How much does the UK Graduate Route visa cost?

The UK Graduate Route visa costs £822 (2024 fee). There is no Immigration Health Surcharge to pay on top — the Graduate Route doesn't require it. You apply online through the UK Visas and Immigration system after your institution confirms your degree is complete. You can apply from inside the UK (not from abroad), and you need to apply before your current student visa expires.

Can you work in any job on the UK Graduate Route?

Yes — the UK Graduate Route has no job type restrictions, no minimum salary threshold, and no sponsorship requirement. You can work in any sector at any level: retail, hospitality, graduate roles, internships, freelance, or self-employment. You can also take multiple jobs or change jobs freely. This is a significant advantage over the Skilled Worker visa, which requires a specific job offer with a sponsor and a minimum salary.

Can you extend the UK Graduate Route visa?

No. The UK Graduate Route cannot be extended. It is a one-time, non-extendable visa of 2 years (3 years for PhD graduates). To remain in the UK after it expires, you must switch to another visa — most commonly the Skilled Worker visa (requires a job offer from a licensed sponsor paying at least £38,700 for most roles, or the going rate for the role if higher) or another qualifying route.

Does studying part of your degree abroad affect Graduate Route eligibility?

Yes, potentially. You must have studied the 'required study' period physically in the UK. For a 3-year undergraduate degree, you typically need at least your final year in the UK. Degrees completed entirely online or studying in the UK for less than the required period may not qualify. If you studied abroad under a year-abroad programme as part of your UK degree, this is usually fine. Check your specific circumstances with your university's international student advisory service.

UK Graduate Route Visa 2026: What It Is, Who Can Apply, and What You Can Do

The UK Graduate Route is one of the most straightforward post-study work visas in the world — which is part of why so many students misread it. It doesn't guarantee you a job, it doesn't lead directly to permanent residence, and it can't be extended. But for two years after graduation, it lets you work in any job at any level without needing an employer to sponsor you. That's genuinely valuable, and worth understanding before you count on it.

The core deal: you pay £822, apply from inside the UK before your student visa expires, and get 2 years (3 if you have a PhD) to work freely. No minimum salary, no approved employer, no sponsor. Just work wherever you can get hired.

Who qualifies for the Graduate Route?

You qualify if you:

Completed a degree at a licensed UK higher education provider
Were on a Student visa (not a visitor or other visa)
Studied the required period in the UK physically
Are applying from inside the UK
Are applying before your current visa expires
Are applying for the first time (non-renewable)

You don't qualify if you:

Completed your degree entirely online
Studied in the UK for less than the required period
Are applying from outside the UK
Already held a Graduate Route visa previously
Your institution lost its licensed status

What you can actually do on this visa

The Graduate Route has no job restrictions whatsoever — which surprises many graduates who expect some minimum qualification requirement. You can work as a barista, a marketing manager, a junior developer, a freelance translator, or in a hospital — the visa doesn't care. You can hold multiple jobs simultaneously, switch employers freely without notification, and be self-employed or a sole trader.

You cannot: extend the visa when it expires, use it to enter the UK from abroad (you must apply from within the UK), or access public funds. You also can't qualify for settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain) through the Graduate Route itself — you need to switch to a qualifying visa like Skilled Worker before you can start accumulating settlement qualifying time.

The counterintuitive advantage: because the Graduate Route has no minimum salary requirement, you can use the two years to take roles that would never qualify for a Skilled Worker visa. Entry-level roles, internships with modest salaries, freelance projects, building portfolio experience — all of this is possible. Students who treat the Graduate Route as a runway to a Skilled Worker visa (building experience while looking for a sponsor) tend to get the most out of it.

How to apply

Your university confirms your degree completion to the Home Office. You then apply online through the UK Visas and Immigration system. The fee is £822 (no IHS surcharge). You need: your BRP (Biometric Residence Permit), valid passport, proof of completion from your university. Processing typically takes 8 weeks but can vary.

Timing critical: you must apply before your current Student visa expires. If you let your Student visa lapse without applying for the Graduate Route, you can't apply from the UK and you lose access to the route. Set a reminder at least 3 months before your Student visa expires. Don't wait for exam results if they're close to your visa expiry — your university can usually provide a conditional confirmation of studies.

Planning beyond the Graduate Route

Two years is enough time to get settled in a job and look for sponsorship. The Skilled Worker visa (formerly Tier 2) requires a licensed sponsor employer and pays at least £38,700 (2024 threshold for most roles) or the going rate for the role if higher. Many employers who recruit graduates have sponsor licences — but not all, and smaller companies often don't.

Start researching which employers hold Home Office sponsor licences from year one of your degree, not in month 22 of your Graduate Route. The Home Office publishes a register of licensed sponsors — search it before taking any role you're hoping to convert into a Skilled Worker visa.

Also see our guide to finding part-time work for strategies useful during both your study period and your Graduate Route years, and our first-year budget guide for financial planning context.