GRADUATE VISA
The Graduate Visa allows international students who have completed an eligible UK degree to stay in the UK to work, or look for work, for two years (three years for those being awarded doctorates) after they have completed their studies.
The Graduate Visa does not lead directly to settlement, but graduates on the route are able to switch into other work-based routes which can lead to settlement.
Graduate Visa Requirements
In order to qualify for a Graduate Visa, you will need to satisfy UK Visas & Immigration that:
- You have successfully completed a UK degree, or other eligible course;
- You have studied at a Higher Education Provider which is a student sponsor with a track record of compliance;
- You have held permission as a Student, which was granted to study the relevant qualification in the UK, for a minimum period of time;
- You are applying from within the UK and have valid leave as a Student or Tier 4 Student at the date of application;
- You have not previously held permission on the Doctorate Extension Scheme (DES), or the Graduate route;
- You do not fall for refusal on grounds of suitability.
The exact requirements you will need to satisfy will vary depending on your circumstances. You may want to speak to an immigration lawyer for expert advice.
Graduate Visa Eligible Courses
In order to extend your stay on the Graduate Immigration Route you need to have successfully completed a degree at UK bachelor’s or postgraduate level, or a professional course requiring study at UK bachelor’s degree level or above, in a profession with reserved activities that is regulated by UK law or UK public authority.
You will also be eligible to apply for a Graduate Visa if you have been sponsored to undertake a role as a Student Union Sabbatical Officer following the completion of an eligible qualification in your most recent grant of permission to study.
Graduate Visa Minimum Student Permission Period
In order to qualify for a UK Graduate Visa, you must have held permission as a Student, which was granted to study the relevant qualification in the UK, for a minimum period of time. The minimum period for which you must have held permission as a Student will depend on the length of the course.
If you have completed a course lasting 12 months or less, you will need to have held Student permission throughout the whole course in the UK.
If your course lasted more than 12 months, you will need to have been granted permission for at least 12 months on the Student route and have spent that time studying in the UK.
Graduate Visa Sponsorship
The Graduate Visa Route is an unsponsored route, meaning that applicants do not need a job offer or a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) in order to be eligible.
Job-Seeking and Employment on the Graduate Visa Route
Graduates on the Graduate Visa Route are permitted to look for work and, once employment has been found, work flexibly. They can undertake roles at any skill level and do not need to satisfy any minimum salary requirement. Successful applicants are also be able to switch jobs.
- What Can I Do (And Not Do) With a Graduate Visa?
Duration of stay in the UK on the Graduate Immigration Route
Successful applicants on the Graduate Visa Route who have completed a bachelor’s or master’s degree are able to stay in the UK for two years. Doctoral students are able to stay in the UK for three years.
Graduate Visa Extensions of Stay
It is not possible to extend permission to stay on the Graduate Immigration Route.
Graduate Visa Settlement or ILR
The Graduate Visa does not lead directly to settlement or indefinite leave to remain. However, once on the Graduate Immigration Route you will be able to extend your stay by switching into other work-based routes, such as the Skilled Worker route, the Global Talent route and the Innovator Founder route, all of which can lead to settlement. Applicants will of course need to satisfy the requirements of the route.
Dependants
If you have family members in the UK who already have permission to stay in the UK as your dependent then they will be able to extend their stay when you apply to enter the Graduate Visa Route.
New dependents are not permitted on this route, except where a dependent child is born in the UK during a period of Student or Graduate leave.
COVID-19 and the Graduate Immigration Route
The Home Office previously had concessions in place for international students who were unable to travel to the UK due to the coronavirus pandemic. These Covid concessions ended on 30 June 2022
Where distance learning had taken place outside the UK between 24 January 2020 and 6 April 2022 as a result of Covid-19, this did not prevent applicants from meeting the requirement to spend the relevant period studying in the UK if either:
- They began a course of 12 months or less prior to 21 June 2021 and entered the UK on or before 27 September 2021 with permission as a Student; or
- They began a course of 12 months or less between 21 June 2021 and 6 April 2022 and entered the UK on or before 6 April 2022 with permission as a Student.
Any period of distance learning between 24 January 2020 and 6 April 2022 as part of a course of study lasting longer than 12 months whilst the applicant held permission as a Student did not prevent them from meeting the requirement to spend the relevant period studying in the UK.
Graduates Whose Tier 4 or Student Leave Expired Before 1 July 2021
International students who have graduated with a degree from a UK higher education institution and whose Tier 4 (General) Student leave or Student leave expired before 1 July 2021 will not be eligible for a Graduate Visa. However, if you fall into this category you may qualify to switch into another immigration route, such as the Skilled Worker route, Innovator Founder route or Global Talent route, among others.
How Our Immigration Solicitors Can Help
Our immigration solicitors regularly assist international students and graduates to move to, or extend their stay in, the UK in order to pursue their education and find graduate work opportunities.
Our barristers are experts in the immigration options for students and graduates and will guide you through the complex Home Office rules and policies.
We pride ourselves on being approachable and proactive in understanding and meeting our clients’ needs. We are a highly driven team, dedicated to providing clear and reliable immigration advice to students as part of a professional and friendly service
- Agreed/Fixed Fee
Costs: Average cost from £3,700 (plus VAT at 20% )
Who Will Carry Out the Work?
- Director assisted by a Solicitor
- Associate and Assistant Solicitor assisted by Paralegal and Caseworker
- Casework supervised by Solicitor and Director
- All work supervised by the Director
Estimated Time:
- On average, 15 hours to complete
The exact time required depends on the specifics of your case, such as:
- The amount of supporting evidence needed
- Your language(s)
- Whether you are applying with dependants
- Complexities like past refusals, criminal convictions, or adverse immigration history
Providing sufficient evidence at our first meeting and clearly meeting the applicable Immigration Rules may result in lower costs.
Services Included:
- Initial consultation to consider options and assess the most appropriate application
- Advising on immigration rules/guidance and required evidence
- Advising on submission methods (priority, premium, standard)
- Assessing and advising on supporting evidence
- Assisting with obtaining further evidence, including engaging with third parties (medical experts, banks, employers)
- Preparing the application with supporting evidence
- Preparing detailed representations with an index and finalising the application
- Submitting the application and providing updates on progress
- Advising on the outcome of the application, implications of status, and next steps
Exclusions:
- Home Office fees for making the application, which you will pay directly. Find the updated list of Home Office Fees.
- Other expenses such as VAT and disbursements for medical/expert evidence or barristers.
- Advice and assistance with appeals or reconsiderations if your application is refused.
We will notify you promptly and before incurring any such fees if they are applicable.
Home Office’s application fees
Each application to the Home Office, attracts a specific Home Office’s fee.
For the current fee for your application , please click the following link Uk Home Office’s current application fees
Our timescale to Submit your application:
- Applications typically take six to eight weeks from instruction, depending on the complexity of the applicant’s immigration history. We will inform you as soon as possible if it is likely to take longer.We’ll ensure that your application is submitted on time before your existing leave to remain or leave to enter expires.
The Home Office’s current timescale for Processing your application:
- We cannot guarantee the Home Office’s processing time. However, the currently Home Office’s processing time is between 4 to 6 months in average.
Please note that the estimated hours and fees are based on the provided information. All applications vary, and we can provide a more accurate estimate once we have more details about your specific case. at
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