This page covers who qualifies, exactly how long the visa lasts — this is changing soon — and how lenders assess this specific visa type.
Understanding the Graduate visa
Who qualifies, exactly how long the visa lasts and what changes on 1 January 2027, what you are free to do on it, and why this route does not lead to settlement on its own.
What is the Graduate visa?
The Graduate visa allows international students who have successfully completed an eligible course in the UK to stay and work — in any job, at any skill level, for any employer, including self-employment — without needing sponsorship, a job offer, or a minimum salary.
Who is eligible?
To qualify, you generally need:
- You must currently hold, or have last held, permission on a Student or Tier 4 (General) student visa
- You must have successfully completed an eligible UK course — typically a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, or a PhD
- Your education provider must have confirmed your course completion to the Home Office
- You must apply from inside the UK, before your Student visa expires
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How long does it last — and what changes in 2027?
| When you apply | Bachelor’s or master’s | PhD or other doctorate |
|---|---|---|
| On or before 31 Dec 2026Current rule | Bachelor’s or master’s2 years | PhD or other doctorate3 years |
| From 1 Jan 2027 | Bachelor’s or master’s18 months | PhD or other doctorate3 years |
The visa cannot be extended and you can only use this route once, so the grant you are given is the whole of the time you have on it.
Rule change · confirmed October 2025
The Home Office confirmed in its October 2025 Statement of Changes that the Graduate route will be shortened from 2 years to 18 months for applications made on or after 1 January 2027. Doctoral graduates keep 3 years. If the shorter grant would apply to you, the date you apply is worth planning around — six fewer months is six fewer months of lender window.
What can I do on this visa?
Any job, at any skill level, for any employer — or self-employment, or simply looking for work while you decide. There is no sponsor to find, no job offer to hold and no salary floor to clear, which is the clearest difference between this route and the Skilled Worker visa.
One limit worth knowing
You cannot add new dependants while you are on the Graduate visa. A partner or children already on your Student visa can stay with you; anyone else has to apply through a different route.
Does this visa lead to settlement?
No. Time spent on the Graduate visa does not count towards the five years of residence needed for Indefinite Leave to Remain — not a month of it. To stay in the UK longer term you have to switch into a route that does count, and that switch has to happen before your Graduate visa expires.
- Skilled Worker VisaMost commonA job offer from a UK employer holding a sponsor licence, in a role that meets the skill and salary thresholds.Read the guide
- Global Talent VisaEndorsement as a leader or emerging leader in academia and research, arts and culture, or digital technology. No sponsor and no job offer needed.Read the guide
- Innovator Founder VisaAn innovative, viable and scalable business idea, endorsed by an approved endorsing body.Read the guide
All three count towards the residence period for Indefinite Leave to Remain. Time on the Graduate visa does not — which is why the switch, not the expiry date, is the deadline that actually matters. Other routes may fit your circumstances; check gov.uk or ask us.
Getting a mortgage on a Graduate visa
Why the lender pool is smaller here, what those lenders weigh most heavily, how much you could borrow, and the three worries we hear most often from graduates.
Can I get a mortgage on a Graduate visa?
Yes — though the pool of lenders is smaller than it is for longer, sponsored visas, because the Graduate visa has a fixed, non-extendable length and no employer sponsor standing behind it. Lenders on our panel look closely at your current employment, how stable your income is, and — often — at your plan for what happens when the visa expires.
What matters most to lenders on this route
- Your current job and income — the visa itself requires no particular job, but lenders want to see stable, well-paid work
- How much time is left on your visa
- Whether you have a credible plan to switch to a longer-term visa before the Graduate route runs out — a job offer that would qualify for Skilled Worker sponsorship, for example
- Your UK credit history, which on this route is often relatively new
The second of those is worth drawing, because it bites earlier than most people expect. A lender’s window closes twelve months before your visa does, so on a two-year grant you are into the harder half of the route around your first anniversary.
- Mth 0–12
Your clearest window
You still have 12 or more months left on the visa, which is the line most lender criteria are written around. This is the easiest point to apply.
- Mth 12–21
Under 12 months left
Several high-street lenders stop here. Specialist lenders on our panel will still look at you, and a credible plan to switch — a job offer that would qualify for Skilled Worker sponsorship, say — carries real weight.
- Mth 21–24
Switch, or the route ends
The Graduate visa cannot be extended and cannot be used a second time. A switch application needs to be in before this point, because none of the time behind you counts towards settlement.
Key dates
- Month 0Visa granted — 2 years for a bachelor’s or master’s, 3 years for a doctorate
- Month 1212 months remaining: the line most lenders write their criteria around
- Month 24Visa expires. It cannot be extended, and none of this time counts towards ILR
How much can I borrow?
Typically 4–4.5× your income, the same as any employed applicant. The shorter visa length tends to affect which lenders will consider you, rather than how much you can borrow once you have found the right one. Use our eligibility calculator for an instant estimate.
Documents you’ll need
- Passport and current BRP or eVisa share code
- Evidence of your Graduate visa dates
- Current employment contract and payslips
- Bank statements
- Proof of deposit
- Evidence of any planned visa switch, if relevant
- Your UK credit report — check yours with checkmyfile(opens in a new tab)
Common challenges — and how we solve them
“My visa only has 18 months left.”
Some lenders on our panel will still consider you, especially with a credible route to a longer-term visa such as Skilled Worker behind it.
“I don’t have much UK credit history yet.”
We work with lenders who look at alternative evidence of financial reliability, not just a thick credit file.
“I’m worried what happens if my visa runs out before I remortgage.”
We will talk timing through with you and, where it is relevant, plan your mortgage term and any future switch around your visa situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a UK Graduate visa last?
2 years for most bachelor’s and master’s graduates who apply on or before 31 December 2026, reducing to 18 months for applications from 1 January 2027 onwards. PhD graduates receive 3 years regardless of application date.
Can I extend my Graduate visa?
No. The Graduate visa cannot be extended. To remain in the UK longer you need to switch to a different visa route, most commonly the Skilled Worker visa, before your Graduate visa expires.
Do I need a job offer to apply for a Graduate visa?
No. Unlike the Skilled Worker visa, the Graduate visa does not require a job offer, a sponsor, or a minimum salary — you can work in any role, look for work, or be self-employed.
Can I get a mortgage with only 18 months left on my Graduate visa?
Yes, in some cases. Some lenders on our panel will still consider you, particularly if you can show a credible plan to switch to a longer-term visa such as Skilled Worker before your Graduate visa expires.
Does time on a Graduate visa count towards settlement (ILR)?
No. The Graduate route does not count towards the residence period needed for Indefinite Leave to Remain — you need to switch to a qualifying route such as Skilled Worker or Innovator Founder to start building towards settlement.
Still have a question? Read our full FAQs or ask us directly.
Further reading
