PSW Visa UK: Graduate Route Guide for Applicants

Section A: What is the PSW Visa in the UK?

The PSW visa is the informal name commonly used for the UK’s Graduate visa. It allows eligible international students who have successfully completed qualifying studies in the UK to remain after their Student permission ends and work, look for work or be self-employed. The route is intended to provide a period of post-study work permission without requiring the graduate to be tied to a particular employer or job.

The Graduate route is temporary rather than a direct route to settlement. How long permission lasts depends on the qualification completed and, for most graduates, the date the application is made. The rules are also changing from 1 January 2027, reducing the standard period of Graduate permission for non-doctoral applicants.

Employers looking to hire or retain an international graduate should see our Graduate Visa guide for employers.

Is the PSW visa the same as the Graduate visa?

Yes. There is no separate immigration category officially called the PSW visa. “PSW”, meaning post-study work, is widely used to refer to the Graduate visa under Appendix Graduate of the Immigration Rules.

The Graduate route is available to qualifying applicants who have successfully completed eligible studies in the UK. Once permission is granted, the individual moves out of the Student route and holds immigration permission independently as a Graduate.

Using the correct terminology matters when making an application. Applicants apply for a Graduate visa through the official Home Office process, even if their university, employer or other sources refer to it informally as a PSW or post-study work visa.

Do you need a job or employer sponsor for a PSW visa?

You do not need a job offer to apply for a PSW visa and you do not need an employer to sponsor your application. There is also no requirement to obtain a Certificate of Sponsorship.

The absence of employer sponsorship gives graduates more flexibility than under sponsored work routes. You can apply before finding a job and, once the visa is granted, you can work in most jobs, change employer, look for work or be self-employed. Work as a professional sportsperson is not permitted under the Graduate route.

The job you take does not have to meet the occupation or salary requirements that apply under the Skilled Worker route simply because you hold Graduate permission. Those requirements become relevant if you later want to move into Skilled Worker sponsorship or another immigration route with its own eligibility criteria.

How long does the PSW visa last?

For applications made on or before 31 December 2026, Graduate permission is granted for two years if you have completed a UK bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or another qualifying non-doctoral course. If you have successfully completed a PhD or other doctoral qualification, permission is granted for three years.

The period of permission runs from the date the Graduate application is approved. It is not an additional period added to the end of your Student visa.

A PSW visa cannot be extended under the Graduate route. If you want to remain in the UK after it expires, you will need to qualify for further immigration permission under another route.

What changes from 1 January 2027?

The standard length of Graduate permission is being reduced for applications made from 1 January 2027. A non-doctoral applicant who applies on or after that date will normally receive 18 months of Graduate permission rather than two years. Applicants who complete a PhD or other doctoral qualification will continue to receive three years.

The relevant date is the date of the Graduate visa application, not the date the applicant started their course or completed their studies. A qualifying non-doctoral graduate who applies by 31 December 2026 can therefore still receive two years of Graduate permission, while an equivalent application made on or after 1 January 2027 will normally result in an 18-month grant.

The shorter period makes the timing of post-study employment and longer-term immigration planning more significant for graduates applying from 2027. Anyone hoping to remain in the UK beyond their PSW visa will have less time to establish whether they can qualify for another route, such as Skilled Worker, before their Graduate permission expires.

Section B: Who Can Apply for a PSW Visa?

Eligibility for a PSW visa depends on more than simply graduating from a UK university. You need to have successfully completed an eligible course under the Student route, your education provider must meet the Graduate route requirements and you must have spent the required period studying in the UK.

The Home Office assesses these requirements under Appendix Graduate. While the route operates under the points-based system, applicants do not need to calculate points in practice. The 70 points available under the route are awarded for meeting the successful completion, qualification and UK study requirements.

Do you need to have a Student visa to apply for a PSW visa?

You must have, or have last had, permission under the Student route when you apply for a Graduate visa. Permission previously granted under the former Tier 4 (General) student route can also qualify.

The Graduate route is therefore designed as an in-country progression route for eligible students completing their studies in the UK. It is not available as an entry clearance route for graduates applying from overseas.

There is a limited provision for Student Union Sabbatical Officers. If your current Student permission was granted for a sabbatical officer role, you can still qualify where you successfully completed the relevant eligible course immediately before that period of permission.

Does your university or college have to qualify?

