UK Graduate Visa

UK Graduate Visa

This category is seen as an important part of the UK's international education strategy, but it is also being examined for its effect on population numbers. Since it resumed in July 2021, the Graduate route has provided an easier way for international students to join the UK labour market without needing a sponsor. However, the rules for this route have become more complicated after the Statement of Changes HC 1333 in November 2025 and the earlier HC 217 in September 2024. These updates created a new "Part Suitability" framework for refusals, raised financial requirements for students, and confirmed that visa validity periods will be shortened starting in 2027.

At Bekenbey Solicitors, led by Dr. Ergul Celiksoy, we know the UK Graduate Visa can be one of the most important and suitable way for your immigration journey; therefore, by synthesizing current Immigration Rules, Caseworker Guidance, and Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) reviews, we help you for navigating the UK's post study immigration framework in 2025 and beyond.

1. The Strategic Context: The Evolution of Post Study Work

To really understand the details of the Graduate visa, we need to examine it within the context of UK immigration policy. It is more than just a visa category; it serves as an economic tool to balance the financial stability of the Higher Education sector with political pressures to manage migration numbers.

1.1 From "Post Study Work" to "Graduate Route"

The original Tier 1 (Post Study Work) route was removed in 2012. This decision faced a lot of criticism for weakening the UK's competitive position in the international education market. The route was brought back as the "Graduate route" in July 2021 in response to the government's International Education Strategy. This strategy aimed to increase education exports to £35 billion each year and welcome 600,000 international students by 2030.

However, the landscape in late 2025 is very different from 2021. The MAC has quickly reviewed the route to see if it effectively leads graduates to high-skilled jobs. Data shows that while the route attracts students, many graduates end up in low to medium skilled roles. This situation has led the government to adjust the offer.

1.2 The 2025 Regulatory Shift: Restriction and Compliance

The dominant theme of 2025 is restriction via compliance. While the route remains open, the surrounding infrastructure has tightened in several ways:

• Financial Barriers: The cost of obtaining the visa has increased due to higher Application Fees (£880) and Immigration Health Surcharges (£1,035 per year). This effectively monetizes the route to fund public services.
• Suitability Reform: The change from "Part 9: General Grounds for Refusal" to "Part Suitability" in November 2025 indicates a stricter, unified approach to character and conduct checks for all visa types.
• Dependent Restrictions: The almost complete ban on new dependents for Student visa holders, introduced earlier and fully established by 2025, has significantly reduced the number of families able to switch to the Graduate route. This aligns with the aim to lower net migration figures.

1.3 The "Bridge" Function in a High Salary Era

Perhaps the most important function of the Graduate visa in 2025 is its role as a connection to the Skilled Worker route. After significant increases in Skilled Worker salary thresholds in April 2024 (to £38,700) and July 2025 (to £41,700), getting direct sponsorship from a student visa is now possible only for well-paid entry level roles.

The Graduate visa effectively buys time. It allows graduates to work without sponsorship, gain experience, and reach a salary level where sponsorship becomes possible, often using the "New Entrant" discounts discussed in Section 5. Without this interim period, the path from a UK degree to settlement would be cut off for most international graduates.

2. Detailed Eligibility Analysis: Appendix Graduate

The Graduate route is governed by Appendix Graduate of the Immigration Rules. Unlike the discretionary nature of some human rights routes, this is a rules-based category where meeting the technical criteria is binary. You either pass or fail.

2.1 Validity Requirements (GR 1.1 – GR 1.6)

The validity requirements act as a gateway. Failing these results in the application being rejected as invalid (returned without a decision) rather than refused.

• Application Location: The applicant must be in the UK when applying. This is non-negotiable. Students who go back home after their course ends and let their Student visa expire cannot apply for the Graduate route from abroad. They would need to re-enter on a Student visa, which is rarely granted for just re-entry, to be eligible.
• Current Permission: The applicant must have valid permission as a Student or Tier 4 (General) Student. If a student has switched to another category, such as a temporary worker route, or has overstayed (beyond the Paragraph 39E exceptions), they cannot apply.
• Scholarship Agency Consent: A common mistake is made by students sponsored by governments or international scholarship agencies. If such an agency covered tuition or living costs in the 12 months before the application, the applicant must provide written consent from that agency to stay in the UK. Not providing this will lead to a mandatory refusal.

2.2 The "Successful Completion" Requirement (GR 4.1 – 4.3)

This requirement is often the primary cause of anxiety and administrative error. "Successful completion" is a specific bureaucratic trigger, not just an academic achievement.

2.3 Eligible Qualifications (GR 5.1 – 5.2)

The route is not open to all graduates. It is strictly limited to those who have completed:

1. A UK Bachelor's Degree;
2. A UK Postgraduate Degree (Master's, PhD); or
3. Specific Professional Qualifications listed in GR 5.2.

