UK Graduate Route

The UK Graduate Route is a post-study work visa issued to international students who have completed a full degree-level qualification (bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD) at a UK institution. Available since July 2021, the Graduate Route permits 2 years of work authorization for bachelor’s and taught master’s graduates and 3 years for PhD holders, with no requirement for employer sponsorship or a job offer. Graduates can engage in any type of work (not restricted to their field of study), self-employment, or business startup activities. The Graduate Route has become a crucial pathway for students seeking to gain UK work experience after graduation, explore career options, and build professional networks before transitioning to longer-term work visas (Skilled Worker) or departing the UK. The visa is issued as an eVisa (digital visa) linked to the graduate’s passport and does not require physical collection.

Key facts

Eligibility

• Completed a full degree-level course (bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, PhD, or equivalent postgraduate research qualification) at a UK institution licensed as a Tier 4 sponsor
• International student status during course (not UK/EU/Swiss citizen with settled status; EU/Swiss citizens require different criteria)
• Successfully graduated within the past 60 days (deadline for application is strict; applications after 60 days post-completion are rejected)
• Course must be full-time and degree-level (RQF level 6 or above: bachelor’s, master’s, PhD)
• Eligible course types include: Bachelor’s (BA, BSc, BEng, etc.), Master’s taught (MA, MSc, MBA, etc.), Research Master’s (MPhil, MSc by research, etc.), Doctoral degree (PhD, DPhil, etc.)
• Ineligible courses: Foundation degrees (RQF level 5), A-Levels, diplomas, English language courses, and sub-degree qualifications (unless specific exemptions apply)

Required documents

• Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS): Original CAS from the institution, showing course completion date
• Valid passport: Photo page and any pages with visas/stamps
• Proof of course completion: Official completion letter, diploma, or degree conferment documentation from the university
• Proof of financial capability (some applications may require this):
  • Bank statements showing funds to cover maintenance during the 2–3 year Graduate Route period
  • Proof of employment offer (if applicable; not required but helpful)
• 2×2 photograph: Passport-style photo meeting UK UKVI specifications (if required for online application; many applications waive this if passport is digital)
• Police clearance certificate: May be required if applicant has spent substantial time (6+ months) outside the UK in high-risk countries since graduation
• Medical examination results: TB screening may be required if you have returned to or spent time in a high-TB-incidence country since graduation

Application steps

1. Confirm course completion date: Contact your university’s international student office or check your CAS letter for the official “end of course” date. This date triggers the 60-day deadline for Graduate Route application.

2. Receive final CAS or completion letter from the institution confirming degree conferment. Keep this document; you will need the CAS reference number.

3. Create UKVI online account (if you do not already have one) at apply-uk-visa.homeoffice.gov.uk or use the UKVI app.

4. Complete the Graduate Route application form:

   • Personal details (full name, date of birth, passport number, nationality)
   • Course details (CAS reference, institution name, course title, completion date)
   • Financial information (proof of funds if required; typically not required for Graduate Route as there is no maintenance requirement)
   • Genuine student declaration (to confirm you are a genuine graduate; previous Student Route application data is retained)
   • Work history and employment details
   • Statement of any previous UK visa applications or refusals

5. Pay visa fee: Approximately £719 (approximately USD 900 as of 2026). Payment is made through the UKVI online portal using credit/debit card.

6. Pay Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): Approximately £1,035 per year of the Graduate Route (£2,070 for 2-year; £3,105 for 3-year PhD route). Total is approximately USD 2,600–3,900 depending on visa duration.

7. Attend biometric appointment (if required; eVisa applications for returning Student Route visa holders may not require re-biometrics):

   • Book appointment at a Visa Application Centre (VAC) in your home country or country of residence
   • Attend appointment with passport, visa receipt, supporting documents
   • Provide fingerprints and photograph (if not recently done for Student Route)

8. Submit application: Application is submitted online; supporting documents (CAS, completion letter, passport photo) are uploaded digitally or submitted at the biometric appointment.

9. Receive decision notification: Email notification of decision (typically within 3 weeks standard service or 1 week fast-track). If approved, eVisa is issued.

10. Activate eVisa: eVisa is linked to your passport digitally; no physical sticker is issued. Confirmation email with eVisa details is sent to your registered email address.