Yes. Your most recent Student sponsor must be a higher education provider with a track record of compliance on the date you make the Graduate application. The Home Office register identifies qualifying providers with the status “Student Sponsor – Track Record”.

Your education provider also has an active role in the process. Before you apply, it must have notified the Home Office that you successfully completed the course you undertook during your most recent period of Student permission. You do not make that notification yourself.

If you changed course with your provider without having to make a new Student visa application, the successful completion requirement applies to the course you changed to.

Which courses qualify for a PSW visa?

Most applicants qualify after successfully completing a UK bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, PhD or other doctoral qualification. Appendix Graduate also recognises a limited range of professional and education qualifications.

These include:

• a law conversion course validated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority in England and Wales
• 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 Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE)
• certain professional courses requiring study at UK bachelor’s degree level or above for professions with activities regulated by UK law or a UK public authority.

The qualification must normally have been gained during your most recent period of Student permission. A change to the name of the course will not in itself prevent eligibility where the course content remained the same. An integral and assessed work placement or permitted study-abroad programme can also be accommodated within the rules.

How long must you have studied in the UK?

The Graduate route includes a minimum UK study requirement. If the total length of your course is 12 months or less, you must normally have studied in the UK for the full duration of that course. If the course lasts longer than 12 months, you must normally have studied in the UK for at least 12 months while holding Student permission.

Ordinary absences such as weekends and university holidays do not mean you have failed the requirement. What matters is whether you were studying in the UK during the period when your education provider required you to be here. Permitted study-abroad programmes are also accommodated under the rules.

Specific concessions remain in the Immigration Rules for certain periods of overseas distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. These are now relevant mainly to applicants whose course history reaches back to that period rather than to most current graduates.

Can you apply for a PSW visa more than once?

No. You cannot qualify for a Graduate visa if you have previously been granted permission under the Graduate route. You are also excluded if you previously held permission under the former Doctorate Extension Scheme.

The Graduate route is therefore a one-time post-study immigration option. If you use it after one qualifying course and later complete further studies in the UK, you cannot obtain a second period of Graduate permission on the basis of the later qualification.

Section C: When Should You Apply for a PSW Visa?

You can apply for a PSW visa once your education provider has notified the Home Office that you have successfully completed your course. The application must be made from within the UK. You should normally apply before your Student permission expires, although limited exceptions can apply where a period of overstaying is disregarded under the Exceptions for overstayers provisions in Part Suitability.

The timing can be important. You do not need to wait for your graduation ceremony or for your degree certificate to be issued, but submitting an application before your university has reported successful completion can cause problems with the application.

Do you have to wait until you graduate to apply for a PSW visa?

You do not have to wait for your formal graduation ceremony. For Graduate route purposes, the relevant point is successful completion of your course rather than the date on which you graduate ceremonially or receive your certificate.

Your education provider must have notified the Home Office of successful completion by the date you apply. Universities and other qualifying providers will usually have their own process for confirming when this notification has been made, so check the position with your provider rather than assuming that completing your final assessment means you can immediately submit the visa application.

Do you need to wait for your university to notify the Home Office?

Yes. Appendix Graduate requires your Student sponsor to have notified the Home Office that you successfully completed the relevant course by the date of your application.

You do not need to obtain a new Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) for the Graduate application, but you will normally need the CAS reference from the Student visa application connected with the course you completed. Your university does not decide the Graduate visa application; its role is to report successful completion, while the Home Office decides whether the immigration requirements are met.

What if your Student visa is about to expire?

You should make your Graduate application before your Student permission expires. Do not assume that you can wait for a graduation ceremony, certificate or another academic milestone if doing so would take you beyond your immigration expiry date.

Limited provision exists for an application made after Student permission has expired where the Exceptions for overstayers in Part Suitability apply. These provisions are narrow and should not be treated as an alternative application window. In particular, an applicant relying on the exception for a late application must generally apply within 14 days of their previous permission expiring and show that there was a good reason beyond their control why an in-time application could not be made.

If your university has not yet reported successful completion and your Student permission is approaching expiry, contact the university promptly to establish when it expects to make the notification. An application that does not meet the Graduate route validity requirements can be rejected as invalid. Allowing your Student permission to expire before applying can also affect your immigration status and eligibility, and only limited periods of overstaying can be disregarded under the Immigration Rules.

