Graduate visa: A Practical Guide for Travelers in 2026

The Graduate visa lets eligible international students stay in the UK for two or three years after their degree to work, switch employers and build career capital without sponsorship. Following the 2025 review by the Migration Advisory Committee, the route still exists but with tighter eligibility rules from January 2026 — this guide breaks down exactly who can apply, how much it costs, and what to do if you also need to refresh your ETA or onward visa.

TL;DR: The Graduate visa is an unsponsored post-study work permit lasting 2 years (Bachelor’s/Master’s) or 3 years (PhD). It costs £822 plus the £1,035-per-year Immigration Health Surcharge in 2026. You must apply from inside the UK before your Student visa expires; you cannot extend or switch to another sponsored work route while on it.

Quick Facts — Graduate visa UK 2026	Detail
Application fee	£822
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)	£1,035 per year
Validity	2 years (BA/MA), 3 years (PhD)
Where to apply from	Inside the UK only
Decision time	~8 weeks (standard)
Sponsorship needed	No

If you are still planning entry, read our common mistakes to avoid in UK visa applications and the British immigration system overview before starting the Graduate application.

Who can apply for a Graduate visa in 2026

Eligibility is narrow but well-defined. You must currently hold a Student visa (formerly Tier 4) and have successfully completed a UK Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree, PhD or other eligible course at a Higher Education Provider with a track record of compliance, as listed on the register of licensed student sponsors. The course must have been studied predominantly in person in the UK, except for periods covered by the COVID-19 concession (only relevant for late 2025 graduates).

Following the May 2025 MAC review, the Home Office tightened five points: the visa now requires a degree from an institution with a Track Record of Compliance, you must apply before your existing Student visa expires (no overstayer route), you cannot bring new dependants (only those who were dependants under your Student visa can continue), and the new Graduate route applies only to courses started on or after 1 January 2024. Read more in our UK international travel entry rules article.

Eligibility check	Required
Currently in the UK	Yes — apply before Student visa expires
Degree from UK Higher Education Provider	Yes — track-record approved institution
Course completion confirmed by university	Yes — via CAS / Confirmation of Studies
Held Student visa for full course duration	Yes
Tuberculosis test certificate	If applicable to your nationality
Maintenance funds	Not required for Graduate visa

How to apply for the Graduate visa step by step

The application is fully online on GOV.UK Graduate visa page. You will need your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), your CAS number, and the date your university notified UKVI of course completion. The system performs an automated check against your university’s confirmation — if it has not been logged yet, the application will pause for verification. Pair this guide with our general visa application process article for the broader workflow.

1. Wait for university course-completion notification. Your university sends UKVI confirmation roughly 14 days after results are released. You cannot submit before this is logged — the application will sit in “awaiting verification” status indefinitely if you do.
2. Start the online application. Open the Graduate visa form on GOV.UK while still in the UK. Use the same UKVI account you registered for your Student visa.
3. Pay the £822 application fee and the IHS upfront. For a 2-year visa the IHS totals £2,070; for 3 years (PhD), £3,105. Both are non-refundable if you withdraw.
4. Provide biometrics. Use the UK Immigration: ID Check app to scan your BRP and face, or attend a UKVCAS centre if your nationality is not eligible for the app.
5. Wait for decision. Standard processing is approximately 8 weeks. Priority (£500 extra) decisions take 5 working days; Super-Priority (£1,000) decisions take next working day.
6. Collect your eVisa. Since 2025, Graduate visa holders receive a digital eVisa via their UKVI account — there is no new physical BRP. You can prove your status to employers using the GOV.UK “View and prove your immigration status” service.

For practical onward planning, see our step-by-step UK Student visa guide if you are still in the application phase, and the immigration application requirements article for the longer-term route into ILR.

How much does the Graduate visa actually cost

The headline £822 application fee is only one third of the real bill. The bigger line is the Immigration Health Surcharge — paid upfront for the full visa duration — which gives full NHS access without further premiums. Total cost for a 2-year Graduate visa in 2026 is £2,892; for a 3-year PhD route it is £3,927. Add £500 for Priority or £1,000 for Super-Priority if you need quicker certainty before a job offer expires.

Cost line	2-year (BA/MA)	3-year (PhD)
Application fee	£822	£822
IHS (£1,035/year)	£2,070	£3,105
Standard total	£2,892	£3,927
Priority upgrade (optional)	+£500	+£500
Super-Priority upgrade (optional)	+£1,000	+£1,000

Pro tip: If you have a graduate job offer that requires a Skilled Worker visa, do not waste money on the Graduate visa first — switch directly from Student to Skilled Worker. The Graduate visa is only worth the £2,892 if you genuinely need time to job-hunt or to start a freelance/business venture without sponsorship. Once on the Graduate route, you must apply afresh (and from outside the UK in some cases) to switch into the Skilled Worker route.

