UK Graduate Visa: Official Rules Summarised for Pakistani Students

A summary of gov.uk's Graduate visa rules: 2 years for applications by 31 December 2026, 18 months after, 3 years for PhDs, the £937 fee and Skilled Worker salary rules.

By the 47 Fellows team · Bachelor's · Master's · PhD · 4 min read · Updated 20 October 2026

In brief

This page summarises the UK government's published rules for the Graduate visa (also called the Graduate Route), as shown on gov.uk on 20 October 2026. It is general information, not advice on any person's case.

	UK Graduate visa (as published on gov.uk)
Length	2 years for applications made on or before 31 December 2026; 18 months for applications made on or after 1 January 2027; 3 years for a PhD or other doctoral qualification
Application fee	£937 (approx. PKR 353,000)
Immigration Health Surcharge	Usually £1,035 for each year of the visa (approx. PKR 390,000 a year)
Job offer	Not required
Where the application is made	Inside the UK, before the Student visa expires
Typical decision time	About 8 weeks, according to gov.uk
Extension	Not possible; gov.uk says a switch to another visa, such as a Skilled Worker visa, may be possible

PKR figures are our own approximate conversions at £1 ≈ PKR 377 (October 2026). Fees and rules change. The official page, gov.uk/graduate-visa, is the final word.

Who gov.uk says can apply

According to gov.uk, an applicant must:

be in the UK when applying
currently hold a Student visa (or a Tier 4 (General) student visa)
have studied a UK bachelor's degree, postgraduate degree or other eligible course for a minimum period on that visa
have their education provider confirm to the Home Office that they successfully completed the course

gov.uk also says the application can be made once the education provider has told the Home Office the course is complete, without waiting for graduation or a certificate.

What gov.uk says the visa allows

Work in most jobs, look for work, and be self-employed
Unpaid voluntary work for registered charities and similar bodies
Travel abroad and return
Partner and children may stay if they are eligible

gov.uk says Graduate visa holders cannot apply for most public funds or the State Pension, or work as a professional sportsperson.

The Skilled Worker visa, as published on gov.uk

gov.uk describes the Skilled Worker visa as a separate visa that needs a job with a licensed sponsor. Its published salary rules on 20 October 2026 were:

The general minimum is £41,700 a year or the going rate for the job, whichever is higher.
In some cases a salary between 70% and 90% of the going rate is allowed, with a minimum of £33,400 a year. gov.uk lists cases including applicants under 26, people on or recently on a Student or Graduate visa, and some PhD holders and postdoctoral roles, with a 4-year limit on total stay in some of these cases.

The full conditions, occupation codes and going rates are on gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.

Official sources

Graduate visa: https://www.gov.uk/graduate-visa
Skilled Worker visa: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa
When a Skilled Worker can be paid less: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/when-you-can-be-paid-less

Summary last compared with gov.uk on 20 October 2026.