• The applicant must apply before their UK Student visa or UK Tier 4 (General) Student visa expires.
• The applicant must make sure that their education provider (for example, a university or college) has notified the UK Home Office that they have successfully completed the course, for which the applicant was granted a UK Student or a UK Tier 4 (General) Student visa.
• The applicant does not have to wait until they have graduated or have been given a certificate.

While applying for a UK Graduate visa, the applicant will need to:

• Pay the £715 as the application fee + immigration healthcare surcharge (application fees updated as of May 2022).

The immigration healthcare surcharge is for each year the applicant will be in the UK on their visa, which amounts to:

• £1,248 for 2 years.
• £1,872 for 3 years.

(application fees updated as of May 2022)

If the applicant gets a job in public sector healthcare after they have paid the immigration healthcare surcharge, they may be able to get a refund.

• Once applied online, submitted the identity proofs, and provided valid documents, the applicant will usually get a decision on their visa application within 8 weeks.
• The applicant is permitted to stay in the UK they wait for a decision.

• A UK Graduate visa is valid for 2 years.
• If the applicant has a PH.D. or other doctoral qualification, it will then be valid for 3 years.
• The visa comes into effect on the date the visa application is approved by the UK Home Office.

An applicant cannot extend their UK Graduate visa. However, the applicant may be able to switch to another visa category. For example, the UK Skilled Worker visa.

• Yes, a partner and children (under 18 years) can join the main applicant to the UK on a UK Graduate visa. They can join as dependents on a ‘UK Dependent visa’. If the applicant’s partner and children are already in the UK on a UK Student Dependent visa, they can apply for Leave to Remain in the UK as Dependents of UK Graduate visa holders.
• The application for a UK Dependent visa will have to be submitted separately.
• If their application is successful, their visa will end on the same date as the main applicants.

A dependant partner or child is any of the following:

• Husband, wife, civil partner, or an unmarried partner.
• Children under 18 years – including if they were born in the UK during the main applicant’s stay.
• Children over 18 years if they’re currently in the UK as the main applicant’s dependant.

On a UK Graduate visa –
The applicant is permitted to:

• Work in most jobs.
• Look for work.
• Be self-employed.
• Live in the UK with their partner and children, if they’re eligible.
• Do voluntary work.
• Travel abroad and return to the UK.

The applicant is not permitted to:

• Apply for most benefits (public funds), or the State Pension.
• Work as a professional sportsperson.

Studying with a UK Graduate visa – the applicant can only study with a UK Graduate visa if their chosen course is not eligible for a UK Student visa.

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