Where a valid in-time application is made before your Student permission expires, section 3C of the Immigration Act 1971 can extend your existing permission while the application is pending. The conditions attached to your Student permission generally continue during that period, although the Student rules provide specific circumstances in which someone who has made a valid Graduate application can take a permanent full-time role after successfully completing their course.

Can you apply for a PSW visa from outside the UK?

No. A Graduate visa application must be made from within the UK. The route does not provide for an application for entry clearance from overseas.

If you leave the UK after completing your studies without making a valid Graduate application and your Student permission then expires, you cannot subsequently apply for a PSW visa from overseas. Applicants planning travel around the end of their course should therefore consider the timing of both their Student permission and their intended Graduate application.

Can you travel while your PSW visa application is pending?

You should remain within the Common Travel Area while the Home Office is considering your application. If you travel outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man before a decision is made, your Graduate application will be treated as withdrawn.

Travel plans are therefore best considered before submitting the application or postponed until a decision has been received. Once Graduate permission has been granted, you can travel abroad and return to the UK while that permission remains valid, subject to the usual requirements for admission.

Section D: How Do You Apply for a PSW Visa?

The PSW visa application is made online through the Graduate visa application process. You apply directly to the Home Office rather than through your university, and you do not need an employer to make or support the application for you.

As part of the application, you will need to prove your identity and provide information linking your application to the studies you have completed. The Home Office may ask for additional evidence depending on your circumstances.

How do you apply for a PSW visa?

You will need to complete the online Graduate visa application form, provide the required information and documents and pay the application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge.

You will also have to prove your identity. Depending on your nationality and the type of immigration document you hold, you may be able to do this using the UK Immigration: ID Check app. If you cannot use the app, you may be required to attend a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services appointment to provide your biometric information.

What documents do you need for a PSW visa?

The documents required will depend on your circumstances, but you will generally need a valid passport or other travel document showing your identity and nationality, together with your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) reference number from the Student visa application for the course you completed.

You do not need a new CAS for the Graduate application. If you no longer have the reference number, your education provider should be able to provide it.

You may also be asked for evidence of your previous immigration permission or other documents relating to your application. Where a partner or child is applying as your dependant, evidence relating to their identity and relationship to you may also be required.

If you received a scholarship or sponsorship covering both course fees and living costs from a government or international scholarship agency during the 12 months before the application, you will need written consent from that sponsor to remain in the UK.

Do you need to prove your English or show maintenance funds?

There is no separate English language requirement for the Graduate route and you do not have to meet a financial maintenance requirement by showing a specified amount of savings.

The route instead relies on the qualifying studies already completed under the Student route. You should still budget for the full cost of the application and your living expenses, since Graduate visa holders cannot generally access public funds.

How long does a PSW visa application take?

The Home Office states that applicants will usually receive a decision within 8 weeks after completing the online application, proving their identity and providing the required documents. Processing can take longer where further information is needed or aspects of the application require additional checks.

You can remain in the UK while a valid in-time application is being decided. You should not make travel arrangements that require leaving the Common Travel Area before the decision, for the reasons explained in Section C.

What happens if your PSW visa is approved?

If the application is successful, you will be granted permission under the Graduate route. Your immigration status will normally be held digitally as an eVisa, which records your immigration permission and its conditions.

You should check the details of your immigration status when the visa is granted, including the expiry date and the conditions attached to your stay. You can use your digital status to prove your right to work to an employer and, where required, your right to rent in England.

The expiry date is particularly important because Graduate permission is granted for a fixed period and cannot be extended under the same route. Anyone intending to remain in the UK longer term should treat that date as part of their immigration planning rather than waiting until the final months of their PSW visa.

Section E: How Much Does a PSW Visa Cost?

A PSW visa application currently costs £937. Most applicants also have to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for the full period of Graduate permission granted.

The overall cost therefore depends on whether you are granted 18 months, two years or three years of Graduate permission.

What is the PSW visa application fee?

The Home Office application fee for the Graduate route is currently £937 per applicant. The same application fee applies to each eligible dependant applying under the route.

The fee is paid as part of the online application process. It is separate from the Immigration Health Surcharge and from any other costs you may incur in preparing the application.

How much is the Immigration Health Surcharge for a PSW visa?

The Immigration Health Surcharge is currently charged at £1,035 for each year of Graduate permission. The amount payable is calculated according to the length of the visa and is paid as part of the application process.

