🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Graduate Route
Unsponsored post-study work permission for anyone who completed an eligible UK degree. The bridge between graduation and a sponsored role.
UK Graduate Route
At a glance
- Sponsor
- No
- Lottery
- No
- Residence
- No, does not count toward ILR
- Difficulty
- Low
- Processing
- 8 weeks (in-country)
What this visa is
The Graduate route gives you unsponsored permission to stay and work in the UK after finishing an eligible course at a licensed student sponsor. There is no job offer, no salary floor and no restriction on the type of work: employment, self-employment, internships and volunteering are all allowed. It does not count toward settlement, so it is best used as the runway for finding a Skilled Worker sponsor or building the record for Global Talent.
The UK reintroduced post-study work in 2021 to keep graduates of its universities in the country and make British degrees competitive again.
Who it is for
International students who successfully complete a UK bachelor's, master's or PhD while holding a Student visa, and apply from inside the UK before that visa expires.
Why people choose it
No sponsor required
Work for anyone, at any skill level, or for yourself.
Automatic eligibility
Completion of the course is the main test; no points to score.
Breathing room
Time to find an employer willing to sponsor without status pressure.
Longer for PhDs
Doctoral graduates get three years instead of eighteen months.
Dependants can stay
Partners and children already in the UK as your dependants can extend.
Switch anytime
Move into Skilled Worker, Global Talent or Innovator Founder mid-route.
Self-assessment
Tick what already applies to you.
Documents you will gather
6 items. Track them as you collect each one.
0 of 6 ready
How the process runs
Step 1
Course completion
University reports your result to the Home Office.
Step 2
Apply from the UK
Submit before your Student visa expires; you can work while it is pending.
Step 3
Identity check
Use the UK Immigration: ID Check app or attend an appointment.
Step 4
Decision
Usually within 8 weeks.
Step 5
Job search
18 months (3 years for PhDs) of unrestricted work.
Step 6
Switch route
Move into Skilled Worker or Global Talent before it ends.
What it costs
Application fee
£880
Per person, including dependants.
Immigration Health Surcharge
£1,035 per year
Paid upfront for the full grant.
Total (18 months)
~£2,430
Fee plus surcharge for a single applicant.
Fees change regularly. Figures are indicative and for educational purposes only, not legal advice.
Questions people ask
No. Only time on a qualifying route such as Skilled Worker, Global Talent or Scale-up counts toward ILR.
Other United Kingdom routes
Skilled Worker
The main UK work route. A Home Office licensed sponsor issues a Certificate of Sponsorship for a graduate-level job, and the visa counts toward settlement after five years.
Read guideGlobal Talent
An unsponsored visa for leaders and potential leaders in research, academia, arts, culture and digital technology. The closest UK equivalent to the U.S. O-1.
Read guideHigh Potential Individual
An unsponsored visa for recent graduates of top-ranked global universities. No job offer needed at application.
Read guideWant a read on your odds?
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