Good fit
Students in the UK whose education provider has told the Home Office they successfully completed an eligible bachelor’s, postgraduate, or other qualifying course, and who apply before their Student or Tier 4 visa expires.
United Kingdom · Study to PR
Graduate visa
A temporary UK post-study work route for people already in the UK on a Student or Tier 4 (General) visa who successfully complete an eligible UK course. It is not extendable, but GOV.UK says you may later switch to another visa such as Skilled Worker.
Status note. GOV.UK describes the Graduate visa as an active post-study route. Duration depends on when you apply: 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026, or 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027, with 3 years for PhD or other doctoral qualifications.
Decision fit
Who this pathway serves
Important limits
Applicants outside the UK, people without a qualifying Student or Tier 4 history, those seeking to extend a Graduate visa, or people looking for a digital-nomad visa unrelated to UK study.
Minimums
Eligibility
Age
No hard age floor or ceiling is modeled.
Work experience
Minimum: Not stated years
Language
Not stated
Education
Minimum: bachelor
Assessment: No
GOV.UK requires successful completion of a UK bachelor’s degree, postgraduate degree, or other eligible course studied for a minimum period with a Student or Tier 4 visa. Your provider must report completion to the Home Office.
Selection threshold
Points: Not stated
Competition: Not stated
Health and character
Medical exam: Unknown — confirm with the official source
Police certificate: Unknown — confirm with the official source
Costs
Funds and fees
Settlement funds
No settlement-fund table is published.
Application fees
- 937 GBPGraduate visa application fee
Outcomes
Residence, work, and family
Permanent residence
A Graduate visa is temporary and not extendable. GOV.UK says you may switch to another visa such as Skilled Worker, which may later support settlement under that route’s rules.
Work: Yes · Study: Limited or conditional
Family
GOV.UK says a partner and children can apply to stay if they are eligible under the Graduate visa family rules.
Partner: Limited or conditional · Children: Limited or conditional
Citizenship
The Graduate visa sources do not establish citizenship eligibility.
Processing time
GOV.UK says you usually get a decision within 8 weeks after applying online, proving identity, and providing documents. You must apply from inside the UK before your Student or Tier 4 visa expires. You cannot extend a Graduate visa.
Modeled: 2–2 months
Sources
Official sources
Citations
Field provenance
Graduate visa overview
"A Graduate visa gives you permission to stay in the UK for at least 18 months after successfully completing an eligible course in the UK."
Information only, not legal advice. Rules, fees, and processing times change. Confirm the linked official pages before acting.