Section A: Graduate Visa Overview
The Graduate visa is the UK’s main post-study route for international students who have successfully completed an eligible course at a UK higher education provider. It is an unsponsored route, so applicants do not need a job offer and employers do not need a sponsor licence.
The Graduate route gives a fixed window of permission to stay after study for graduates to work, look for work or build experience, but it is not a long-term permission and it does not convert into settlement over time.
The Graduate visa sits between study and longer-term work routes. It is designed to keep UK study attractive to international students, and it gives UK employers a way to hire graduates quickly without sponsorship. The trade-off is built into the route design. It is time-limited, it is only available once and it carries restrictions that are easy to overlook when people treat it as a general work visa.
1. What the Graduate visa allows
The Graduate visa allows eligible Student visa holders to stay in the UK after successfully completing an eligible course. During the visa, the graduate can work or look for work, and the work can be at any skill level and salary level. The route is commonly used as a bridge while the graduate secures a role that could later support sponsorship, or while they gain UK experience and improve employability.
The Graduate visa is not designed to do the things that sponsored work routes do. It does not create a direct settlement path, and it is not a route that can be repeated to build long residence over time. If longer-term UK plans are on the table, the Graduate visa is usually a staging period rather than the end point.
A Graduate visa holder can take most employment, including switching employers, working part time, taking multiple roles and being self-employed. The route does not impose the Skilled Worker framework, so there is no requirement for an eligible occupation code, no sponsor, and no minimum salary test attached to the visa itself.
That flexibility is why employers use the route as a low-friction hiring option for graduates. From a practical workforce perspective, it is often the quickest way to onboard international graduate talent while the business decides whether longer-term sponsorship is commercially justified.
The Graduate route includes restrictions that catch people out because they are not tied to the job. A Graduate visa holder cannot work as a professional sportsperson. Access to most public funds is also restricted, and that can matter when graduates assume the permission gives the same entitlements as settled status or a British passport.
Study is another point that is often misunderstood. A Graduate visa holder can study provided the course is not one for which Student sponsorship would normally be required under the Student visa route. As such, if the course would normally be eligible for Student sponsorship, the person would usually need Student permission instead. Some study and research areas also trigger Academic Technology Approval Scheme clearance, and that needs to be handled separately before study or research begins.
2. How long does the Graduate visa last?
The length of the Graduate visa depends on when the application is made and the qualification level.
Under the Immigration Rules currently in force, the Graduate visa is granted for two years for most graduates and three years for doctoral graduates. The government has announced its intention to reduce the length of the Graduate route for non-doctoral graduates to 18 months from a future implementation date, but this change has not yet taken legal effect.
The start date is also important for planning. The Graduate visa runs from the date the application is approved, not the date the application is submitted. That can help where a Student visa is nearing expiry, but it also means the permission end date can move depending on decision timing.
3. Planning your Graduate visa application
The Graduate route is only available once, so applying immediately after a first course is not always the right call where you are likely to return to study again on Student permission. After a Graduate visa is granted, you cannot later “reset” the route by completing another eligible course.
Travel risk also matters for real-world planning. If a person applies in the UK and then travels outside the Common Travel Area before a decision is made, the Home Office treats the application as withdrawn. That can create problems around family emergencies, work travel, or planned holidays, particularly where the Student visa is close to expiry.
Finally, the Graduate visa is not a workaround for sponsorship. If the end goal is long-term employment, the Graduate period is usually when the employer and graduate test the role fit, build the evidence base for a Skilled Worker switch, and align salary and duties with the sponsorship rules that will apply at the later application date.
DavidsonMorris Strategic Insight
The Graduate route is not an automatic follow-on from the Student visa, and Graduate visa applications aren’t just a formality. Your timing needs to be carefully planned so you’re applying only once you meet every requirement and while you’re still in the UK with lawful status.
The window can be narrow; if you apply too early, too late or with avoidable errors, your UK-based plans can be compromised, particularly where your Student permission is close to expiring. Remember also that the visa duration is expected to reduce to 18 months for most non-doctoral Graduate applicants from January 2027, making early planning even more important for both sides.
Employers should avoid the trap of treating the Graduate visa as low-risk simply because a sponsor licence is not needed at the outset. If sponsorship is the longer-term plan, it’s important to confirm early that the role is in fact capable of meeting the Skilled Worker requirements. Without that, the organisation risks investing in a candidate it cannot legally retain once Graduate permission ends.
