Graduate Visa | Post Study Work Visa (PSW) 2025

Permission to stay under the Graduate visa route will enable international students to work or look for work after their studies for 2 years, or 3 years for PhD students. Stay and work in the UK on a Graduate Route visa. The Graduate Route means that you can stay in the UK and explore your employment options without needing for a skilled worker sponsor licence employer.

Difference between graduate visa and skilled worker visa

Graduate or PSW Visa UK is an unsponsored work route, visa applicants are not required to have a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) showing the offer of a job with a UK licensed sponsor meeting minimum skill and salary levels. On the other hand, UK skilled worker visa requires a sponsorship from an approved Home Office employer.

Eligibility

You can apply for a Graduate visa if all of the following are true:

• you’re in the UK
• your current visa is a Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa
• you studied a UK bachelor’s degree, postgraduate degree or other eligible course for a minimum period of time with your Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa
• your education provider (such as your university or college) has told the Home Office you’ve successfully completed your course.

Duration of UK Graduate PSW Visa

If a Graduate Visa is granted, the visa-holder will be allowed to earn an income and gain work experience in a number of jobs across a wide range of UK businesses for a period of either 2 or 3 years, depending on the level of degree qualification.

Requirements for UK Post Study Work Visa

The Graduate route is a flexible work visa route for international students already in the UK. Under this visa route, the applicant does not need a job offer or a sponsorship. To apply for a UK post study worker visa, the applicant is not required to meet any financial or English language requirement.

You must be in the UK when you apply.

Documents you’ll need to apply

When you apply you’ll need to provide:

• a valid passport or other travel document that shows your identity and nationality
• your biometric residence permit (BRP), if you were given one when you applied for your Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa
• your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) reference number from when you applied for your Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa

Your CAS reference number was sent to you by your education provider when they offered you a place on the course you completed with your Student visa. If you cannot find it, ask your education provider what it is.

Successful course completion requirement

To qualify for a Graduate work visa, you must complete your course / degree in the UK. You can apply after your education provider (such as your university or college) has told the Home Office that you’ve successfully completed the course you took with your Student or Tier 4 (General) student visa. You do not have to wait until you’ve graduated or have been given a certificate.

Your partner and children

If your partner and children joined you in the UK as ‘dependants’ on your current Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa, they can apply to stay as dependants as on your Graduate visa.

If your child was born in the UK during your current Student or Tier 4 (General) student visa, they can also apply.

If their application is successful, their visa will end on the same date as yours.

Why choose us for your Graduate Visa Application?

FAQs – Post Study Work Visa UK