Table 1: Eligible vs. Ineligible Qualifications

Integrated Programmes: If a student is on an integrated Master's (e.g., MEng) but exits early with a Bachelor's degree, they remain eligible provided they successfully completed the Bachelor's component and the university notifies the Home Office of this specific completion.

2.4 The "Study in the UK" Requirement (GR 6.1 – 6.3)

This requirement ensures the visa benefits those who have physically resided in the UK and contributed to the local economy.

• Course Duration > 12 Months: The applicant must have studied in the UK for at least 12 months during their current Student permission.
• Course Duration ≤ 12 Months: The applicant must have studied in the UK for the full duration of the course.

Distance Learning & Covid 19 Legacy:

While pandemic era concessions allowed for distance learning (between 24 January 2020 and 27 September 2021) to count towards this requirement, these concessions have largely expired for new applicants. For graduates in 2025/2026, the rule is strict. Unauthorized distance learning or excessive absences can lead to ineligibility.

• Permitted Study Abroad: Time spent overseas on a permitted study abroad programme (such as a semester exchange that is part of the degree structure) does count as "study in the UK" for this requirement. This is a crucial distinction from "distance learning," which generally does not count.

3. Financial Analysis: The Cost of Compliance (2025/2026)

Applying for the Graduate visa represents a significant capital investment. The fees are subject to regular increases, often announced in October or April.

3.1 Application Fees

As of the 11 November 2025 fee update, the application fee for the Graduate route is £880. This fee applies to the main applicant and each dependent. It is generally non-refundable if the application is refused on eligibility grounds.

3.2 Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)

The IHS is the most substantial component of the cost. It must be paid upfront for the entire duration of the grant. The rate was increased significantly in early 2024 and stands at £1,035 per year for the Graduate route in late 2025.

Calculations for 2025/2026 Applicants:

• 2 Year Visa (Bachelor's/Master's): £1,035 × 2 = £2,070.
• 3 Year Visa (PhD): £1,035 × 3 = £3,105.
• 18 Month Visa (Post Jan 2027): £1,035 × 1.5 = £1,152.50.

3.3 Total Capital Requirement

For a typical Master's graduate applying in December 2025, the immediate cash outlay is:

• £880 (Visa Fee) + £2,070 (IHS) = £2,950.

For a graduate with a dependent partner and one child, the cost triples:

• £2,950 × 3 = £8,850.

This financial burden requires advance planning, particularly as graduates cannot access public funds or state benefits in the UK.

4. Conditions of the Grant: Operational Freedoms and Restrictions

The Graduate visa is valued for its flexibility, but it is not unrestricted. The conditions tied to the leave (GR 8.2) are strictly enforced. Violating these conditions can lead to serious issues for future settlement applications.

4.1 Employment Flexibility

Unlike the Skilled Worker route, there is:

• No Employer Sponsorship: Graduates can work for any employer, including those without a sponsor license.
• No Minimum Salary: There is no £38,700 threshold. Graduates can work part time, in internships, or in lower paid entry level roles.
• Self-Employment: Graduates can start businesses, freelance, or work as gig economy contractors. This is a key differentiator from the Skilled Worker route, which strictly prohibits self-employment outside the sponsored role (with limited exceptions for supplementary work).

4.2 The "Professional Sportsperson" Prohibition (GR 8.2(b))

This is a historic restriction across most UK non-sporting visas, but the definition of "professional sportsperson" in the Immigration Rules is incredibly broad and often traps unwary graduates.

You are considered a "Professional Sportsperson" if you:

1. Provide services as a sportsperson or coach at a professional or semi-professional level.
2. Receive payment (including payment in kind) for playing or coaching that covers most of your living costs.
3. Are registered to a professional or semi-professional team (including academies).
4. Represent a national, state, or regional team.

The Coaching Trap: Many graduates supplement their income by coaching sports like football or tennis at a local level.

• Scenario: A graduate is paid by a local club to coach the Under 14 team on weekends.
• Risk: If the club has a "professional" or "semi professional" first team, or if the graduate is "registered" with the club in a formal capacity, this could be construed as prohibited work.
• Amateur Exception: Coaching purely for "personal enjoyment" as an amateur is permitted, but receiving significant payment blurs this line. Bekenbey Solicitors advises caution. Casual, unpaid, or expenses only coaching for a purely amateur charity team is likely safe, whereas paid contracts with established clubs are high risk.

4.3 The "Study Restriction" (GR 8.2(c))

The Graduate visa is for working, not studying. The rule prohibits study with a Student sponsor on a course that would meet the requirements of a Student visa.