Section B: Graduate Visa Application Requirements
Eligibility for the Graduate visa is tightly defined and it is assessed at the date of application. The route is only open to people who are in the UK, who hold eligible Student permission and whose education provider has confirmed successful course completion to the Home Office. A large proportion of failed applications come down to timing, course reporting delays, or an assumption that having finished studying is enough on its own.
1. Immigration status & applicant location
An applicant needs to be in the UK when they apply. Applications from overseas are not permitted under the Graduate route. The applicant also needs to hold valid Student permission at the point the application is submitted. Where Student leave is close to expiry, the practical risk is not only running out of time, but also having a provider reporting delay that prevents submission before the visa expiry date.
Some applicants also fall into a technical trap by assuming they can leave the UK after submitting and wait for the decision abroad. Travel outside the Common Travel Area while an in-country application is pending leads to the application being treated as withdrawn, which can be fatal where Student leave then expires.
2. Course completion & provider notification requirement
Successful completion is a core requirement, but completion is not evidenced in the way many applicants expect. The Home Office relies on the education provider notifying UKVI that the applicant has successfully completed the course. That notification is separate from graduation ceremonies, transcripts, certificate issue dates, or a final dissertation submission date.
The application should only be submitted once the provider has reported completion. If the application is filed too early, it is likely to be refused because the Home Office cannot verify that the course outcome requirement is met at the date of application.
3. Eligible qualifications & courses
The Graduate route is primarily aimed at higher education awards at degree level. In many cases, eligibility will be straightforward where the applicant has completed a UK bachelor’s degree, a UK master’s degree, or a PhD or other doctorate. The rules also recognise certain professional and regulated qualifications as eligible, but eligibility depends on the specific qualification type rather than the job the applicant wants to do after study.
Where the qualification is not a standard bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate, the applicant should treat eligibility as a verification exercise. The route does not work on a common-sense basis, and a course that feels “graduate level” does not necessarily meet the Graduate route definition.
4. Study in the UK requirement
The Graduate route includes a study in the UK requirement, which is one of the most misunderstood eligibility points. Broadly, the Home Office expects the applicant to have completed the required period of study in the UK under Student permission. The length of UK study required is tied to the length of the course, which means the test is different for courses that are 12 months or less and courses that are longer than 12 months.
Where study included time outside the UK, the detail matters. Distance learning, remote study arrangements, and late arrival can all create a problem, unless a specific concession applies to the applicant’s timeline. Applicants who had any significant period of study outside the UK should check eligibility before filing, rather than assuming the provider will resolve it.
5. Sponsor type & compliance record
The education provider is not just an academic detail in a Graduate visa application. Eligibility depends on the type of Student sponsor. The Student sponsor needs to be a higher education provider with a track record of compliance. If the last Student sponsor does not meet that status, the Graduate application is likely to fail even where the course itself appears eligible.
This is a common issue for applicants who have studied with providers that operate through different entities, partnerships, or franchise arrangements. The legal test looks at the sponsor on the Student record, not the branding on a prospectus.
6. One-time route restriction & previous immigration history
The Graduate route is a one-time permission. If a person has already been granted permission under the Graduate route in the past, they cannot obtain it again. The same applies where the person previously held permission under the Doctorate Extension Scheme. The practical consequence is that applicants should think carefully before applying immediately after a course if further UK study is likely, because using the Graduate route early can remove a useful option later.
7. Dependants
Dependants are not an open-ended feature of the Graduate route. In most cases, a partner or child can only apply as a dependant if they already hold permission in the UK as the applicant’s dependant under the Student route at the point the Graduate application is made. The route is not designed to allow a graduate to bring new family members to the UK after switching onto Graduate permission.
A recognised scenario arises where a child is born in the UK during the Student period. Where that applies, the child can often be added at the Graduate stage even if they were not previously granted Student dependant permission, but the evidence and timing need careful handling.
8. Financial & English language requirement
The Graduate route does not involve a fresh maintenance funds assessment and it does not involve a new English language requirement. These points are treated as already addressed through the Student route, provided the Graduate requirements are met at the date of application. Applicants should not assume that means the Home Office will not scrutinise the application. UKVI still assesses whether the individual meets the Graduate route criteria, particularly the completion report and study in the UK requirement.
