from secondary sources or could not be confirmed on an official page.
How the route works
Your university reports to the Home Office that you have completed your course. You then apply online from inside the UK, pay the visa fee and the health surcharge, and usually get a decision within 8 weeks. You can stay in the UK while you wait.
What changes on 1 January 2027
gov.uk states that Graduate visas applied for on or after 1 January 2027 last 18 months instead of 2 years. PhD and other doctoral graduates still get 3 years.
Where it fits
This visa comes after the UK Student visa. On the results page it appears as the next step on the Student visa card rather than as a separate result, because you can only apply for it from inside the UK.
Common questions
Can I apply from my home country?
No. gov.uk says you must be in the UK when you apply, with a Student visa, and your university must have told the Home Office you completed your course.
Can my family stay with me?
Only family members who were already your dependants on your Student visa. Each applies separately and pays the fee.
Does it lead to settlement?
gov.uk doesn't list settlement as an option on this visa. It says you can switch to another visa, such as the Skilled Worker visa, before it ends.
The full Graduate visa guide
Step-by-step process, every cost for you and your family, document checklist, money rules, common refusal reasons and official links. The same guide for every buyer, dated.
Other UK routes
Before you pay anyone
- Nobody can guarantee a visa. Only the government of the country you apply to decides.
- UK employers must not charge you for a Certificate of Sponsorship.
- German missions say you don't need an agent to get a visa appointment.
- Check any adviser or recruitment agent on an official register before you pay.