Interpretation:

• Prohibited: You cannot enrol on a full time Master's or Ph.D. at a UK university. If you wish to do this, you must switch back to the Student route. The Home Office does not want graduates using the Graduate visa to bypass the compliance obligations (such as attendance monitoring) of the Student route.
• Permitted:
  • Recreational Courses: Pottery, photography, leisure classes.
  • Evening Classes: Part time study that does not conflict with the primary purpose of work.
  • Professional Qualifications (ACCA/CIMA): This is a common query. You can study for professional accounting qualifications provided the tuition provider is not a Student Sponsor or the specific course mode (e.g., online/part time) does not meet Student visa criteria. Many professional tuition providers offer modes of study specifically designed for working professionals that fall outside the "Student visa eligible" definition.

4.4 Public Funds (GR 8.2(a))

Holders have No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF). Claiming benefits like Universal Credit, Child Benefit, or Council Tax Reduction breaks the rules. This can result in visa cancellation and a ban on future entry. Graduates must clearly understand which funds are classified as "public funds" under the Immigration Rules (Paragraph 6). Some services, such as the NHS, are allowed, but income support is not.

5. Strategic Transition: The Skilled Worker "New Entrant" Pathway

For many, the Graduate visa is just a step toward the Skilled Worker route. This route leads to Indefinite Leave to Remain (Settlement) after 5 years. The connection between these two routes is shaped by the "New Entrant" salary rules. These rules offer an important but temporary advantage.

5.1 The "New Entrant" Discount

As of July 2025, the standard salary threshold for a Skilled Worker visa is £41,700 per year (or the going rate for the job, whichever is higher). This is prohibitively high for many early career roles.

However, applicants switching from the Student or Graduate route are classified as "New Entrants" (Tradeable Points Option E).

• New Entrant Threshold: £33,400 per year (or 70% of the job's going rate, whichever is higher).

Table 2: Salary Threshold Comparison (2025)

Example: A graduate secures a job as a Business Analyst (SOC 2431). The going rate is £36,000.

• Standard: Requires £41,700 (higher of £41.7k vs £36k).
• New Entrant: Requires £33,400 (higher of £33.4k vs 70% of £36k [£25.2k]).
• Result: The employer saves £8,300, making the graduate highly employable.

5.2 The "Four Year Cap" (The Trap)

Crucially, "New Entrant" status is time limited. The maximum period a person can be considered a New Entrant is 4 years in total.

• Calculation: This 4-year period includes all time spent on the Graduate route plus any time spent on the Skilled Worker route as a New Entrant.
• Note on Student Time: Time spent on a Student visa does not count towards this 4 year cap, but holding a Student visa (or Graduate visa) is the trigger for eligibility.

Strategic Implication: If a graduate spends 2 years on the Graduate visa, they have 2 years remaining of New Entrant eligibility.

• Year 1-2: Graduate Visa (Unsponsored).
• Year 3-4: Skilled Worker Visa (Sponsored at £33,400+).
• Year 5: Must extend Skilled Worker Visa. Crucial Point: At this stage, the applicant has exhausted the 4-year New Entrant cap. To extend the visa, they must now meet the Experienced Worker threshold (£41,700+). Employers and employees must plan for this significant salary jump.

5.3 English Language Requirement Increase (Jan 2026)

From 8 January 2026, the English language requirement for the Skilled Worker route will rise from B1 to B2. Graduates with a UK degree automatically meet this requirement since UK degrees are taught in English. However, this change indicates a wider tightening of standards for other applicants.

6. Future Reforms: The 2027 Validity Reduction

The government has confirmed via Statement of Changes HC 1333 that the Graduate route will be restricted further in the near future.

6.1 The 18 Month Rule

• Current Rule: Bachelor's and Master's graduates receive 2 years.
• New Rule (from 1 Jan 2027): Applications made on or after 1 January 2027 will be granted for 18 months.
• PhD Protection: PhD graduates will continue to receive 3 years regardless of the application date.

6.2 Strategic Impact on Recruitment

The reduction to 18 months (1.5 years) compresses the timeline for graduates to prove their worth to employers.

• Recruitment Cycle: Many graduate programs last 2 years. The 18-month visa will not cover the full length of these programs, requiring employers to sponsor the graduate partway through. This might discourage some employers from hiring graduates with the 18-month visa unless they are ready to sponsor them early on.
• Employer Advice: Employers should review their graduate intake processes now to get ready for the 2027 group, making sure they have the budget for sponsorship earlier in the employment timeline.

7. Suitability and Refusals: The New "Part Suitability"

On 11 November 2025, the Immigration Rules underwent a structural overhaul. The former "Part 9: General Grounds for Refusal" was deleted and replaced by Part Suitability. While the core principles remain, the application is more streamlined and rigorous.