9. Scholarship consent requirement
Applicants who have received an award from a government or international scholarship agency that covered both fees and living costs within the relevant period before application can need written consent from the awarding body. This is easy to miss because many students focus on their university documentation and do not treat scholarship documents as part of immigration eligibility. Where the consent requirement applies, getting it wrong can lead to refusal rather than a fixable evidential gap.
DavidsonMorris Strategic Insight
Graduate visa eligibility doesn’t necessarily flow directly from the Student route. Strict and specific requirements have to be met and you have to evidence this conclusively. Provider reporting, sponsor status, study location, scholarship funding and previous immigration history all matter, and none of these criteria allow for caseworker discretion.
Timing also matters. Even where you are eligible in every other respect, if your Student permission expires before you apply, you lose lawful status and you also lose the chance to apply under the Graduate route.
Section C: Graduate Visa Application Process
The Graduate visa application is an in-country process completed online. Most applicants find the form itself straightforward, but the practical risks sit around timing, identity verification, travel, and the education provider completion report. Getting those points wrong is what tends to trigger refusals, invalid applications or a last-minute scramble when Student permission is close to expiry.
| Stage | Who controls it | Typical timeframe | What can go wrong | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Course completion reported to UKVI | Education provider | Varies by provider | Application submitted before the report is made | Confirm the report has been made before submitting |
| Online application prepared | Applicant | Same day to a few days | Identity details do not match the UKVI record | Check passport and personal details before submission |
| Identity verification completed | Applicant and UKVI system | Immediate to a few days | App or appointment delays | Complete identity steps promptly |
| Application submitted and fees paid | Applicant | Immediate | Late submission close to visa expiry | Submit with time in hand |
| Decision pending | UKVI | Usually several weeks | Travel outside the Common Travel Area | Remain in the UK until a decision is received |
1. When to apply
An applicant can only apply once their education provider has notified the Home Office that the course has been successfully completed. The notification is separate from graduation events, final coursework submission, or the date a certificate is issued. If the application is submitted before the Home Office record shows completion, the application is likely to fail because the eligibility requirement is not met at the date of application.
The application needs to be submitted from inside the UK before the applicant’s Student permission expires. Where the Student visa end date is close, it is sensible to treat provider reporting time as the key constraint, not the speed of filling in the online form.
2. Where to apply
The application is made online using the GOV.UK Graduate visa service. Applicants create or sign into a UKVI account, complete the form, and then prove identity either through the UK Immigration: ID Check app or through an appointment. Which route applies depends on the individual’s document type and what the system offers during the application.
Where the ID Check app is used, the applicant typically scans their identity document, completes a facial identity check, and uploads any required evidence digitally. Where an appointment is required, the applicant attends a visa application centre to provide biometrics and submit any supporting documents that the process requests. The key planning point is that the application is not treated as fully submitted until the identity stage is completed as required by the system.
3. Supporting documents
Graduate applications are generally document-light because UKVI relies heavily on digital status checks and the education provider completion report. Even so, applicants should expect to provide identity documentation and key reference information. The online form usually asks for passport or travel document details, and it may request details that link the application back to the Student record.
Applicants do not normally need to upload a degree certificate as evidence of completion because UKVI relies on the provider notification. Where the qualification is non-standard, or where there has been a course change, early completion, repeat year, or any period of study outside the UK, the applicant should keep supporting records available in case UKVI requests clarification.
Where dependants apply, evidence of relationship can be required. Applicants should also expect additional checks where a child is added at this stage, including where the child was born in the UK during the Student period.
| Requirement | What UKVI checks | What the applicant should confirm | Common failure point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valid Student permission at submission | Current immigration status and expiry date | Student permission is still valid on the day you submit | Submitting after permission has expired |
| Successful course completion | Provider completion report to UKVI | Your provider has confirmed it has reported completion | Applying before the report is made |
| Eligible qualification | Course type and outcome recorded on your Student record | Your qualification falls within an eligible category | Assuming a non-standard course qualifies without checking |
| Study in the UK requirement | Where you studied and how long you were in the UK during the course | Any remote study or time abroad fits the rules or any relevant concession | Overlooking time outside the UK during the course |
| Sponsor status requirement | Type of Student sponsor and its compliance status | Your last Student sponsor meets the required status for the Graduate route | Being sponsored by a provider that does not qualify |
| One-time route restriction | Previous Graduate visa or Doctorate Extension Scheme permission | You have not previously been granted Graduate or Doctorate Extension Scheme permission | Assuming the Graduate route can be used more than once |
| Scholarship consent requirement | Funding history where a government or international scholarship agency paid fees and living costs | Whether written consent is needed and obtained before you apply | Realising too late that consent is required |
4. Fees & Immigration Health Surcharge
The application fee for the Graduate visa is payable at the point of submission. The Immigration Health Surcharge is also payable and is calculated based on the period of permission that will be granted. The overall cost is often the main practical barrier for applicants, particularly where partners and children are included as dependants and each person has separate fees and surcharge liability.
