Post-study work visa in United Kingdom
Graduate work route
Graduate Route
Duration: 2 years (3 for PhD)
Starting salary signal
£28,000–40,000
Employment rate: 75%
Work rights and hiring sectors
During study: 20 hrs/week (during term). Minimum wage signal: £11.44/hr (21+).
PR pathway context
Skilled Worker Visa → ILR · typical time to eligibility: 5 years on work visa.
- Sponsor employer with valid licence
- 5 years continuous residence
- Meet salary threshold (£26,200 or going rate)
- Life in the UK test + English B1
The UK Graduate visa lets you stay and work in any job after completing a UK degree, with no employer sponsor. It lasts 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026 and 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027; PhD graduates get 3 years either way. It costs £937 (about ₹1.19 lakh) plus the £1,035-a-year Immigration Health Surcharge, and you must apply from inside the UK before your Student visa expires.
What is the UK Graduate visa and how is it changing in 2027?
The Graduate visa (often still called the post-study work or PSW visa) is the UK's unsponsored work route for international graduates. You apply from inside the UK once your university has told the Home Office you have successfully completed an eligible course, and it gives you an open work permission: any employer, any role, any salary, or self-employment, with no sponsorship, no minimum salary and no skill-level test. It is the reason a one-year UK master's is attractive to Indian students despite its cost.
GOV.UK now states the change explicitly: the visa lasts "2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026" and "18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027". PhD and other doctoral graduates receive 3 years regardless of date. The cut-off is the date you apply, not the date you started or finished your course, so a student finishing a master's in September 2026 who applies in November keeps 2 years, while a classmate who waits until January gets 18 months.
What has not changed: the fee is £937, the Immigration Health Surcharge is £1,035 a year, decisions usually arrive within 8 weeks, you can work while waiting, and the visa cannot be extended. At the end you switch to a Skilled Worker visa, another work route, or leave. Time on the Graduate visa does not count towards settlement, so the sooner you find a sponsor the sooner your five-year clock starts.
Graduate visa cost, length and conditions at a glance
| Item | Detail | INR equivalent / note |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | £937 | ≈ ₹1.19 lakh |
| Immigration Health Surcharge | £1,035 per year | ≈ ₹1.31 lakh per year; graduates pay the standard rate, not the £776 student rate |
| Total for a 2-year grant (apply by 31 Dec 2026) | £937 + £2,070 = £3,007 | ≈ ₹3.82 lakh |
| Total for an 18-month grant (apply from 1 Jan 2027) | £937 + the IHS for 18 months | GOV.UK's Graduate visa cost page and its IHS rules show different 18-month surcharge figures, so confirm the exact total on the official page before you apply |
| Total for a 3-year PhD grant | £937 + £3,105 = £4,042 | ≈ ₹5.13 lakh |
| Length: bachelor's and master's | 2 years, or 18 months from 1 January 2027 | Counted from the grant date |
| Length: PhD or other doctorate | 3 years | Unchanged by the 2027 rule |
| Where and when to apply | Inside the UK, before the Student visa expires | Only after the university confirms completion |
| Decision time | Usually within 8 weeks | You may stay and work while waiting |
| Work | Any job, self-employment, volunteering | No professional sportsperson roles |
| Extension | Not possible | Switch to Skilled Worker or another route |
| Dependants | Partner and children already in the UK as your dependants can apply | New dependants cannot join on this visa |
Source: GOV.UK Graduate visa and Immigration Health Surcharge pages, read 26 Sep 2026. £1 = ₹127. IHS part-year rule: a period of 6 months or less is charged at half the yearly rate.
Who is eligible for the UK Graduate visa?
- You are in the UK on a Student visa (or the old Tier 4 General visa) when you apply.
- You have successfully completed a UK bachelor's degree, postgraduate degree or other eligible course with a licensed Student sponsor that has a track record of compliance. One-year master's degrees qualify; most below-degree diplomas do not.
- Your university has reported your successful completion to the Home Office. Apply only after this: applying before the report is a refusal.
- You studied in the UK for the required minimum period. Students who spent part of the course abroad or online should confirm with their university international office that the study-in-UK requirement is met.