The 18-month cost will apply to non-doctoral applicants granted 18 months of Graduate permission following the change taking effect for applications made from 1 January 2027. Applicants making a qualifying non-doctoral application by 31 December 2026 may still receive two years of permission, while PhD and other doctoral graduates continue to receive three years.

Do dependants pay separate PSW visa fees?

Yes. Each eligible dependant has to make their own application and pay the application fee. They must also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for the period of Graduate permission granted to them.

Applicants applying with family members should therefore calculate the costs for each person separately. The combined application fees and healthcare surcharge can make the total cost significantly higher than the amount payable by the main applicant alone.

Are PSW visa fees refunded if the application is refused?

The application fee is not normally refunded if the Home Office refuses the application. The Immigration Health Surcharge is generally refunded where the visa application is refused.

Where there is uncertainty about eligibility, it is advisable to address the issue before submitting and paying for the application, since refusal can result in the loss of the application fee as well as affecting the applicant’s immigration plans.

Section F: What Can You Do on a PSW Visa?

A PSW visa gives you broad permission to work in the UK during your period of Graduate leave. You can take employment at most skill and salary levels, change jobs and employers and work on a full-time or part-time basis. You can also be self-employed or use the period to look for work.

There are, however, conditions on what you can do. In particular, you cannot work as a professional sportsperson and access to further study is restricted where the course would qualify for sponsorship under the Student route.

What jobs can you do on a PSW visa?

You can work in most jobs on a PSW visa. The Graduate route does not impose a minimum salary, prescribed occupation or skill level on the work you undertake.

For example, you do not have to find employment connected with the subject of your degree. You can take a graduate position, work in another sector or move between roles as your career develops. You can also have more than one job, provided the work complies with the conditions of your immigration permission.

The main employment restriction is that you cannot work as a professional sportsperson, including as a sports coach.

Can you change jobs on a PSW visa?

Yes. You can change jobs or employers without making a new Graduate visa application. Your immigration permission is not linked to a particular employer, so losing or leaving a job does not in itself bring your PSW visa to an end.

You can also spend periods without employment while looking for another role. There is no requirement to remain continuously employed throughout your Graduate permission.

Can you be self-employed on a PSW visa?

Yes. Graduate permission allows self-employment. You can work for yourself, undertake freelance work or establish a business, subject to complying with the usual legal, tax and regulatory requirements that apply to the activity concerned.

Self-employment does not provide a way to extend your PSW visa. If you want to remain in the UK after your Graduate permission expires, you will still need to qualify under another immigration route.

Can you study on a PSW visa?

You can study while you hold a PSW visa, but there is an important restriction. You can study while holding Graduate permission, although restrictions apply where you want to study with a Student sponsor on a course that meets the approved qualification and level requirements of the Student route. In that situation, Student permission will normally be required instead.

You may also be subject to the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) requirements if you study or conduct research in a subject for which ATAS clearance is required, unless an exemption applies.

Can you claim benefits on a PSW visa?

Graduate permission is normally granted subject to a condition preventing access to public funds. You cannot therefore rely on most benefits or other forms of state support classed as public funds for immigration purposes.

Not every government service or payment is classed as a public fund. Eligibility for a particular form of support depends on the rules governing that benefit or service as well as your immigration status.

Section G: Can Your Partner and Children Stay With You?

Your partner and children may be able to remain in the UK as your dependants when you move onto a PSW visa, but you cannot bring a new dependant to the UK from overseas under the Graduate route. Graduate dependant applications are made from within the UK and are generally limited to family members who already held qualifying Student dependant permission, subject to the special rules for children born in the UK.

Can your partner stay with you on a PSW visa?

Your husband, wife, civil partner or unmarried partner can apply to remain as your dependant if they were already your dependant under your current Student visa or former Tier 4 (General) permission.

They will also need to continue to meet the relationship requirements that apply to dependant partners. Their Graduate dependant application is separate from yours and, if granted, their permission will normally end on the same date as your Graduate permission.

Can your children stay with you on a PSW visa?

A child who was already your dependant under your Student permission can usually apply to remain as your dependant under the Graduate route, provided the relevant requirements for dependant children continue to be met.

A child born in the UK during your current period of Student permission can also apply even though they did not previously hold dependant permission. Following a change to the Immigration Rules in 2026, the same now applies to a child born in the UK while you already hold Graduate permission.