Applicants should budget on the basis that the surcharge is charged upfront for the full period granted, not spread monthly. If the application is refused or withdrawn, the position on refunds can be nuanced, and applicants should not assume the full amount returns automatically in every scenario.
5. Graduate visa application processing times
Graduate visa processing times can vary, but applicants commonly see decisions within several weeks once identity steps are completed. Delays tend to arise where UKVI cannot verify course completion because the provider report is not properly linked, where there is a mismatch between the applicant’s identity details and the UKVI record, or where the Home Office requests further information because the course type, sponsor type, or study in the UK requirement needs closer review.
A practical way to reduce delay risk is to check that passport details, name formatting, and contact information align with the Student record before submitting, particularly where the applicant has renewed a passport, changed their name, or updated contact details recently.
6. After you submit
After submission and identity verification, the application moves into UKVI processing. While the application is pending, the applicant generally continues to have lawful status on the terms of their existing permission, and they usually keep the same right to work conditions they had immediately before applying, under the provisions of section 3C leave. This matters for applicants who are working part time during study, who are moving into a full-time role after course completion, or who are changing employer around the time of application.
Travel is the point that causes the most avoidable damage. Leaving the Common Travel Area while an in-country application is pending leads to the application being treated as withdrawn. Applicants should plan around that restriction, particularly where the Student visa end date is close and a withdrawn application would leave no time to reapply.
DavidsonMorris Strategic Insight
In addition to making sure the application is as strong as possible, Graduate visa applicants also face the added pressure of timing. If you apply before your education provider has reported course completion to the Home Office, or if you apply too late, the application can be refused outright. There’s no discretion, the rules have to be followed exactly.
While the application is pending, employers need to understand what the individual can lawfully do and what work conditions apply. Assuming approval is guaranteed, or allowing work that is not permitted under the graduate’s current permission, can equate to compliance exposure.
Section D: Graduate Visa Application Top Tips
The Graduate visa application usually looks simple on the surface, but most avoidable failures come from timing, eligibility assumptions, and identity record mismatches. The tips below focus on the points that most often cause refusals, invalid applications or a sudden loss of options where Student permission is close to expiry.
1. Treat the provider completion report as the real starting gun
Do not apply because your exams are finished or because you have received your results. The Home Office decision hinges on your education provider reporting successful completion to UKVI. Ask the provider when the report will be made, and only submit once the provider confirms it has been reported. If you apply too early, the application can fail even if you genuinely completed the course.
2. Do not cut it fine on your Student visa expiry date
The Graduate route requires a valid Student visa at the date you submit. If your Student permission is close to expiring, build in time for provider reporting delays, identity verification steps, and any technical issues in the online account. Last-week applications tend to fail because something outside your control does not land in time.
3. Do not travel once you have applied
Travel outside the Common Travel Area while the application is pending leads to the application being treated as withdrawn. That risk is often underestimated because people assume they can apply and then wait overseas. If you need to travel, delay the application until you are back, unless doing so risks your Student visa expiring before you can submit.
4. Check your identity details match your Student record
Small mismatches create big delays. If you renewed your passport, changed your name, changed your nationality document, or updated your email address and phone number, check that your UKVI account details align with your current documents and your Student record. Where UKVI cannot match identities cleanly, the application can stall while checks are flagged.
5. Do not assume your course automatically qualifies
Most degrees qualify, but the route is rules-based. If your qualification is outside a standard bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate, verify that it is on the eligible list for the Graduate route before applying. Eligibility does not depend on what job you intend to do next, it depends on the course and the sponsor record.
6. Think carefully before using your one-time Graduate option
The Graduate visa is a one-time route. If you expect to study again in the UK, consider whether applying immediately after your first course is the best strategic move. Using the Graduate route now can remove a valuable post-study window later, particularly where your long-term plan involves progressing to a higher qualification and then moving into sponsored work.
