by Quick answer: The Graduate Route visa requirements are simple: you must be in the UK on a Student visa (or Tier 4 General student visa), have completed an eligible UK bachelor’s, master’s, PhD or other qualifying course, and have your university confirm completion to the Home Office. You apply from inside the UK before your student visa expires. The visa lasts 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026, 18 months from 1 January 2027, and 3 years for PhD graduates.
The UK Graduate visa, often called the PSW (post-study work) visa, lets you stay and work after your degree without a job offer or sponsor. This guide covers eligibility, how long it lasts, cost, when and how to apply, work rights, family and switching.
Last verified: 28 September 2026 against GOV.UK.
What is a Graduate visa?
The Graduate visa is a post-study work permission: once you pass an eligible UK course, it lets you remain in the country for 18 months or more. You do not need a job offer, a sponsor or a minimum salary. It replaced the old post-study work route for international students.
Graduate visa requirements in the UK
You can apply if all of these are true:
- you are in the UK when you apply.
- your current visa is a Student visa or a Tier 4 (General) student visa.
- you studied a UK bachelor’s degree, postgraduate degree or another eligible course for the required length of time.
- your education provider has told the Home Office you completed the course successfully.
You cannot go home after your course and apply from abroad, and a visitor visa or any other visa type does not qualify.
Which courses count
- A UK bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, PhD or other doctorate.
- A law conversion course approved by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
- Legal practice qualifications in England and Wales, Northern Ireland or Scotland, and Bar practice courses.
- A PGCE or postgraduate diploma in education.
- A course that qualifies you for a job regulated by UK law or a public authority, confirmed by your provider.
Your university or college must be a licensed student sponsor with a track record of compliance. Check the register of licensed sponsors for “Student Sponsor – Track Record”.
Minimum time studied in the UK
If your course lasted more than 12 months, you must have studied at least 12 months of it in the UK. If it lasted 12 months or less, you must have studied the whole course in the UK. A one-year master’s student who spent a term studying online from home would not meet this rule. GOV.UK lists limited pandemic-era exceptions.
How long is the Graduate visa in the UK?
The length depends on your application date, not your graduation date:
| When you apply | Bachelor’s, master’s and other eligible courses | PhD or other doctorate |
|---|---|---|
| On or before 31 December 2026 | 2 years | 3 years |
| On or after 1 January 2027 | 18 months | 3 years |
This is the biggest Graduate Route change this year. If your provider confirms completion in autumn 2026, applying before the end of December keeps you on the 2-year length. The visa starts from the day your application is approved.
You cannot extend a Graduate visa. To stay longer, you must switch to another visa before it ends.
Graduate visa cost in the UK
You pay two amounts:
- Application fee: £937 (nine hundred and thirty-seven pounds).
- Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): usually £1,035 (one thousand and thirty-five pounds) for each year of the visa. The lower student rate does not apply.
GOV.UK lists these surcharge totals: £2,070 (two thousand and seventy pounds) for 2 years and £3,105 (three thousand, one hundred and five pounds) for 3 years. For 18 months, the Graduate visa page shows £1,152.50, while the general rule of a full year plus half a year at £1,035 gives £1,552.50. Pay the amount the application form asks for, and check it before you pay.
Worked example: a master’s graduate who applies in November 2026 gets 2 years and pays £937 + £2,070 = £3,007 (three thousand and seven pounds). A PhD graduate on 3 years pays £937 + £3,105 = £4,042 (four thousand and forty-two pounds). Adult dependants who apply with you usually pay the same surcharge.
If you are a doctor or nurse, or work in health or adult social care, check the cheaper Health and Care Worker visa instead.
When to apply for a Graduate visa in the UK
You can apply as soon as your provider tells the Home Office you have completed your course. You do not need to wait for your graduation ceremony or certificate. You must apply before your Student visa expires.
You can stay in the UK while you wait. After you prove your identity and submit documents, you usually get a decision within 8 weeks. Do not travel outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man while you wait, or your application will be withdrawn.
How to apply for the Graduate visa
- Confirm your provider has reported your course completion.
- Gather your passport and your CAS reference number from your Student visa application.
- Add your BRP if you have one. An expired BRP can be used for 24 months after the date on the card or until 31 December 2026, whichever comes first.
- If a government or scholarship paid both your fees and living costs in the last 12 months, get their written consent.
- Get certified translations of any document not in English or Welsh.
- Apply online, pay the fee and surcharge, and prove your identity with the UK Immigration: ID Check app or at a UKVCAS service point.
What you can and cannot do on a Graduate visa
| You can | You cannot |
|---|---|
| Work in most jobs and look for work | Apply for most benefits (public funds) |
| Be self-employed | Claim the State Pension |
| Do voluntary work | Work as a professional sportsperson |
| Travel abroad and return to the UK | Extend the Graduate visa |
| Live in the UK with an eligible partner and children | Study a course eligible for a Student visa |
Bringing your partner and children
Family can stay with you only if they already held dependant status on your Student visa. A partner must be your spouse or civil partner, or have lived with you for at least 2 years. Children must live with you, unless away in full-time education, and must not be married or in a civil partnership. Their visas end on the same date as yours.
Switching from a student visa to a work visa in the UK
Because the Graduate visa cannot be extended, switching is the main way to stay. The Skilled Worker visa is the most common option, and recent Graduate visa holders can often qualify as new entrants at a lower salary. Read our guide to the Skilled Worker visa salary threshold and plan your switch well before your Graduate visa ends.
Still choosing a degree? See University of Exeter Masters Excellence Scholarships or browse more UK, USA, Europe and Canada scholarships.
Common mistakes
- Letting your Student visa expire before you apply.
- Waiting for graduation when your provider’s confirmation is enough.
- Trying to apply from abroad.
- Travelling outside the Common Travel Area during processing.
- Missing sponsor consent when a scholarship paid your fees and living costs.
- Budgeting at the student surcharge rate instead of £1,035 a year.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Graduate visa in the UK?
2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026, 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027, and 3 years for PhD and doctorate graduates.
How much does the UK Graduate visa cost?
£937 plus the healthcare surcharge, usually £1,035 a year. A 2-year visa costs £3,007 in total for one person.
Can I extend a Graduate visa?
No. You must switch to another visa, such as the Skilled Worker visa, before it ends.
Is the PSW visa the same as the Graduate visa?
Yes. “PSW visa” is the informal name many students use for the UK Graduate visa, the post-study work route.
Official sources
- GOV.UK: Graduate visa
- GOV.UK: Graduate visa, the course you studied
- GOV.UK: Graduate visa, how much it costs
- GOV.UK: Graduate visa, documents you need
- GOV.UK: Graduate visa, your partner and children
- GOV.UK: Immigration Health Surcharge, how much you pay
This is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Check GOV.UK before you apply, because rules change.
