Key takeaways
- The Graduate visa is the official name for what many people still call the PSW (Post Study Work) visa. It lets you stay in the UK to work, look for work or be self-employed after your studies.
- The application fee is £937, plus an immigration health surcharge of £1,035 for each year of the visa.
- A 2-year Graduate visa therefore costs about £3,007 in total, and a 3-year visa for PhD holders about £4,042.
- The visa lasts 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026, 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027, and 3 years for doctoral qualifications.
- You must be in the UK on a Student or Tier 4 visa, have completed an eligible course, and apply before your Student visa expires.
- The Graduate visa cannot be extended. To stay longer you must switch to another route, such as the Skilled Worker visa.
The Graduate visa, still widely known as the PSW visa, lets you stay in the UK to work or look for work after you finish an eligible course. This page explains what the visa is, who can apply, how long it lasts, what it costs in 2026, and how to switch to another route when it ends.
Table of contents
- What is a Graduate visa?
- What you can and cannot do on a Graduate visa
- Eligibility requirements for a Graduate visa
- How long does a Graduate visa last?
- How to apply for a Graduate visa?
- UK Graduate visa fees
- How long does the Graduate Visa take to process?
- Can dependents join you on a Graduate visa?
- If you want to stay longer in the UK
- Graduate visa vs Skilled Worker visa
- Does a Graduate visa count towards ILR?
- Common reasons Graduate visa applications are refused
- How can we help?
- FAQ
What is a Graduate visa?
A Graduate visa is UK immigration permission that allows you to stay in the country to work, look for work or study after successfully completing an eligible course. It is the route many people still call the PSW visa, where PSW stands for Post Study Work.
The original Post-Study Work visa closed in 2012. The current route opened in July 2021 and is officially called the Graduate visa, or the Graduate route, so “PSW visa” and “Graduate visa” refer to the same permission today.
The Graduate visa cannot be the first visa you hold in the UK. It sits in the middle of the immigration route: you can only apply if you already hold a Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa. Because this route can eventually lead to settlement through other visas, it is worth understanding the rules and exceptions before you apply.
What you can and cannot do on a Graduate visa
A Graduate visa gives you broad freedom to work, but there are limits. With a Graduate visa you can work in most jobs, look for work, be self-employed, do voluntary work, travel abroad and return to the UK, and continue living in the UK with your partner and children if they are eligible.
You cannot claim most benefits (public funds) or the State Pension, and you cannot work as a professional sportsperson. You also do not need to have a job offer to apply, which makes the route useful while you search for skilled employment.
Eligibility requirements for a Graduate visa
You can apply for a Graduate visa if you are in the UK, your current visa is a Student or Tier 4 (General) student visa, you have studied an eligible course for the required minimum period, and your education provider has told the Home Office that you have successfully completed your course.
The main conditions are:
- You must be inside the UK when you apply; you cannot apply from abroad.
- You must hold a current Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa.
- You must have completed an eligible UK bachelor’s, postgraduate or other qualifying course.
- Your university or college must have confirmed your course completion to the Home Office.
- Your Student visa must still be valid on the date you apply.
You can apply before your graduation ceremony, as long as your provider has confirmed completion to the Home Office. You can also remain in the UK while you wait for a decision, even if your Student visa expires in the meantime. You do not need to prove your knowledge of English again, because that was assessed for your Student visa.
How long does a Graduate visa last?
A Graduate visa lasts for 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026. If you apply on or after 1 January 2027, it will last 18 months. If you hold a PhD or other doctoral qualification, it lasts 3 years.
This is an important recent change. If you expect to qualify around the end of 2026, applying on or before 31 December 2026 secures the longer two-year period rather than the shorter eighteen-month one. Your visa starts from the day your application is approved, and the Graduate visa cannot be extended once granted.
How to apply for a Graduate visa?
You apply for a Graduate visa online from within the UK. The process is straightforward, but you should confirm you meet the eligibility requirements and prepare your documents before you start.
A typical application runs as follows:
- Confirm with your university or college that they have notified the Home Office that you have completed your course.
