UK Graduate Visa 2025 Application Requirements

The UK graduate visa is a type of visa that grants a 2-year residence permit to people who successfully complete their undergraduate education, also known as a course process in the UK. As of July 1, 2021, people who successfully complete their undergraduate and graduate education can benefit from the right to work experience for 2 years after graduation.

UK student visa holders can obtain a work permit by obtaining a graduate visa during their stay in the UK after graduation.

The right to a new graduate visa is a significant advantage for new graduates to find work in the UK, and it also allows the identification of people who can make a high contribution to society after their studies, thanks to the points-based immigration system.

What are the requirements for obtaining a UK Graduate Visa?

The requirements for obtaining a UK graduate visa are listed below.

Validity Requirements
It is necessary to have a stage 4 visa or a student visa.
The UK new graduate visa application must be made in the UK before the end of the stage 4/student visa.
If a scholarship has been received from any government or international scholarship institution within 12 months prior to the UK graduate visa application, the sponsor must have written a letter of approval in order to apply for the visa.
It is not necessary to have a Postgraduate Route or Doctoral Extension Plan.

Qualification Requirement
In the UK, a bachelor’s or master’s degree is required.
Must have a professional technical certificate/diploma.
Must have a graduation or postgraduate teaching certificate.
Attendance at other professional courses regulated by UK law or a UK public authority, which require a UK university degree, is required.
Professional qualifications must have been acquired during the validity period of the stage 4/student visa.
Education requirement

The person applying for a graduate visa must have completed the minimum period of stay in the UK during their school term.
The person applying for a new graduate visa must have been a student in the UK while holding a Stage 4 or student visa.
Continuity requirement

According to regulations, a student in the UK is expected to be in the country during the academic year.
A student in the UK is allowed a maximum of 30 days’ leave for educational purposes only.
According to the Graduation Route rules, you must be in the UK during all semesters of the course/school and during your graduation thesis.

Is There an Income Requirement for the UK Graduate Visa?

There is no income requirement for the UK graduate visa. A new graduate in the UK must have sufficient money to support himself/herself while looking for a job. It is not possible for the applicant to benefit from public funds during the UK graduate visa application process.

Is There a Sponsorship Requirement for the UK Graduate Visa?

There is no need for a sponsor to apply for a UK graduate visa. After a new graduate, student sponsors in the UK no longer have to fulfill their duties. New graduates in the UK do not need a Certificate of Sponsorship. Student sponsors in the UK must notify the Head Office that the students they sponsor have graduated.

Is There a Language Requirement for the UK Graduate Visa?

There is no language requirement for the UK graduate visa. Tier 4/student visa holders who are students in the UK and currently studying in English do not need to take an additional test to prove their language skills.

How to Apply for a UK Visa for Fresh Graduates?

For new graduates, the UK application is made digitally, with some exceptions. If the UK new visa application is accepted, an eVisa is issued on behalf of the applicant. The UK new graduate visa is applied for by opening an account on GOV.UK and using the UK Immigration Identity Check application on the account. In order to apply for a UK new graduate visa, a Biometric Residence Card or a Stage 4/Student visa issued after graduation is required. After the online application for the UK new graduate visa is made and the necessary documents are proven to the system, a decision is made for the visa within 8 weeks.

When Can I Apply for a UK Graduate Visa?

UK graduate visa application can be made after the final exam result is announced by the university. In order to apply for UK new graduate visa, it is necessary to report that the course at the university where the education is received has been successfully completed. There is no obligation to wait for graduation procedures to be completed in order to apply for UK graduate visa. Care should be taken to apply for graduate visa before UK stage 4/student visa ends.

What are the Required Documents for the UK Graduate Visa?

The information required for the UK graduate visa is listed and explained below.