- You apply before your Student visa expires. A one-year master's visa typically ends about 4 months after the course, so the window is real but short.
- You have not previously held a Graduate visa or the earlier Doctorate Extension Scheme. It is a once-only route.
- No English test, no minimum funds and no job offer are required for the Graduate visa itself.
How to apply for the Graduate visa after your UK degree
Finish and pass
Results for a September-start master's are usually released between October and December of the following year. You need a pass at the level your CAS described; a downgraded award (a postgraduate diploma instead of the MSc) may not count.
Wait for the completion report
Your university sends a completion notification to the Home Office, usually within days of the exam board. Ask the international student advice team to confirm it has gone.
Apply online on GOV.UK
Use your UKVI account. You will need your valid passport, your CAS reference number, and your current Student visa details (your BRP or eVisa). Pay £937 and the IHS for the full grant (2 years: £2,070; PhD: £3,105; for an 18-month grant from 2027, check the exact IHS amount on the GOV.UK cost page).
Prove identity
Most applicants use the UK Immigration: ID Check app to scan their passport; those who cannot are asked to attend a UKVCAS centre. No biometrics fee applies for the app route.
Keep working while you wait
Your Student visa conditions continue until the decision, which usually arrives within 8 weeks. Once your Student visa expiry date passes with an application pending, you remain lawfully in the UK under the same conditions.
Update your eVisa and employer
The grant appears in your UKVI account. Generate a new share code for your employer so their right-to-work check reflects unrestricted hours.
Plan the switch early
Start the Skilled Worker conversation with your employer at least 6 months before the Graduate visa ends. The employer needs a sponsor licence and a Certificate of Sponsorship; you need the role to meet the salary threshold.
Graduate visa vs High Potential Individual vs Skilled Worker: which route fits you?
Three work routes matter to Indian graduates. The Graduate visa is for UK graduates, the High Potential Individual (HPI) visa is for graduates of listed top global universities who did not study in the UK, and the Skilled Worker visa is the sponsored route both lead into.
| Feature | Graduate visa | High Potential Individual visa | Skilled Worker visa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who | Completed a UK degree on a Student visa | Degree from an eligible top-ranked non-UK university in the last 5 years | Job offer from a licensed UK sponsor |
| Length | 2 years; 18 months from 1 Jan 2027; 3 years PhD | 2 years; 3 years for PhD | Up to 5 years, extendable; leads to settlement |
| Fee | £937 | £880 plus a £252 Ecctis qualification check | Set by length and role; check GOV.UK |
| Health surcharge | £1,035 a year | £1,035 a year | £1,035 a year |
| Funds to show | None | £1,270 held for 28 days | Usually £1,270 unless the employer certifies maintenance |
| Job offer needed | No | No | Yes, with a Certificate of Sponsorship |
| Salary threshold | None | None | £41,700 a year or the going rate; £33,400 in limited cases |
| Extendable | No | No | Yes |
| Apply from | Inside the UK only | Outside or inside the UK | Outside or inside the UK |
Sources: GOV.UK Graduate visa, High Potential Individual visa and Skilled Worker visa pages, read 26 Sep 2026. Indian universities do not currently appear on the HPI eligible list, so for most Indian students the UK degree plus Graduate visa is the practical route.
How Indian graduates make the Graduate visa count
Eighteen to twenty-four months sounds long; it is not. Employers that hold sponsor licences run graduate schemes with autumn deadlines a year ahead, and many mid-sized firms only sponsor when a candidate is already performing in the role. The graduates who convert to Skilled Worker visas typically started work, even part-time or on a placement, during the master's year, and used the Graduate visa to prove themselves inside a company rather than to start job-hunting.
Pay matters because of the threshold. The Skilled Worker route generally requires £41,700 a year or the going rate for the occupation code, whichever is higher; a lower £33,400 figure applies only in limited circumstances defined on GOV.UK. A first job at £28,000–£32,000, common outside London, will not convert, so the Graduate visa period is also the time to move up to a role that can. Any job is legal on the Graduate visa, including hospitality and retail at the £12.71 National Living Wage, but only a graduate-level role in a sponsoring firm leads anywhere.
