Graduate Route Visa

Graduate Route Visa

The UK Graduate Visa allows international students to remain in the UK for a limited period after completing their studies, it is a post-study work visa aimed at foreign students who are looking to stay on to work in the UK, or to look for work, having successfully completed a course of study at UK bachelor’s degree-level or above (Master’s Degree or PhD) with a Home Office approved higher education provider. The graduate visa route formally opened in July 2021. 

Graduate visa applicants are not required to have a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) showing the offer of a job with a UK licensed sponsor meeting minimum skill and salary levels. This visa can be used to work in any type of job role or to spend time in the UK looking for work. If a Graduate Visa is granted, the visa-holder will be allowed to earn an income and gain work experience in a number of jobs across a wide range of UK businesses for a period of either 2 or 3 years, depending on the level of degree qualification.

Graduate visa requirements

The Graduate route is a flexible work route for overseas students already in the UK who want to find employment. Under this route, the applicant will not need to prove the offer of a job. They will also not be required to show funds or finance, or demonstrate any English language ability, as they will have already satisfied these requirements under the Student Visa route.

• What are the requirements?
• Currently in the UK;
• Current visa is a Student visa or a Tier 4 (General) student visa;
• Studied a UK bachelor’s degree, postgraduate degree or other eligible course;
• Education provider has told you you’ve successfully completed your course.

The Graduate Visa route does not lead to settlement and is not extendable, but does allow switching to a Skilled Worker route which is a route to settlement after 5 years.

Must apply before Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa expires. 

Graduate visa applicants must pay a Home Office application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge fee to obtain access to the UK’s National Health Service on generally the same basis as a permanent resident in the UK. This will apply for each year of stay and will be payable as in full when making the application.

Following a government announcement in December 2023, Graduate visa holders will no longer be permitted to bring family members with them to the UK as dependants. The change is expected to take effect in Spring 2024, and brings the rules for the Graduate route in line with the UK Student route. We will update with further information on the changes as it becomes available. 

In the meantime, under current rules, the partner and dependent children of the primary Graduate visa-holder may be able to apply to stay on in the UK, provided they are already in the UK as a dependant on the Student route and meet the eligibility requirements. A child born in the UK during permission to stay on the Student route can also apply. The eligibility requirements for a dependant visa on the Graduate route include a relationship requirement, together with an additional age and care requirement for dependent children.

Need help with a Graduate visa application?

Duncan Lewis Solicitors are experienced UK immigration advisers. For specialist advice on graduate visa applications, kindly contact us at 0333 772 0409 or e-mail us at privateimmigration@duncanlewis.com / businessimmigration@duncanlewis.com .