THE CURRENT RULES
Apply on or before 31 December 2026
2 years/ of permission
NISAU CAREERS· VISAS & POST-STUDY WORK
The Graduate Route Visa:
Two Years to Build Your UK Career
Getting your degree is only step one. The Graduate Route is what comes next: two years to work in the UK, in any job, for any employer, with no sponsor required. NISAU has campaigned on the Graduate Route for years. This guide is everything we know about using it well.
- 2 yrs
- Fair Visa campaign
- £937
- application fee
- ~8 weeks
- typical decision time
General information, not immigration advice
Nothing published by NISAU should be treated as advice on your case. For advice specific to your circumstances, consult an adviser regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA, formerly OISC) or a solicitor qualified in UK immigration law
I
What is the Graduate Route?
The Graduate Route is a UK visa that lets international students stay and work after completing a degree. It lasts two years for bachelor's and master's graduates who apply on or before 31 December 2026, and three years for PhD graduates. You can work in most jobs at any skill level, switch employers freely, or be self-employed. No sponsorship, no minimum salary, and no job offer needed to apply.
That last sentence is the point. For two years, your career answers to nobody's visa paperwork. You choose the job, the city, the direction.
Sources: [1]
II
Applying in 2027 or later? The route is changing
The rules are changing, and the date matters.
THE NEW RULES
Apply on or after 1 January 2027
18 Months/ of permission
UNCHANGED
PhD graduates
3 years/ of permission
If you finish your course in 2026, plan around this. Your university must confirm course completion to the Home Office before you can apply, so speak to your international student office early. Do not let an avoidable delay cost you six months of your career.
NISAU responded to the consultation on the reduction. We keep this guide updated as the rules change.
Sources: [1] [2] [3] [5]
III
Are you eligible?
You can apply if all four are true:
- ✓You are in the UK
- ✓You hold a current Student (or Tier 4) visa
- ✓You completed an eligible UK bachelor's, postgraduate or other qualifying course
- ✓Your university has told the Home Office you finished
Apply before your Student visa expires. Decisions usually arrive within 8 weeks, and you can stay in the UK while you wait.
Sources: [1]
V
How to apply, step by step
You can apply if all four are true:
01
Finish your course
02
Apply on gov.uk
03
Pay the fees
04
Keep living your life
V
What it costs
Application fee
£937/ one-off
Immigration Health Surcharge
£2,070/ £1,035 × 2 years
PLAN FOR THIS
Application fee
≈ £3,007/ all in
Budgeting for this alongside rent and final-term expenses is exactly the planning our student support guides cover.
Sources: [1] [4]
VI
Life on the route, and what comes after
Work in most jobs at any level. Move employers without telling the Home Office. Be self-employed, freelance, or build something of your own. Keep looking for work between roles. The two restrictions: no work as a professional sportsperson, and the visa cannot be extended.
The Graduate Route is time-limited — up to two years of UK work after your degree. If you want to keep working here afterwards, one option is the Skilled Worker visa, which needs a licensed sponsor and a qualifying role. Many graduates use the two years to build experience and target employers who sponsor.
For structured help, our careers programmes run CV labs, employer events and mentorship all year.
Your questions, answered
How long can Indian students stay in the UK after graduating?
Can I apply for the Graduate Route without a job offer?
Is the Graduate Route being scrapped?
Can I switch from the Graduate Route to a Skilled Worker visa?
Can my partner and children stay with me?
Official sources
Sources
Every figure on this page traces to the sources below, accessed and verified on 12 July 2026. Numbered references [n] appear under the sections they support.