7. Where you had any study outside the UK, check the numbers not the narrative
Eligibility depends on the study in the UK requirement and the permitted time outside the UK depends on course length and any applicable concession. If you studied remotely for a period, arrived late, took authorised time away, or completed modules outside the UK, check eligibility against the rules rather than relying on informal reassurance. UKVI assesses the requirement at the date of application.
8. If you are on a scholarship, check whether written consent is required
Where an award from a government or international scholarship agency covered both fees and living costs within the relevant period before you apply, written consent from the awarding body can be required. This is not a document you can usually improvise quickly. If it applies, obtain it before you submit.
9. Budget properly, including the full health surcharge upfront
Costs are front-loaded. The visa fee and Immigration Health Surcharge are paid at submission, and the surcharge is charged for the full period granted. If you have dependants, each person has their own fee and surcharge liability. If your funds are tight, work out the total cost before you reach the final payment stage so you do not lose time while you arrange payment near the reminder deadline.
10. Keep evidence that supports the story, even if the route is document-light
Even though UKVI relies on provider reporting, keep your key records. Retain confirmation of course completion, your CAS details, evidence of your study timeline in the UK, and any communication from the provider about reporting completion. If UKVI asks for clarification, being able to respond quickly can prevent a delay turning into a refusal.
Section E: Employer Considerations
The Graduate visa is unsponsored, but that does not mean it sits outside employer compliance responsibilities. Employers still need to manage right to work checks, track visa expiry dates, and understand the limits of the permission. From a workforce planning perspective, the Graduate route works best as a short-term hiring solution or a probationary stage before sponsorship, not as a substitute for sponsored work routes.
| Topic | What the employer should do | When it should happen | What goes wrong if missed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial right to work check | Complete an online right to work check using the individual’s share code and retain evidence | Before employment starts | No statutory excuse if illegal working is alleged |
| Follow-up right to work check | Diarise the visa expiry date and complete a follow-up check in time | Before the Graduate visa expires | Employment becomes unlawful after permission ends |
| Role assessment for sponsorship | Assess whether the role can meet Skilled Worker skill and salary requirements | Well before the Graduate visa end date | Role fails eligibility at the point of switch |
| Sponsor licence readiness | Apply for or maintain a sponsor licence if long-term employment is planned | Before a Skilled Worker switch is needed | Inability to sponsor in time |
| HR record keeping | Maintain clear records of checks, expiry dates, and follow-up actions | Ongoing | Compliance gaps during Home Office audits |
1. Right to work checks for Graduate visa holders
Employers are required to carry out a right to work check before employment begins. For Graduate visa holders, this is normally done using the Home Office online checking service with a share code provided by the individual. A compliant online check gives the employer a statutory excuse against a civil penalty for illegal working.
Graduate permission is time-limited, so employers also need to plan follow-up right to work checks before the visa expires. Failure to diarise and complete a follow-up check is one of the most common compliance errors where Graduate hires move into long-term roles.
2. How Graduate visas differ from sponsored routes
Employing a Graduate visa holder does not require a sponsor licence, and the employer does not have reporting duties to the Home Office under the sponsorship system. There is no requirement to assign a Certificate of Sponsorship, meet salary thresholds, or monitor role changes for immigration purposes.
The compliance responsibility sits instead in basic employment controls. Employers need to ensure that the individual continues to have permission to work throughout employment and that right to work evidence is retained in a compliant format.
3. Permitted work & practical limitations
A Graduate visa holder can work in most roles, including part-time work, multiple jobs, and self-employment. The visa does not impose restrictions based on skill level or pay. This gives employers flexibility when designing graduate roles, particularly where responsibilities evolve during the first year of employment.
There are still limits. Work as a professional sportsperson is prohibited, and access to most public funds is restricted. Employers in regulated sectors also need to remember that immigration permission does not override professional registration requirements, background checks, or sector-specific compliance rules.
4. Managing visa expiry & retention risk
The Graduate visa cannot be extended, so employers need to treat the expiry date as a fixed endpoint unless a switch into another route is planned. Where a graduate performs well and the role becomes business-critical, sponsorship planning should start early. Waiting until the final months often creates pressure around sponsor licence timing, salary alignment, and start date constraints.