11. Begin employment in UK: Start work immediately upon eVisa approval. No employer needs to sponsor or register you; you have independent work authorization.

Financial proof / maintenance funds

The Graduate Route does not have a maintenance requirement; applicants do not need to prove funds to support themselves during the 2–3 year period. However, applicants must have sufficient funds for visa and IHS fees (c. £2,600–3,900 total).

Work rights

Unrestricted work authorization:

• Work in any employment sector and any occupation (not restricted to field of study)
• Full-time employment with any UK employer (no wage threshold applies; employers are not required to be licensed sponsors)
• Multiple employers simultaneously (e.g., portfolio career)
• Self-employment or business ownership (must register as self-employed with HMRC; no separate visa application required)
• Freelance or contract work (must ensure work is legal and tax-compliant)
• Volunteering (unpaid work is permitted)
• Training, apprenticeships, or further study (e.g., postgraduate diploma, professional certifications)

Work location and travel:

• Must be based in the UK; can work remotely for UK employers or remote work for overseas employers while UK-based
• Can travel outside the UK during the Graduate Route period (return on unexpired passport)
• No restriction on travel frequency

Subsequent employment-based visa:

• Can transition to Skilled Worker visa during Graduate Route (employer must sponsor; no minimum salary threshold initially applies to sector-specific roles)
• Can transition to Innovator/Start-up visa if founding a business
• Can transition to other visa routes (e.g., Global Talent visa for those with exceptional talent in specific fields)

Common refusal or complication reasons

• Late application: Applying more than 60 days after course completion date; application is rejected and eligibility is lost
• Non-degree course: Course is not full-time and degree-level (bachelor’s or above); foundation degrees, A-Levels, diplomas, English language courses, and sub-degree qualifications do not qualify
• Incomplete application: Missing CAS, completion letter, or required identity documents; application is rejected and must be resubmitted
• CAS issues: CAS is from a non-Tier-4-licensed institution, is expired, or shows a different course than the one completed
• Police clearance adversity: Applicant has criminal history, particularly for immigration-related offenses or security concerns
• Medical grounds: TB infection (applicants from high-TB-incidence countries required to undergo screening)
• Previous visa breach: Significant overstay on Student Route, work outside authorized conditions, or other immigration violation; may result in Graduate Route refusal or immigration record penalty
• Out-of-status gap: If Student Route visa expired before Graduate Route application, applicant may have been out of status; Graduate Route refusal likely

Recent changes

PhD Graduate Route extended to 3 years (April 2023): Previously 2 years; extended to 3 years to allow more research and career development time for doctoral graduates.

Research master’s route extended (2025): MPhil, MSc by research, and other qualifying research master’s degrees now eligible for 3-year Graduate Route (previously 2 years).

eVisa standard (2024 onwards): All Graduate Route visas issued as eVisas (digital); sticker visas phased out completely.

IHS increase (April 2024): Immigration Health Surcharge increased from c. £470/year to c. £1,035/year, significantly raising total Graduate Route cost.

Skilled Worker transition clarification (2024): UK Home Office clarified that Skilled Worker visa sponsors do not need to specify a salary threshold for recent graduates transitioning from Graduate Route; employer sponsorship criteria apply but wage thresholds are waived for bona fide graduate transitions.

Related visas or statuses

• Student Route: The visa under which the graduate studied; Graduate Route begins when Student Route ends
• Skilled Worker visa: Employment-based visa requiring employer sponsorship; common transition pathway after Graduate Route
• Innovator/Start-up visa: For recent graduates wishing to establish a business in the UK
• Global Talent visa: For individuals with exceptional talent in science, engineering, technology, or academia
• Ancestry visa: For those with Commonwealth ancestry; alternative long-term visa option
• Spouse/Partner visa: If graduate marries UK citizen or settled person, can transition to family visa

Primary sources

• UK Government: Graduate Route
• UKVI: Graduate Visa Information and Requirements
• UK Home Office: Post-Study Work Visa (Graduate Route)
• Study UK: Graduate Route Information
• UKVI: Health and Care Worker Visa and Graduate Route Updates

Last updated: 2026-04-18.