What you can and cannot do on a Graduate visa

The Graduate visa is one of the most flexible work routes in UK immigration. You can take any job, at any skill level, with any salary — there is no minimum salary threshold and no sponsorship requirement. You can work for multiple employers, be self-employed, set up a company, or volunteer. The only formal limit is that you cannot work as a professional sportsperson.

You also cannot extend the Graduate visa — it expires hard at the end of the 2- or 3-year period and time on it does not count toward Indefinite Leave to Remain. The right transitions are: (a) into a Skilled Worker visa if you have a qualifying job offer; (b) into an Innovator Founder visa if you are starting a business; (c) into a Global Talent visa if you secure endorsement. See our UK spouse visa route article for partner-route options if you marry a UK national or settled person while on the Graduate visa.

Combining the Graduate visa with the UK ETA

• You do not need an ETA while on a Graduate visa. The Graduate visa itself is your entry clearance — show your eVisa at the border, not an ETA. See our ETA introduction guide for context.
• If your visa expires while abroad, you cannot use an ETA to re-enter the UK to continue your job — you must apply for a new visa from overseas. See our article on whether you can travel to the UK without an ETA.
• Family members. Dependants you registered under the Student route can switch with you, paying £822 + IHS each. New dependants are not allowed.
• Travel within Graduate visa. You can leave and re-enter as many times as you like within the validity — no separate ETA needed. Carry the eVisa share-code if asked.
• After Graduate visa. Once it expires, if you visit the UK as a tourist or for short business, you will need a UK ETA unless you hold a different qualifying status. Read our arriving at UK border control guide for the on-arrival process.

Common mistakes to avoid

The Home Office published Graduate visa refusal-reason data in February 2026: 11% of applications were refused, with three causes dominating the list. Most refusals were preventable.

Mistake	Outcome	Prevention
Submitting before university confirmation arrives at UKVI	Application pauses indefinitely; fee not refunded	Email your university’s compliance office and ask for the exact confirmation date
Applying after Student visa expired	Auto-refusal — no overstayer route	Diary the Student visa expiry and submit at least 14 days early
Course at non-track-record provider	Auto-refusal even if course was completed	Verify your institution on the GOV.UK register before paying
Wrong CAS / wrong reference number	Delays of 4–8 weeks	Match exactly the number on your last Student visa CAS letter

For a broader strategy on how to keep your immigration record clean, read our UK visa refusal reasons companion article.

Frequently asked questions

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

Yes, while you are still inside the UK and your Graduate visa is valid. You will need a sponsored job offer at the appropriate skill level and salary band. The switch fee and IHS apply afresh, but you avoid leaving the country to start the new role.

Does time on a Graduate visa count toward Indefinite Leave to Remain?

No. The Graduate visa is explicitly excluded from the 5-year continuous residence calculation for most settlement routes. Time on a subsequent Skilled Worker visa starts the ILR clock from zero.

Can my dependants apply with me?

Only if they were already your dependants under your Student visa. New dependants (including a new spouse or new child) are not eligible from January 2026 onwards. Existing dependants pay the same £822 + IHS per person.

What happens if I lose my passport during the Graduate visa application?

Apply for an emergency replacement immediately — read our UK visa processing times guide. UKVI will pause the Graduate application; you must notify them within 7 days via the online “Report a change” form so the new passport number is linked to the application.

Can I travel outside the UK while my Graduate visa is being decided?

Yes, but only if you submit a withdrawal of your application before departure — the rule is that you must be in the UK at submission, not during the entire decision period. Most applicants choose to wait for the decision because re-entry on an expired Student visa is not permitted.

Do I need an English language certificate for the Graduate visa?

No. The English language requirement was met when you obtained your Student visa; it is not re-tested for the Graduate route.

Can I do a PhD while on a Graduate visa?

Yes, but you would need to be self-funded or apply for a Doctoral Extension Scheme via the university; you cannot use the Graduate visa as a way to enrol on a sponsored PhD with university funding — for that you need a fresh Student visa.

What is the difference between the Graduate visa and the High Potential Individual visa?

The Graduate visa is for graduates of UK universities. The High Potential Individual (HPI) visa is for graduates of the top 50 international universities (Times/QS/ARWU ranked, defined annually by the Home Office) — it does not require previous UK study but has tighter eligibility and identical fees.