Postgraduate Visa UK
If you are an international graduate who wants to continue your journey in the United Kingdom, the Postgraduate (Graduate Route) Visa allows you to stay after your studies to work, start a business, or plan your future settlement.
At Immigration Solicitors UK, we do more than handle applications. We position your Graduate Visa as the foundation of your long-term immigration strategy. To begin your post-study career in the UK, call us today on +44 20 8016 2308 or send us your details through our online form for a confidential consultation.
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The Strategic Advantage
The Graduate Route is more than a temporary visa. Used correctly, it becomes your bridge to permanent residence and financial advantage.
Our solicitors structure your stay so every stage supports your long-term goals.
New Entrant Optimisation
When moving from a Graduate Visa to a Skilled Worker Visa, we ensure your employer applies the £33,400 New Entrant threshold correctly. This saves both you and your sponsor substantial salary costs while keeping your visa fully compliant.
Settlement Acceleration
We use the Graduate Route as a platform toward the three-year Innovator Founder pathway rather than the standard ten-year settlement timeline. Our team builds a step-by-step plan from graduation through to Indefinite Leave to Remain so you never lose time or eligibility.
The UK’s immigration system is now entirely digital. Precision and verification are crucial.
Digital Status Verification
Before you travel or start work, we conduct a pre-travel audit of your eVisa, UKVI account, and passport to ensure they are fully synchronised. This eliminates the airport boarding refusals and system mismatches that have become common since the removal of physical BRP cards.
Employer Liaison Service
We liaise directly with your prospective employer to clarify salary thresholds, sponsorship duties, and digital right-to-work checks. By removing uncertainty for HR teams, we make you easier and faster to hire.
We are SRA-regulated solicitors. Your communications are protected by Legal Professional Privilege, and we can represent you directly in Administrative Review or Judicial Review if the Home Office makes an error.
Unlike visa agencies, we provide strategic legal representation across every stage of your UK immigration journey.
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Strategic Salary Mapping
We design your immigration route to maximise available salary discounts and employer benefits, often saving more than £30,000 over four years of sponsorship.
Algorithmic Defence
The Home Office now uses automated decision systems that frequently misread digital records. We perform a manual UKVI audit before submission to ensure your data matches across all systems.
End-to-End Legal Representation
From your Graduate Route to Skilled Worker sponsorship and eventual settlement, you have one solicitor managing every stage of your immigration strategy.
Transparent Investment
Item | Amount | Detail |
|---|---|---|
UKVI Application Fee | £880 | Payable at the time of application |
Immigration Health Surcharge | £1,035 per year | Provides full NHS access |
Professional Legal Fee | Fixed quote in advance | Covers all communications and document checks |
Our fees include direct access to a senior solicitor and full case management from start to finish.
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Graduate Visas are now fully electronic. We ensure your passport is linked to your UKVI account before travel so your immigration status is recognised at the border.
For clients planning to switch routes, we manage every stage of the Skilled Worker transition, applying the correct salary rate and verifying that the B2 English requirement (effective from 8 January 2026) is satisfied.
We manage the Immigration Skills Charge (ISC) requirements. Crucially, we identify where ISC exemptions apply, such as when switching directly from a Student Visa to a Skilled Worker Visa. In these cases, we can save your employer up to £6,600 (over a 5-year sponsorship), making you a significantly more cost-effective hire.
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Most graduates later move to the Skilled Worker route. Because you are switching from a Student or Graduate Visa, you qualify as a New Entrant and can use the £33,400 threshold instead of the full £41,700 salary.
This discount applies for a maximum of four years in total. Any time spent on a Graduate Visa counts toward this limit, meaning two years on the Graduate Route leaves two years of discounted eligibility on the Skilled Worker route.
Applicant Type | Minimum Salary | Rate Requirement |
|---|---|---|
Standard Skilled Worker | £41,700 | 100% of role’s going rate |
New Entrant (Graduate) | £33,400 | 70% of going rate |
PhD STEM Holder | £33,400 | 80% of going rate |
PhD Non-STEM Holder | £37,500 | 90% of going rate |
We manage the full transition process so you remain compliant, avoid gaps in status, and continue toward settlement without interruption.
Note on Employer Savings: While the Graduate Route offers flexibility, switching directly from a Student Visa to a Skilled Worker Visa exempts the employer from the Immigration Skills Charge. If you move to the Graduate Route first, the employer must pay the full ISC rate (£1,320/year for large sponsors) when you eventually switch. We help you and your employer weigh these options to find the most financially efficient path.
Dependants and Family
Only dependants already in the UK on your Student Visa can remain with you under the Graduate Route. If you plan to switch routes later, we can assess and secure their eligibility in advance to ensure family continuity.
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What We Offer
Our Services
we understand that immigrating to a new country is a significant
decision that comes with its own set of challenges.
Family Visas
Partner Visas
Settlement in the UK
Settlement of EEA Nationals
British Citizenship and The Right of Abode
Challenge a Refusal
Removals/Deportations
Asylum/Human Rights
Sponsor License for a UK Business
UK Business Visas
Student Visas
Popular Work Visas
Other work visas and permits
Visas without a job offer
Work for an overseas employer
Temporary work visas
UK Visit Visas
Your Graduate Visa is your first professional step into the UK economy. The right legal advice ensures it becomes a launchpad for permanent residence, not a dead end.
Call +44 20 8016 2308 now to speak directly with a solicitor, or complete our secure online form for a same-day consultation. We will review your eligibility, confirm your timeline, and secure your legal position for the next stage of your UK career.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bring dependants?
Only dependants already in the UK under your Student Visa can remain.
Can I extend my Graduate Visa?
No, the Graduate Route is issued once. You must switch to another visa before it expires.
Do I need a job offer?
No, you can work freely in any field and change employers without Home Office approval.
Does Graduate Visa time count toward ILR?
No, but time on a Skilled Worker or Innovator Founder visa does.
Can you liaise with my employer?
Yes. We can brief your HR team on sponsorship and salary compliance to make your employment seamless.
