Graduate Route Visa: Cơ hội làm việc ở Anh sau tốt nghiệp 2026

The Graduate Route Visa is a work visa route for international students who wish to stay in the UK long-term to find a job after graduation. This is also an effort by the British government to attract highly qualified and quality human resources, continuing to contribute to the socio-economic development of this country. For international students, the UK Post-Graduation Visa also helps expand employment opportunities after graduation. Businesses and companies will consider recruiting this labor force to promote the development of the company.

Currently, international students can stay in the UK to work for:

• 2 years if completing a Bachelor's or Master's degree

• 3 years if completing a PhD

Changes to the duration from 2027

• According to the new announcement, the duration of the Graduate Route Visa will be adjusted:
  Students completing a Bachelor's or Master's degree will only be granted 18 months (instead of 2 years as currently)
  Students completing a PhD are not affected and will still be granted 3 years

Note: Applications submitted before January 1, 2027 will still be eligible for the 2-year duration if they meet the requirements.

You can apply for a Graduate Route Visa if you meet the following conditions:

• Currently residing in the United Kingdom

• Your current visa is a Student Visa (or the old Tier 4)

• You have completed a qualifying study program (Bachelor's, Master's, PhD, etc.)

• Your UK university has confirmed to the Home Office that you have completed the course

• You submit your application before your current Student Visa expires

If you do not qualify for a Graduate Route Visa, you may consider other visa types such as:

• Skilled Worker Visa (old Tier 2)

• Extension of your Student Visa to continue your studies

• Family visa (if eligible)

You need to submit your application online directly to the UK Home Office (UKVI) to apply for a Graduate Route Visa.

The required documents/information include:

• A valid passport or travel document to verify identity and nationality

• Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) issued when you studied in the UK on a Student Visa (formerly Tier 4)

• CAS information used when applying for a Student Visa (no paper copy required)

Confirmation of course completion, sent directly to the Home Office by the university

Important note: You must be in the UK when submitting your application

Not required:

• Proof of financial means

• Letter of sponsorship

• Documents proving family relationship
  
  You cannot apply for a Graduate Route Visa for a new dependent
  
  In some exceptional cases, UKVI may request additional information to verify identity, but this is not a requirement for all applications.

The processing time for a UK Graduate Route Visa typically takes up to 8 weeks, starting from the time you submit your online application and complete the verification steps required by the UK Home Office (UKVI).

During this waiting period, you are permitted to stay legally in the UK, but you must remain in the UK and are not allowed to leave until you receive a final decision.

UKVI will usually send a confirmation email after you submit your application and notify you of the result once the processing is complete. Detailed progress updates during this waiting period cannot be guaranteed for all applications!

You can apply for a Graduate Route Visa UK as soon as your university officially confirms your completion of the course with the UK Home Office (UKVI), provided your current Student Visa is still valid.

You don't need to wait until you receive your diploma or certificate, nor do you need to wait for the graduation ceremony. Applying early will give you more control over your work and living plans in the UK.
Typically, after completing a course, students have about 2-3 months to wait for their diploma and graduation ceremony. However, because the Graduate Route Visa processing time can take up to 8 weeks, you should apply early to avoid your Student Visa expiring while waiting for the results.

When applying for a Graduate Route Visa (post-graduation visa in the UK), you will need to pay the following:
Graduate Route Visa application fee: £880
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): £1,035/year

Estimated total cost:
2-year visa (Bachelor's/Master's): approximately £2,950
3-year visa (PhD): approximately £3,985

Note: Fees may change according to UK government regulations at any given time.

The Graduate Route Visa (Graduate Visa) opens up many development opportunities for international students after graduating in the UK. This visa policy allows international students to gain work experience in the UK, expand their professional network, and gradually develop a long-term career in an international environment. Whether you are looking to change careers, advance your professional skills, or study in the UK, it is an ideal choice for learning and future development.

If you are researching top universities in the UK or need detailed advice on the Graduate Visa after graduation, contact IDP for a completely free UK study abroad consultation. IDP's consultants will assist you in choosing the right school and course, guide you through the application process, and track your progress until you receive your offer letter.

In addition, you can experience the IDP Live app with its exclusive Fastlane feature, which helps you quickly receive preliminary offer letters from over 1,000 courses in just minutes. IDP is also ready to introduce valuable scholarships for studying in the UK, and will support you throughout the scholarship application process, interview preparation, visa application completion, and preparation before departure.

Contact IDP to start your UK study abroad consultation today!