From a risk perspective, the biggest issue is continuity. If the employer cannot sponsor and the graduate cannot switch into another route, employment will need to end when the Graduate visa expires. That outcome is avoidable in many cases, but only with early assessment of role eligibility and workforce needs.
5. Switching from Graduate to Skilled Worker
The Skilled Worker route is the most common next step for graduates who remain in long-term roles. Switching requires the employer to hold a sponsor licence and the role to meet the applicable skill and salary requirements at the date of application. The fact that the graduate has been working lawfully under the Graduate route does not soften those thresholds.
Employers sometimes assume the Graduate period gives flexibility on salary progression. In practice, the Skilled Worker test is applied strictly when the switch happens. Roles that sit at the margin of eligibility need careful structuring well before the Graduate visa ends.
6. Internal processes and audit readiness
Even without sponsorship duties, employers benefit from maintaining clear records for Graduate visa holders. That includes evidence of the initial right to work check, confirmation of visa expiry dates, and records showing when follow-up checks are due. These records form part of the employer’s overall illegal working compliance position and can be reviewed during Home Office enforcement activity.
HR teams also need to understand the difference between a Graduate visa and sponsored permission so that offers, onboarding documents, and internal systems do not assume an open-ended right to work.
7. Strategic use of the Graduate route in workforce planning
Used well, the Graduate visa allows employers to test talent, fill short-term skills gaps, and build a pipeline of future sponsored workers. Used poorly, it creates churn, loss of trained staff, and rushed sponsorship decisions. The difference usually comes down to whether the business treats the Graduate visa as a temporary permission with a clear end date, rather than as a long-term solution.
DavidsonMorris Strategic Insight
While Graduate workers don’t come with the sponsorship obligations for employers, that doesn’t mean they should be managed in the same way as settled workers. Their immigration permission and right to work remains temporary and any intention to retain beyond the Graduate period will need planning.
Employers also often underestimate lead time. Sponsor licence applications, role redesign, salary adjustments and internal approvals can all take longer than expected, which can leave too little time to sponsor the worker before their Graduate permission ends.
Section F: Summary
The Graduate visa provides a defined period of post-study permission that allows international graduates to work, look for work, and build UK experience without sponsorship. Its value lies in flexibility and speed, both for applicants and for employers, but the route is deliberately limited in length and scope.
For applicants, outcomes depend heavily on timing, provider reporting, and meeting the study in the UK requirement. Treating the application as an administrative formality rather than a rule-driven process is where many problems arise. For employers, the Graduate route is best used as a short-term hiring tool and a stepping stone to sponsorship, not as a long-term workforce solution.
Handled properly, the Graduate visa can support smooth transitions from study into skilled employment. Handled poorly, it creates last-minute risk around expiry dates, role eligibility, and loss of trained staff. The difference is planning early and treating the route for what it is: temporary permission with a clear end point.
Section G: Need Assistance?
If you are unsure whether you meet the Graduate visa requirements, are close to your Student visa expiry date, or want clarity on switching into a longer-term route such as Skilled Worker, tailored advice can help you avoid mistakes that are difficult or impossible to fix later.
A short telephone consultation with an immigration lawyer allows you to sense-check eligibility, timing, and strategy based on your specific course history and future plans. This is particularly valuable where there are factors such as time spent studying outside the UK, non-standard qualifications, scholarship funding, or employer sponsorship planning.
Book a telephone consultation with our immigration lawyers to discuss your Graduate visa application and next steps.
Section H: Graduate Visa Application FAQs
Can a Graduate visa be extended?
No. The Graduate visa cannot be extended. Once the period of permission ends, the individual needs to leave the UK or switch into another immigration route if they qualify. The rules do not allow any discretion on extension, even where the graduate is employed or close to meeting sponsorship requirements.
Does time on a Graduate visa count towards settlement?
Time spent on the Graduate route does not count towards Indefinite Leave to Remain. Graduates who intend to settle in the UK need to move into a route that leads to settlement, such as Skilled Worker, and then meet the continuous residence requirements under that route.
Can a Graduate visa holder switch to another visa from within the UK?
Switching from the Graduate route into other routes is permitted where the eligibility requirements are met. The most common switch is into the Skilled Worker route, but switching into family routes or business routes is also possible in the right circumstances. The fact that someone holds a Graduate visa does not relax the eligibility criteria for the new route.
