How to Apply

How to apply

If you are having trouble viewing our guide, download a PDF version here: Graduate Visa application form guide


Once you have met all the eligibility requirements, you will need to set up and complete the application form online. The above guide will help you answer key questions. If you are unsure how to answer the questions about your particular situation, come along to a Digital Drop-in session where we can advise you further.

Start your application here: https://www.gov.uk/graduate-visa/apply

You will need to prove your identity as part of the application process. You will usually do this using the UK Immigration: ID Check app. You will be directed to scan either your passport, your BRP or both. 

If you cannot scan your passport or BRP with the app, you’ll be asked to get your fingerprints and photograph taken at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point. 

You’ll be told what you need to do when you apply. 

There is no financial requirement for the Graduate visa. Unlike other visas, you will not need to keep a certain amount of money in your bank account or submit bank statements with your visa application. 

You will need to make the following payments at the point of application by debit or credit card: 

  • Application fee: £822
  • Immigration Health Surcharge: £1,035 per year. Undergraduate and Masters graduates will pay £2,070 for a 2 year visa, PhD graduate will pay £3,105 for a 3 year visa. Same charge for Dependants over 18. Reduced to £776 per year for dependant children under 18. 
  • Passport 
  • BRP card 
  • CAS number from last visa application 
  • Sponsor permission letter if sponsored by a government or international scholarship agency in the past 12 months. 

Family members who are currently in the UK with you as dependants on your Tier 4 / Student visa will be able to extend their visas with you. You will need to pay the same application and Immigration Health Surcharge fees for each dependant.  

Documents for dependants:

  • Unique Application Number (UAN) found on email from the Home Office about your application. 
  • Passport 
  • BRP card 
  • If your partner has been received financial sponsorship from a government or international scholarship agency in their own right in the last 12 months, your partner will need a letter from the provider approving their Graduate visa application. 
  • Evidence of relationship
    • For a child the birth certificate is required
    • For a spouse the marriage certificate is required. If you have married recently or do not yet live together we recommend including additional papers to further evidence that you relationship is long term and subsisting. Contact us, what we advise you to provide will depend on your individual circumstances.
    • An unmarried partner is required to provide substantial evidence from official sources that show you have been living together for at least two years. This requirement can be difficult to meet and we recommend you contact us for detailed advice.

Dependent application form:

 

» Eligibility

Information on the requirements for this visa route including timeframes.

» Conditions

Study and work restrictions on a Graduate visa plus information about after your application and employers' guide.