7.1 Key Suitability Grounds

• Deception (SUI 9.1): Use of false representations, documents, or withholding material facts results in mandatory refusal. This can trigger a 10 year re entry ban.
• Litigation Debt (SUI 17): Unpaid litigation costs awarded to the Home Office in previous legal challenges must be paid.
• NHS Debt (SUI 16): Outstanding debts to the NHS of £500 or more can lead to refusal. Graduates should ensure all medical bills (if not covered by IHS) are settled.
• Overstaying (SUI 13.1 / Para 39E): Applications must be made while the current leave is valid. The "14-day grace period" for overstayers only applies if there is a "good reason" beyond the applicant's control, such as emergency hospitalization. Mere forgetfulness or payment issues are not accepted as good reasons.

7.2 Section 3C Leave and Travel

While a Graduate visa application is pending, the applicant's existing Student permissions are extended under Section 3C of the Immigration Act 1971.

• The Travel Trap: If an applicant leaves the Common Travel Area (UK, Ireland, Channel Islands) while the application is pending, the application is automatically withdrawn by law (Paragraph 34K). This creates a very difficult situation. The application is gone, the previous Student visa has likely expired, and the person is stuck outside the UK with no permission to return. Do not travel until you receive the decision email.

8. Dependents: Navigating the Ban

The ability to bring family members has been severely curtailed to meet net migration targets.

8.1 The "No New Dependents" Rule

Under the Graduate route, an applicant can only have dependents if those family members are already in the UK as dependents on the applicant's current Student visa.

• Scenario: A student marries their partner after finishing their course but before applying for the Graduate visa. The partner is overseas.
• Outcome: The partner cannot apply as a dependent on the Graduate route. The connection of dependency must have been established during the Student visa phase.

8.2 Exception: Children Born in the UK

The only major exception is for children born in the UK while the Student or Graduate visa is valid. These children can be added as "new" dependents on the Graduate application, even if they were not on the Student visa before.

9. Settlement: The 10 Year Long Residence Route

The Graduate visa does not lead directly to settlement (ILR). Time spent on it does not count towards the 5-year Skilled Worker route. However, it is a crucial component of the 10 Year Long Residence route.

9.1 Appendix Long Residence (2024 Updates)

Applicants can settle after 10 years of continuous lawful residence.

• Qualifying Time: Time spent on Student, Graduate, and Skilled Worker visas can be combined.
• The "12 Month Rule" (LR 11.3): A critical update in April 2024 introduced a requirement that applicants must have held their current permission for at least 12 months immediately prior to the ILR application (unless that permission was granted before 11 April 2024).
  • Strategic Implication: A graduate cannot switch from a Student visa to a Graduate visa and immediately apply for 10 year ILR (for example, if they had 9 years of prior residence). They must hold the Graduate visa for at least 12 months before applying for settlement.
• Continuous Residence: Absences must not exceed 180 days in any rolling 12 month period.

10. Global Comparison: How the UK Stacks Up

With the 2027 reduction to 18 months, the UK's offer is becoming less competitive relative to key rivals.

Table 3: Comparative Analysis of Post Study Work Rights

Why Choose Bekenbey Solicitors for Your UK Graduate Visa Application?

The UK Graduate visa remains a vital instrument for international mobility, but the era of "easy access" is evolving into one of "strategic compliance". The 2025 legislative changes, particularly the fee hikes, Part Suitability implementation, and the looming 2027 duration reduction, demand a proactive approach.

For Graduates:

• Plan for "New Entrant" Status: Understand that your 4 year window for discounted Skilled Worker sponsorship starts ticking the moment your Graduate visa is granted. Use this time to secure a role that offers career progression to the full salary rate (£41,700+).
• Avoid Compliance Pitfalls: Steer clear of "professional" sports coaching and ensure any extra study does not violate the "Student sponsor" restriction.
• Monitor Notification: Do not apply until you have explicit confirmation that your university has updated the SMS.

For Employers:

• Leverage the Discount: Utilize the "New Entrant" salary threshold (£33,400) to hire talented graduates who would otherwise be too expensive to sponsor.
• Audit for 2027: Prepare for the reduction to 18 month visas by adjusting graduate scheme timelines and sponsorship budget forecasting.

Bekenbey Solicitors, led by Dr Ergul Celiksoy, stands ready to assist clients in navigating these complexities. Our deep expertise in both the minutiae of Appendix Graduate and the broader strategic landscape ensures that applicants can secure their status with confidence. Do not risk a refusal on this opportunity. Take the first step toward your future in the UK with confidence.

Contact Dr. Ergul Celiksoy at Bekenbey Solicitors today to book your consultation and secure your place.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration rules change frequently. Please contact Bekenbey Solicitors for advice specific to your circumstances.