- Check you still hold a valid Student or Tier 4 visa and that you are in the UK.
- Complete the online application and pay the application fee and healthcare surcharge.
- Prove your identity and provide your documents, either through the UKVI app or at an appointment if one is required.
- Wait for a decision, which you can do while remaining in the UK.
You will be told when you start the application whether you need an appointment at a visa centre. If you do, the process usually takes a little longer.
UK Graduate visa fees
A Graduate (PSW) visa costs a £937 application fee plus the immigration health surcharge of £1,035 for each year of the visa. The surcharge is paid in advance for the whole length of the visa.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee (one-off) | £937 |
| Healthcare surcharge, per year | £1,035 |
| Total cost — 18-month visa | £2,089.50 |
| Total cost — 2-year visa | £3,007 |
| Total cost — 3-year visa (PhD) | £4,042 |
Each dependant pays the same £937 application fee and the same healthcare surcharge for the length of their visa. The healthcare surcharge can be refunded if you later take a job in public sector healthcare, although only a small number of Graduate visa holders qualify. If you work in health or adult social care, it may be cheaper to apply for the Health and Care Worker visa instead.
How long does the Graduate Visa take to process?
You will usually get a decision within 8 weeks of completing your application, proving your identity and providing your documents. Processing times are similar to other in-country applications.
You can stay in the UK while you wait, even if your Student visa expires in the meantime. If you need an appointment at a visa centre, the decision is paused until that appointment is complete, which can extend the overall timeline.
Can dependents join you on a Graduate visa?
Your partner and children can stay in the UK as your dependants only if they were already your dependants on your Student visa. Their visas must be valid on the date you apply, and each person must apply and pay separately.
For a partner, you will need to show that your relationship is still genuine and ongoing. Children who came to the UK with you must have been dependants on your Student visa; children born in the UK during your stay can apply without that condition, because being born in the UK does not make a child a British citizen automatically. A child aged 18 or over must show that they are still financially supported by you, still live with you, and are unmarried or not in a civil partnership. Every dependant must also prove their identity to the Home Office.
If you want to stay longer in the UK
The Graduate visa cannot be extended, so to stay in the UK beyond its two-year or three-year period you must switch to another route. A common next step is the Skilled Worker visa, which can lead to indefinite leave to remain and settlement.
To qualify for the Skilled Worker visa you need a valid Certificate of Sponsorship from a licensed sponsor, with a job offer that meets the skill and salary requirements for the route. Our guide to switching from a Student visa to a Skilled Worker visa explains how the move works, and you can read more about the path from Skilled Worker visa to ILR when you are planning for settlement.
Graduate visa vs Skilled Worker visa
The Graduate visa and the Skilled Worker visa serve different purposes. The Graduate visa is a temporary post-study route: it lets you stay in the UK after completing an eligible course, work in most jobs, look for work or be self-employed, with no job offer or sponsor required. The Skilled Worker visa is a work-based route that needs a job offer from a UK employer with a sponsor licence, a role that meets the skill and salary requirements, and a Certificate of Sponsorship.
The Graduate visa gives more flexibility early in your career because you are not tied to one employer, but it does not lead directly to indefinite leave to remain. The Skilled Worker visa is more structured and can be a route to settlement over time. For many graduates the Graduate visa is a useful bridge: time to gain UK work experience, find a sponsoring employer and prepare for a longer-term route.
| Graduate visa | Skilled Worker visa |
|---|---|
| No job offer required | Job offer from a licensed sponsor required |
| Work in most jobs or be self-employed | Work must be in the sponsored role |
| Not tied to one employer | Tied to the sponsoring employer and role |
| Cannot be extended | Can usually be extended if requirements are met |
| Does not lead directly to settlement | Can lead to indefinite leave to remain |
| Useful after completing UK studies | Suitable for longer-term sponsored employment |
Does a Graduate visa count towards ILR?
A Graduate visa does not lead directly to indefinite leave to remain (ILR, or settlement). You cannot spend two years on the Graduate visa and then apply for ILR on that basis alone.