Children aged 18 or over can continue as dependants only where they already hold dependant permission and meet the requirements that apply to adult dependant children, including the requirement not to be living an independent life.

Can you bring a new dependant to the UK on a PSW visa?

In general, no. The Graduate route is designed to allow existing Student dependants to continue their stay rather than to provide a route for new partners or children to join the Graduate from overseas.

For example, if you marry after moving onto the Graduate route and your partner was not previously your Student dependant, they would not normally be able to come to the UK as your Graduate dependant. If you later move into another immigration category, such as Skilled Worker, different dependant rules may apply.

Do your dependants have to apply separately?

Yes. Your partner and children do not automatically receive Graduate dependant permission when your own PSW visa is granted. Each eligible family member must make a separate application and meet the requirements that apply to them.

Dependants granted permission under the Graduate route can generally work, including through self-employment, and study in the UK. They cannot work as a professional sportsperson or sports coach and their permission is normally subject to the condition that they have no access to public funds.

If you intend to move onto another immigration route when your PSW visa ends, check the position for your family at the same time. A dependant’s immigration status does not automatically change simply because the main visa holder moves into a different category.

Section H: What Happens When Your PSW Visa Ends?

A PSW visa cannot be extended. If you want to remain in the UK after your Graduate permission expires, you will need to qualify for another immigration route and make the relevant application before your existing permission ends. The route you move into will depend on your work, family circumstances or other basis for remaining in the UK.

For many graduates, the most relevant option will be a sponsored work route, but Graduate visa holders are not required to move into Skilled Worker permission specifically. Other immigration categories may be available depending on the individual’s circumstances.

Can you extend a PSW visa?

No. The Graduate route does not allow an extension and you cannot obtain a second period of Graduate permission by completing another course. If you want to stay in the UK beyond the expiry date shown on your eVisa, you will need to secure further immigration permission on another basis.

Leaving the decision until the end of your PSW visa can narrow your options. Some routes depend on factors that take time to put in place, such as finding a qualifying job, securing sponsorship or preparing evidence for an application.

Can you switch from a PSW visa to a Skilled Worker visa?

You may be able to switch from a PSW visa to the Skilled Worker visa from within the UK if you meet the requirements of that route. Among other requirements, you will need an eligible job with a Home Office-approved sponsor and a Certificate of Sponsorship. The applicable salary and occupation requirements also have to be met.

Holding Graduate permission does not guarantee that your current job will qualify for Skilled Worker sponsorship. The role, occupation code, salary and sponsor all have to satisfy the Skilled Worker rules in force when you apply. You may therefore need to change role or employer if your existing employment cannot support a sponsored application.

Graduate visa holders considering sponsorship should assess the position before their PSW visa is close to expiry. An employer that is not already licensed to sponsor workers may need to obtain a sponsor licence before it can assign a Certificate of Sponsorship.

What other visas can you switch to after a PSW visa?

Skilled Worker is only one possible route. Depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible to apply under another work route, a family route or another immigration category.

For example, someone with a qualifying partner may be able to apply under the relevant family or dependant provisions, while an applicant with an eligible business proposition may consider the Innovator Founder visa. The requirements differ substantially between routes, so eligibility should be assessed against the category you intend to use rather than assuming that Graduate status provides an automatic right to switch.

Our separate post-study work visa guide considers the main immigration options for remaining and working in the UK after study in more detail.

Does the PSW visa lead to settlement in the UK?

The Graduate route is not itself a route to settlement. Time spent with Graduate permission does not count towards the five-year qualifying period for settlement under the Skilled Worker route. If you later switch to Skilled Worker permission, the relevant qualifying period for settlement under that route will normally be calculated by reference to time spent in eligible settlement routes rather than your earlier Graduate permission.

Graduate permission is, however, lawful residence and can potentially form part of the qualifying residence relied on for settlement under the separate long residence provisions, provided all of the requirements of that route are met.

When should you start planning your next visa?

There is no single point at which every Graduate visa holder needs to decide their next immigration step, but the expiry date should be treated as a deadline to work back from rather than the point at which planning begins.

If your aim is sponsored employment, consider early whether your employer holds a sponsor licence, whether your role is capable of sponsorship and whether your salary is likely to meet the requirements that will apply. If those conditions are not in place, you may need time to discuss sponsorship with your employer or look for another qualifying role.

