At First Law Solicitors, we provide expert legal support for international students who wish to remain in the United Kingdom after successfully completing their studies. The Graduate Visa offers the opportunity to live, work, or seek employment without sponsorship, an essential bridge between academic achievement and long-term professional success.
Based in Manchester and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA ID No: 665823), our immigration solicitors represent clients across the UK and internationally. We provide clear, commercially minded advice that aligns with your academic background, career ambitions, and immigration strategy for future settlement.
The Graduate Visa, set out under Appendix Graduate of the Immigration Rules, allows international students who have completed an eligible course in the UK to remain and work freely for a fixed period.
This route was introduced to retain global talent and strengthen the UK’s innovation economy. It enables graduates to gain work experience, pursue career development, or prepare for transition into skilled employment or business immigration routes.
The visa does not require employer sponsorship, offering complete flexibility in the type of work, salary level, or job role undertaken.
To qualify, you must satisfy the following key requirements:
Completion of an Eligible Course
You must have successfully completed a UK degree or eligible qualification (bachelor’s, master’s, PhD, or other permitted course) with a licensed Student Sponsor. The institution must have a proven record of compliance with the Home Office.
Current Leave as a Student
You must hold a valid Student Visa (or Tier 4 Visa) at the time of application and have studied in the UK for a minimum period determined by your course level typically one full academic year for degree courses.
Confirmation of Completion
Your university must have formally notified the Home Office that you have successfully completed your course. We ensure this notification is correctly recorded before your visa submission, preventing administrative delays.
Application Deadline
The Graduate Visa must be applied for before your Student Visa expires, while you are physically present in the UK.
The length of stay under the Graduate Visa depends on the level of your qualification:
Under the Home Office’s announced Graduate Route Reform, applications made from 1 April 2027 will be limited to 18 months for most graduates (with the PhD route retaining 3 years).
We ensure clients graduating in 2026 and early 2027 are strategically positioned to secure the full two-year grant before the transition takes effect.
The Graduate Visa allows unrestricted employment, including self-employment and voluntary work. You may also switch employers or work in multiple roles without additional permissions.
While this route does not lead directly to settlement, it provides valuable time to transition into a Skilled Worker, Global Talent, or Innovator Founder Visa. We advise clients on timing and switching strategies to avoid any immigration gaps that could affect future Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) eligibility.
Unlike the Student Visa, there is no financial maintenance requirement for the Graduate Visa. You do not need to demonstrate savings or provide further evidence of tuition payments.
However, the Home Office requires:
All applications are now processed via the Home Office’s digital platform and authenticated through Digital ID Verification (IDV) in accordance with the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025.
From 1 January 2026, visa holders receive digital eVisas instead of Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs). We assist clients with digital status setup, linking accounts to employers, and ensuring seamless verification under the eVisa system.
Dependants already in the UK on a Student Dependant Visa may extend under the Graduate route, provided they remain eligible and continue to meet the relationship requirements.
However, new dependants cannot be added to Graduate Visa applications.
Our solicitors review each family’s immigration pathway to prevent accidental overstays or breaks in lawful residence, particularly where the main applicant later transitions to a Skilled Worker route.
All Graduate Visa applications are completed online and digitally verified. The DUAA 2025 now governs identity verification and document submission, ensuring that clients’ data is securely processed through approved systems.
We manage every stage of the process via our encrypted client portal, providing clients with transparent progress tracking, digital signing using Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES), and instant submission to the Home Office.
Our solicitors specialise in assisting clients whose academic records, visa histories, or compliance status require additional care. This includes late course notifications, overlapping visa expiries, or students who switched courses or institutions during study.
We also assist high-net-worth individuals, entrepreneurs, and graduates seeking to pivot into business visa routes particularly those pursuing post-study start-ups or innovation-based ventures.
Strategic Oversight: Every application is managed by a senior solicitor experienced in post-study immigration strategy.
Technical Precision: We ensure your digital submission meets every requirement of Appendix Graduate and DUAA 2025.
Future Planning: We map your long-term immigration journey, helping you transition to employment, business, or settlement routes without disruption.
Secure Digital Service: All data handling and verification processes are encrypted and compliant with UK data protection law.
We provide not only legal representation but strategic direction, ensuring your academic achievement leads to real opportunity.
If you have recently completed your studies in the UK and want to remain to work or gain experience, contact First Law Solicitors today for expert advice and application support.
Call 0044 161 224 4066
Complete our secure online enquiry form to book a private consultation with an immigration solicitor.
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