In most cases, time on the Graduate visa also does not count towards a five-year settlement route such as the Skilled Worker route. If you later switch to a Skilled Worker visa, your five-year qualifying period usually starts from the date you are granted Skilled Worker permission.
However, time spent lawfully in the UK on a Graduate visa may still count towards the ten-year Long Residence route — a separate settlement route for people who have lived in the UK lawfully and continuously for 10 years. Continuous residence means your stay has not been broken by long absences, overstaying or gaps in lawful immigration permission.
This is why timing matters. If you plan to settle in the UK, do not look at the Graduate visa in isolation: consider how it fits with your previous Student visa, any future Skilled Worker visa and your wider immigration history.
Common reasons Graduate visa applications are refused
Most Graduate visa applications are straightforward, but they can be refused or rejected as invalid if the timing, eligibility or supporting information is wrong. A rejected application usually means the Home Office has not accepted it as a valid application because a basic requirement was not met.
Common problems include:
- applying from outside the UK — the Graduate visa must be applied for from within the UK;
- applying after your Student or Tier 4 permission has expired — it must still be valid when you submit;
- your university or college not confirming successful course completion to the Home Office;
- the course not qualifying for the Graduate route, not studying in the UK for the required period, or having already held Graduate permission before;
- dependant issues — a partner or child can usually apply only if they were already your dependant on your Student visa; and
- incorrect personal details, unpaid fees, identity verification problems, suitability concerns, or failing to provide information the Home Office requests.
Before applying, check that your Student visa is still valid, your course completion has been reported, your documents are consistent, and any dependant applications meet the separate requirements.
How can we help?
Sterling Law advises international students and graduates across the full Student and Graduate visa journey, from choosing the right route to preparing and submitting a strong application.
Our work can include:
- assessing whether you are eligible for the Graduate route;
- confirming the right time to apply given the 2026 and 2027 duration rules;
- checking that your course and study period meet the requirements;
- preparing and reviewing your supporting documents;
- completing and checking the online application with you;
- advising on healthcare surcharge costs and possible refunds;
- adding eligible partners and children as dependants;
- planning your switch to the Skilled Worker visa or another route;
- advising on the longer path to ILR and settlement.
For a review of your case before you apply, book a consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does PSW stand for?
PSW stands for Post Study Work. It is the common nickname for the route that is now officially called the UK Graduate visa.
What is the PSW visa fee in the UK in 2026?
The application fee is £937, plus an immigration health surcharge of £1,035 for each year of the visa.
How much does a 2-year Graduate visa cost in total?
A 2-year Graduate visa costs about £3,007 in total: a £937 application fee plus £2,070 for two years of the healthcare surcharge.
How long is the Graduate visa?
It lasts 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026, 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027, and 3 years if you hold a PhD or other doctoral qualification.
Can I extend my PSW visa?
No. The Graduate visa cannot be extended. To stay longer you must switch to another route, such as the Skilled Worker visa.
Can I apply for a Graduate visa from outside the UK?
No. You must be inside the UK on a valid Student or Tier 4 visa when you apply.
Do dependants pay the same fees?
Yes. Each dependant pays the £937 application fee and the same healthcare surcharge for the length of their visa.
How long does it take to get a decision?
You usually get a decision within 8 weeks of completing your application and providing your documents, and you can stay in the UK while you wait.
Can I work on a Graduate visa?
Yes. You can work in most jobs, be self-employed and look for work, but you cannot work as a professional sportsperson or claim most public funds.
Do I need to prove my English again?
No. English knowledge is not reassessed for the Graduate route, because it was already assessed for your Student visa.
What is the difference between a Graduate visa and a Skilled Worker visa?
The Graduate visa is a temporary post-study route with no sponsor or job offer needed. The Skilled Worker visa needs a sponsored job offer that meets the salary and skill requirements and can lead to settlement.
What happens if I do not switch visa before my Graduate visa expires?
You may become an overstayer, which can harm future applications. You should apply to switch to another route, such as the Skilled Worker visa, before your Graduate visa ends.