Passport: Your passport must contain at least one blank page. The passport must be valid for at least three months after the visa expiration date.
UK student visa (Tier 4): The validity period of the new graduate visa must continue during the application period.
University information letter: A letter of information stating that the courses have been successfully completed is required by the university.
Confirmation of Acceptance for UK Studies: When applying for a student visa or Tier 4 visa, a reference number is required, which is given to the person. The CAS reference number is sent by the institution where the student studied in the UK. If the CAS number is not available, the relevant educational institution should be contacted.

In the UK new graduate visa application, if the applicant’s partner or children are also applying, depending on the conditions, the relationship between the applicant and the person must be proven. If living expenses have been covered by a sponsor in the last 12 months, a letter must be obtained from the sponsoring person or institution.

How Much Is the UK Graduate Visa Application Fee?

The UK graduate visa application fee is 715 euros. The immigration fee for each year of stay in the UK is 624 euros.

How Much Is the UK Graduate Visa Immigration Health Surcharge?

The UK graduate visa immigration health surcharge is €1,248 for two years and €1,872 for three years after the application is accepted. If the person who receives the UK graduate visa gets a job in the public health sector, it is possible to get a refund from the immigration health surcharge you have paid.

How Many Years Does a UK Graduate Visa Last?

The UK new graduate visa is granted to undergraduate and graduate students for 2 years and to doctoral students for 3 years, provided that the visa application is approved.

Can a New Graduate Visa Be Extended in the UK?

No, the UK new graduate visa period cannot be extended. New graduates whose visa period has expired must leave the UK or obtain a work visa if they meet the required qualifications and prepare the necessary documents.

What Jobs Can You Do in the UK with a Graduate Visa?

With a graduate visa, you can work in many different jobs in the UK, from freelancing to volunteering.

It is forbidden to work as a professional athlete with a new graduate visa in the UK. With a graduate visa, it does not matter whether the job you choose from among the job opportunities in the UK is full-time or part-time, and there is no minimum wage restriction.

Can I Get a Settlement Permit with a UK Graduate Visa?

It is not possible to obtain a settlement permit with a UK graduate visa. People who want to settle in the UK must apply for other types of work visas.

A person who has recently graduated from a school in the UK can apply to settle in the UK if they find a job that is suitable for their department and skills and meet the requirements. One of the ways that new graduates can follow to obtain a work permit, which is applied for by skilled workers, is to obtain a permanent residence permit in the UK.

What are the requirements for converting a UK graduate visa to a work visa?

The requirements for converting a UK graduate visa to a work visa are listed below.

Receiving a job offer from an office registered in the system with qualification approval
The minimum wage threshold required for the job to be done must be paid by the sponsor (The normal wage is 25,600 euros, but it may be higher for certain jobs.)
Being able to speak English at B1 level

New graduates who have a UK visa can apply for a UK sponsored work visa if they meet the necessary conditions.

rsscanadaimmigration.com is the accredited organisation that achieved the highest approval rate between 2017 and 2021 in work visa applications for people who have received a job offer from an employer with a sponsorship licence in the UK.

What is a UK Graduate Intern Visa?

The UK graduate trainee visa is a type of visa that is obtained by people who are enrolled in a postgraduate program after graduation and want to work in a business with a branch in the UK. People who apply for the UK graduate trainee visa must have management or expert qualifications related to the course or university department they have completed.

Applications for a UK graduate trainee visa are made via the gov.uk website unless there are exceptional circumstances. Applications for a UK graduate trainee visa must be made at least 3 months before the end of the permit to stay. If the visa expires while the result of the graduate trainee visa application is pending, permission to live in the UK is extended until the application is finalised.

With a UK graduate trainee visa, it is possible to work in jobs that match the description of the job for which a UK sponsorship certificate has been obtained, to receive training, to bring a spouse, children or dependent family members to the UK if the appropriate conditions are met, to do voluntary work and to return to the country after travelling to other countries.

The UK internship visa does not allow settlement in the UK and does not grant the right to receive aid based on public funds. Although it is possible to change jobs with the UK graduate intern visa, a second job opportunity is not provided.