Can dependants apply under the Graduate route?
Dependants are generally limited to partners and children who already hold dependant permission linked to the applicant’s Student visa at the point the Graduate application is made. The route is not designed to allow new dependants to join after the switch. One practical exception that often arises is where a child is born in the UK during the Student period, which can allow that child to be added at the Graduate stage.
Can a Graduate visa holder travel while the application is pending?
No, not outside the Common Travel Area. If the applicant leaves the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man while the Graduate application is pending, the Home Office treats the application as withdrawn. This can create serious problems if Student permission then expires before a new application can be made.
Can a Graduate visa holder study?
Study is only permitted if the course is not one that would normally require Student permission. Where the intended course would be eligible for a Student visa, the individual would usually need to switch back into the Student route instead. Some study and research activities also require Academic Technology Approval Scheme clearance, which sits outside the Graduate visa rules.
Section I: Glossary
| Term | Definition |
| Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) | A clearance scheme that applies to certain sensitive study and research areas. Where it applies, clearance is normally needed before the study or research starts. |
| Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) | A physical immigration status document previously issued to many visa holders. Most UK immigration status is now proved online, but some applicants may still hold a BRP from earlier periods of permission. |
| Common Travel Area (CTA) | The UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. Travel outside the CTA while an in-country application is pending usually causes the application to be treated as withdrawn. |
| Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) | A reference number issued by a licensed Student sponsor to confirm the offer of a course. CAS details link the Student application to the course and sponsor record used by UKVI. |
| Education provider completion report | The notification made by the Student sponsor to UKVI confirming that the applicant has successfully completed the eligible course. UKVI relies on this report when deciding Graduate visa applications. |
| Graduate visa | An unsponsored UK route that allows eligible Student visa holders to stay in the UK after successful course completion to work or look for work for a limited period. |
| Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) | A fee paid with most immigration applications that contributes to access to NHS services during the period of immigration permission. |
| Right to work check | A process employers use to verify that a person has permission to work in the UK. For many visa holders, including Graduate visa holders, the check is completed online using a share code. |
| Share code | A time-limited code generated by an individual to allow an employer or other third party to view their online right to work or immigration status record. |
| Skilled Worker visa | A sponsored work route that requires a licensed sponsor and an eligible role. It can lead to settlement where the route requirements are met. |
| Sponsor licence | Permission granted by the Home Office to an employer to sponsor eligible workers under sponsored work routes, such as Skilled Worker. |
| Student visa | The UK route for international students studying with a licensed provider. Current Student permission is normally required to apply for a Graduate visa. |
| Track record of compliance | A Home Office status held by certain higher education providers. Graduate visa eligibility depends on the applicant’s last Student sponsor being a higher education provider with this status. |
| UK Immigration: ID Check app | An app used by some applicants to verify identity and submit biometrics digitally as part of an online UKVI application. |
| UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) | A service used for in-country biometric enrolment and document submission appointments where the ID Check app is not available or not used. |
Section J: Additional Resources & Links
| Resource | Description | Link |
| Graduate visa overview and eligibility | Official GOV.UK page covering who can apply, how long the route lasts and what the visa allows. | https://www.gov.uk/graduate-visa |
| Graduate visa apply page and travel warning | Application start page, including the practical warning about travel while a decision is pending. | https://www.gov.uk/graduate-visa/apply |
| Prove your right to work to an employer | How visa holders generate a share code and what employers can see in the online check. | https://www.gov.uk/prove-right-to-work |
| Employer right to work check service | Online service used by employers to check a person’s right to work using a share code. | https://www.gov.uk/check-job-applicant-right-to-work |
| Employer’s guide to right to work checks | Home Office guidance on compliant checks, record-keeping and follow-up checks for time-limited permission. | https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/right-to-work-checks-employers-guide |
| Skilled Worker visa overview | Official GOV.UK guidance on the sponsored work route that many graduates switch into for longer-term UK employment. | https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa |
| Student visa overview | Official guidance on Student permission, relevant because Graduate route eligibility depends on holding Student permission at the point of application. | https://www.gov.uk/student-visa |
| Immigration Health Surcharge guidance | How the IHS works, who pays it and what it covers during the period of immigration permission. | https://www.gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application |
| Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) | Information on when ATAS clearance is required for certain study and research areas. | https://www.gov.uk/guidance/academic-technology-approval-scheme |