The reduction of standard Graduate permission to 18 months for non-doctoral applications made from 1 January 2027 gives affected graduates less time to move from study into employment and secure any longer-term immigration route they may need. Early planning is therefore likely to become more important for applicants using the PSW route from 2027.

Summary

The PSW visa, officially the Graduate visa, gives eligible international graduates a period of unsponsored permission to remain and work in the UK after completing their studies. It offers considerable flexibility over employment, but the permission is temporary and cannot be extended.

Applicants need to pay close attention to when they become eligible to apply, the expiry of their Student permission and the restrictions on travel while an application is pending. The reduction from two years to 18 months for most non-doctoral applications made from 1 January 2027 also shortens the period available for post-study work and longer-term planning.

If you want to remain in the UK beyond your PSW visa, consider your next immigration route early. Graduate permission can provide valuable time to establish your career, but any future right to remain will depend on qualifying separately under another route.

Need Assistance?

If you are considering applying for a PSW visa or need advice on your options after your Graduate permission ends, DavidsonMorris can help. Our UK immigration specialists advise international graduates on Graduate visa eligibility, applications and longer-term immigration options. For advice on your circumstances, book a fixed-fee telephone consultation to speak with one of our immigration solicitors.

PSW Visa FAQs

What does PSW visa mean?

PSW means post-study work. In the UK, the term is commonly used to refer to the Graduate visa, which allows eligible international graduates to remain in the UK after successfully completing a qualifying course.

Is the PSW visa the same as the Graduate visa?

Yes. The official immigration route is the Graduate visa under Appendix Graduate of the Immigration Rules. PSW visa and post-study work visa are informal terms commonly used for the route.

Do I need a job offer to apply for a PSW visa?

No. You do not need a job offer or employer sponsorship to apply. Once Graduate permission is granted, you can work in most jobs, look for work or be self-employed, subject to the conditions of the route.

How long can I stay in the UK on a PSW visa?

For non-doctoral applicants applying on or before 31 December 2026, Graduate permission lasts two years. For applications made from 1 January 2027, it lasts 18 months. PhD and other doctoral graduates receive three years.

Can I apply for a PSW visa after my Student visa expires?

You should normally apply before your Student permission expires. A Graduate visa application must be made from within the UK, but limited exceptions can apply where your Student permission has already expired and the period of overstaying is disregarded under the Exceptions for overstayers provisions in Part Suitability. These exceptions are narrow, so you should not rely on them as an alternative to making an in-time application. You cannot apply for a Graduate visa from overseas.

Do I have to wait for my graduation ceremony before applying?

No. You do not need to wait for your graduation ceremony or degree certificate. Your education provider must have notified the Home Office that you successfully completed the relevant course before you apply.

Can I work full-time on a PSW visa?

Yes. Graduate permission allows full-time employment and there is no Graduate route minimum salary or prescribed skill level for the job. You can also change employer without making a new Graduate visa application. You cannot work as a professional sportsperson.

Can I switch from a PSW visa to a Skilled Worker visa?

Yes, provided you meet the Skilled Worker visa requirements. Your job must qualify for sponsorship, your employer must be an approved sponsor and the relevant salary and other requirements must be met.

Can I extend my PSW visa?

No. Graduate permission cannot be extended and you cannot obtain the visa twice. To remain in the UK after it expires, you will need to qualify for another immigration route.

Does the PSW visa lead to indefinite leave to remain?

The Graduate route is not a direct route to indefinite leave to remain. Time spent with Graduate permission does not count towards the qualifying period for settlement under the Skilled Worker route, although it can potentially count towards settlement under the separate long residence provisions if all relevant requirements are met.

Can my partner join me in the UK on a PSW visa?

A partner who was already your dependant under your Student permission may be able to remain as your Graduate dependant. The route does not generally allow a new partner who was not previously your Student dependant to join you from overseas as a Graduate dependant.

Can I leave the UK while my PSW visa application is pending?

If you leave the Common Travel Area while your Graduate application is awaiting a decision, the application will be treated as withdrawn. You should therefore consider any overseas travel before submitting the application or wait until a decision has been made.

How long does a PSW visa decision take?

The Home Office advises that Graduate visa applications are usually decided within eight weeks after the applicant has applied online, proved their identity and provided the required documents. Some applications can take longer where further checks or information are required.

Glossary

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