Budget for the fees before you graduate. Between the £937 application, £2,070 of IHS and the first month's rent without a student loan cushion, most Indian graduates need £4,000–£5,000 (₹5–6.4 lakh) available in the month after results, at a time when your work hours are still governed by your Student visa conditions: a 20-hour weekly cap in term time, with full-time work allowed outside term time.
Finishing in late 2026? The application date decides your visa length
Frequently asked questions
How long is the post-study work visa in the UK?
The Graduate visa lasts 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026 and 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027. PhD and other doctoral graduates get 3 years in both cases. The length runs from the grant date and the visa cannot be extended.
How much does the UK Graduate visa cost?
The application fee is £937 (about ₹1.19 lakh) plus the Immigration Health Surcharge of £1,035 per year. A 2-year grant therefore costs £3,007 (about ₹3.82 lakh), and a 3-year PhD grant £4,042. For an 18-month grant from 2027 the surcharge is lower than for 2 years, so check the exact total on the GOV.UK cost page. No maintenance funds are required.
Can I apply for the Graduate visa from India?
No. You must be in the UK on a Student visa when you apply, after your university has reported successful completion to the Home Office and before your Student visa expires. If you leave the UK and your Student visa lapses, the route is closed; you would need a sponsored visa instead.
Do I need a job offer for the UK Graduate visa?
No. The Graduate visa requires no job offer, no sponsor, no salary threshold and no English test. Once granted you can work in any job, be self-employed or volunteer. A job offer becomes essential only when you switch to the Skilled Worker visa, which needs a licensed sponsor and a salary of at least £41,700 or the going rate.
Can my spouse join me on the Graduate visa?
Only if they are already in the UK as your Student dependant, which since January 2024 applies to PhD and research students and government-sponsored students. A spouse who was not your Student dependant cannot join you on the Graduate visa; they can apply as a dependant once you hold a Skilled Worker visa.
Does the Graduate visa count towards UK permanent residency?
No. Time on the Graduate visa does not count towards the qualifying period for settlement (indefinite leave to remain). The clock starts when you switch to a route that does qualify, such as the Skilled Worker visa, which is why finding sponsorship early in the Graduate visa period matters.
What is the difference between the Graduate visa and the High Potential Individual visa?
The Graduate visa is for people who completed a degree in the UK; the HPI visa is for graduates of listed top global universities outside the UK within the last 5 years. HPI costs £880 plus a mandatory £252 Ecctis qualification check and £1,035 a year IHS, and needs £1,270 in savings; both last 2 years (3 for PhDs) and neither can be extended.
What salary do I need to switch from the Graduate visa to a Skilled Worker visa?
The general threshold is £41,700 a year or the going rate for your occupation code, whichever is higher, with a lower £33,400 threshold available only in specific circumstances listed on GOV.UK. Your employer must hold a sponsor licence and issue a Certificate of Sponsorship, and you must apply for the visa within 3 months of getting that certificate.
Official sources used on this page
- GOV.UK — Graduate visa — UK Home Office · checked 26 September 2026
- GOV.UK — High Potential Individual visa — UK Home Office · checked 26 September 2026
- GOV.UK — High Potential Individual visa: how much it costs — UK Home Office · checked 26 September 2026
- GOV.UK — Skilled Worker visa: your job and salary — UK Home Office · checked 26 September 2026
- GOV.UK — Student visa: overview — UK Home Office · checked 26 September 2026
- GOV.UK — Immigration Health Surcharge: how much you pay — UK Home Office · checked 26 September 2026
- GOV.UK — National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates — UK Government · checked 26 September 2026
- UKCISA — Student work — UK Council for International Student Affairs · checked 26 September 2026
- Wise — GBP to INR mid-market rate — Wise · checked 26 September 2026
Official sources
Visa rules change. Always confirm the latest requirements for United Kingdom on the government portals below before you apply.
- GOV.UK — Student visa — official immigration authority for international students
- GOV.UK — Graduate visa — post-study work rights, duration and eligibility after graduation
Last reviewed: September 2026
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