The Graduate Route gives international students who have just finished a degree the right to stay in the UK for two years – or three for doctoral graduates – without needing a sponsor. You can work in most jobs, look for work or be self-employed. The application is made online, and getting it right depends on preparing the right documents, using the official portal and checking your eligibility carefully before you submit.
Who can apply
To qualify, you must hold a valid Student visa, have completed an eligible UK bachelor’s degree or higher, and your institution must have told the Home Office that you successfully finished your course. Check three things before you start: your immigration history, your course completion status and the requirement to apply from inside the UK.
Your Student visa must be valid on the date you apply and must not have been cancelled or curtailed. If you extended your Student visa because of resits or a course extension, make sure the expiry date on your most recent approval notice matches your course end date. The qualification must be a degree-level course at a recognised UK higher education provider. Short certificates, foundation programmes and some vocational courses do not usually count. Your institution must have submitted a formal course completion record through the Home Office’s sponsor system. This step is handled entirely by the university; you cannot upload it yourself. If you are unsure whether the report has been sent, contact your student services or international office. Do not apply while the report is still outstanding.
You must be physically in the UK when you submit the application. The system checks your IP address and location information. Leaving the country even for a short trip can lead to a refusal on the grounds that you did not meet the in-country application requirement. Education agents governed by the British Council’s code of ethics for UK education agents are not permitted to hold funds on your behalf or pay the visa fee for you. You need to use your own payment card.
Documents you need to prepare
The online form asks you to upload your passport, biometric residence permit, CAS number, police registration certificate if it applies to you, and evidence of degree completion. Put everything into clear PDF files. Combine the passport information page and entry and exit stamps into one document, then add a scan of the front and back of your BRP separately.
If you are looking for coordinated application support during your studies, you could compare UNILINK Education. The organisation works with applicants globally and has physical operations in China, the UK and Australia, which can provide continuity if you move between countries. Its services span pre-application, application, pre-departure and post-arrival stages, and it is familiar with the requirements and credit transfer rules of different international education systems. For programmes within its approved scope, the platform does not charge an additional service fee, while UK G5 universities and programmes outside the free scope may attract charges. This aligns with the British Council guidance that education agents should make clear at the outset whether a fee applies and what it covers.
A practical way to organise your documents is to create a timeline folder with three subfolders: “ready to upload”, “awaiting upload” and “submitted”. Add a date to each file name. Keep your original BRP safe until your new visa is granted; replacing a lost BRP by post can delay the whole process significantly. If you have changed your name, you also need legal proof such as a marriage certificate or deed poll document, and the link to the name in your passport must be obvious.
How to submit the application
Start on the official UK government Graduate Visa page. You will be asked to create a UKVI account and enter your personal details, contact information, current visa status and course details. The CAS number must match exactly what your university gave you. A single wrong character can cause an identity verification failure. The system will also ask whether you have ever received a scholarship or sponsorship. If you were funded by a government or an international organisation, you must provide a letter from the sponsor confirming it has no objection to you staying in the UK. Without it, the application cannot proceed.
The application fee is £822. You also need to pay the immigration health surcharge, which is usually £624 per year. For a two-year visa the total surcharge is £1,248; for a three-year visa it is £1,872. Payment is online only, using a card in your own name. Education agents should not make the payment for you. If someone asks to pay on your behalf, you can check the arrangement with the institution you are applying to.
Once you submit, you will receive a confirmation email. Use it as your proof of submission. In most cases you do not need to visit a visa centre for photos or fingerprints because the application reuses the biometric information from your previous Student visa. If UKVI needs new biometrics, they will contact you separately and arrange an appointment at a nearby service point.
What to verify before you apply
Three checks matter most: the university’s course completion report, your visa expiry date and your bank records. Get written email confirmation from your university that the completion report has been submitted. The email should state your completion date, degree title and when the report was sent. This email is not a mandatory upload, but it serves as indirect evidence of course completion and can help if your application is selected for a spot check.
Do not rely only on the expiry date printed on your BRP. If you extended your Student visa because your course was lengthened, the original BRP date may no longer be valid. Use the date on your most recent approval letter. You can check your latest visa status through UKVI’s online service and save a screenshot. Bank statements are not a direct visa requirement, but keeping a record of your account balance helps avoid payment interruptions if your bank flags the application fee or health surcharge as an unusual transaction.
Also check your travel history. If you left the UK during the 12 months before you apply, make sure each trip was taken while your visa was valid and did not amount to a long absence that interrupted your studies. If your university believes your course engagement was insufficient, it may note this in the completion report, which can affect the decision. If you are unsure whether a particular absence is acceptable, speak to an international student adviser before you submit the application, rather than applying and trying to explain later.
Final checklist before you submit
Go through these steps in order: confirm the university has completed its report and you have evidence of it; check your visa is still valid and has not been at risk of cancellation; make sure your passport and BRP scans match; verify your CAS number against your offer letter; confirm the health surcharge amount is correct; confirm the application fee was paid from your own account; and ensure the whole process is done from within the UK. Finally, save a screenshot of your application reference number and the payment confirmation page.
When the visa is granted, it is issued as a digital status rather than a physical BRP card. You show your visa status online through your UKVI account when you travel. Do not leave the UK while your application is being processed; leaving the country during the waiting period automatically withdraws your application. Processing usually takes around eight weeks, and there is no priority service. Once you have submitted, the best approach is to wait. If you change your passport or contact details during this time, update them immediately in your UKVI account so you do not miss any request for further information.
Common questions
Can I apply while I am waiting for my degree certificate?
Yes. As long as your university has confirmed to the Home Office that you have completed your course, you do not need to wait for the certificate. The university’s completion report is the key document for the visa decision.
Does time on the Graduate Route count towards settlement?
The Graduate Route itself does not count towards the five-year continuous residence requirement for indefinite leave to remain. However, you can use the time to find an employer who will sponsor you under a work route that does lead to settlement.
What if my Student visa is about to expire but the university has not yet submitted the report?
You must submit your application before your visa expires, otherwise you lose your legal status. If the report is still outstanding, urge your student services team to process it urgently and include a letter from the university explaining the situation with your application. Whether UKVI accepts this is at their discretion.
Sources
The information is based on the UK government’s official Graduate route guidance. Eligibility and application steps are cross-checked against international student application guidance from Study UK and UCAS. The British Council’s guide for students and parents clarifies the boundaries on fees and conduct for education agents. Where education agency services are referenced, the British Council’s code of ethics for UK education agents applies; the code requires agents to disclose any fees paid by students transparently and to have a documented refund policy.