UK Graduate Visa

A UK graduate visa is a type of UK visa that allows foreign nationals that graduated from a UK institution to stay in the UK for up to two years after the completion of their course of study.

Requirements for a UK Graduate Visa

You have to meet certain requirements to successfully apply for and get a UK graduate visa approved. Here we have listed the requirements that you must meet to successfully apply for a UK graduate visa:

You must be physically present in the UK to apply for a UK graduate visa

Your current visa must be a UK Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa

You must have completed a course in the UK leading to the award of a UK bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, PhD degree for a minimum period of time with your Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa

Your UK education provider must have informed the UK Home Office that you have successfully completed your course of study

you must have studied in the UK for at least 12 months if the length of your course is more than 12 months

You must have studied the total length of your course if the length of your course is less than 12 months

Required Documents to apply for a UK Graduate Visa

Here is a list of all the documents you will need to submit during your UK graduate visa application:

International Passport: You need to have ready a valid international passport with a validity period of 6 months beyond your intended period of stay in the UK

Biometric Residence Permit or eVisa: You have to make available your UK biometric residence permit or an eVisa (online proof of your immigration status) if you were given anyone of them during your Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa application

Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies Reference Number: You must provide your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies reference number that was sent to you by your education provider

Additional Documents

Marriage Certificate/Birth Certificate of dependents: You must provide the marriage certificate of your partner and also the birth certificates of your eligible children if they are applying for a graduate visa as your dependents. This helps prove your relationship with them.

Approval Letter from Sponsors: If you were sponsored and your sponsor paid for both your living cost and course fees, you must provide an approval letter from your sponsor for your visa application

What can I do with a UK Graduate Visa?

Here is the list of things that you are permitted to do as a UK graduate visa holder:

Work in any job

Do business

Engage in voluntary jobs

Travel outside the UK and return

Stay in the UK with your family members if they are eligible

Look for job

What can I not do with a UK Graduate Visa?

You cannot claim public funds

You cannot study except your course is not eligible for a UK Student visa

How long can I stay in the UK with a Graduate Visa?

With a UK graduate visa, you can stay in the UK for:

2 years if you studied a course leading to the award of a bachelor’s degree or masters degree

3 years if you have a PhD or any other doctorate degree

What visa categories am I not permitted to switch from?

You can not switch to a graduate visa if you are currently in the UK with any of the following visas below:

Short term Student visa

Visit visa

Seasonal worker visa

Domestic worker in a private household visa

Parent of a Child student visa

On immigration bail

Business visa

Tourist visa

UK Graduate Visa application process

The UK graduate visa application process is an easy one. Here at Schmick Travel, we have expert consultants that will be more than happy to help you with your UK visa application. Kindly get in touch. Here we have given a step by step breakdown of the UK graduate visa application process.

Apply Online: The first step of a UK graduate visa application process is to apply online. You have to apply using your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies reference number sent to you by your UK education provider while applying for your Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa

Identity Verification: After applying online, you have to verify your identity by scanning your biometric residence permit with the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app. You can scan your international passport instead if you are from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

You have to sign into your UK Visas and Immigration account in order to scan your biometric residence permit with the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ application. If you don’t already have an existing UK Visas and Immigration account, kindly create one.

In the case where you are unable to scan your biometric residence permit (BRP) with the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app, you will be asked to scan your fingerprint and passport photo at the UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point.

What is the Cost of applying for a Graduate Visa?

UK graduate visa fee: The application fee for a UK graduate visa is 822 pounds

Health care surcharge fee: The health care surcharge fee for each year that you will live in the UK is 1035 pounds

How long will it take to get a decision on my visa application?

After applying for a UK graduate visa and verifying your identity, it usually takes around eight weeks to get a decision on your application. You are allowed to stay in the UK while you await a decision on your application.

Can I renew my UK Graduate Visa after expiration?

You can not renew your UK graduate visa after it expires. If you wish to remain in the UK, you must switch to a UK Skilled Worker visa or any other eligible visa.

Can my family members apply for a Graduate Visa as my dependents?

Your family members can apply for a UK graduate visa if they joined you in the UK as your dependents on your current Student or Tier 4 (General) student visa.

What are the requirements for my dependents to apply for a UK graduate Visa?

Here are the requirements that your dependents must meet to apply for a UK graduate visa.

Your dependents must currently be in the UK

Your dependents must have joined you in the UK as your dependents on your current Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa except for your dependents that was born in the UK during your stay in the UK on your Student visa.

You must have been married or in a civil relationship with your partner that is recognized in the UK.

You must have been leaving together with your partner in a civil relationship for at least 2 years when you apply

You must be in a civil relationship with your partner for at least 2 years when you apply but cannot live together because you both work in different locations or it’s not allowed in your culture.

Your children must be leaving together with you unless they are leaving away in a full-time education

Your children must be unmarried

What can my dependents do with a Graduate Visa?

Your dependents can do any of the activities below with their UK graduate visa:

Your dependents can work in any job

Your dependents can travel outside the UK and return to UK

Your dependents can do voluntary job

What can my dependents not do with a Graduate Visa?

Your dependents cannot:

Claim public funds

Study

Apply for infinite leave to remain

Apply to become a citizen

What documents are required for my dependents to apply for a UK Graduate Visa?

Following below is a list of documents needed for your dependents to apply for a graduate visa:

International Passport: They need a valid international passport with a validity period of at 6 months beyond their intended period of stay in the UK

Biometric Residence Permit or eVisa (Online Immigration Status)

Your Unique Application Number

You can find your Unique Application Number on emails or letters from the UK Home Office about your application.

What is the application process for my dependents?

Here we have given a step by step breakdown of the application process of the UK graduate visa for your children and partner

Apply online: The first step of the application process is for your partner to apply online as your partner or your children as your child

Identity verification: After your dependents apply online, they must verify their identity by scanning their biometric residence permit using the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app

They would need to sign into their UK Visas and Immigration account to scan their biometric residence permit using the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app. If they do not have a UK Visas and Immigration account, they can create one and then sign in.

In the case where they are not able to scan their biometric residence permit using the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app, they will be asked to submit their fingerprint and photo at the UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point.