Does time spent on a Graduate visa count towards UK settlement?

If you have recently graduated and are hoping to make the UK your long-term home, it is natural to wonder whether the time you have spent on a Graduate visa will count towards settlement.

At the moment, if you are looking to qualify for settlement through one of the standard five-year immigration routes, the answer is no. However, time on the Graduate visa can contribute towards the 10-year-long residence route, and recent reforms have introduced important changes to the length of the Graduate visa.

Does a Graduate visa count towards settlement?

The Graduate visa gives international students the opportunity to remain in the UK after completing an eligible course for a further two years, or up to three years for PhD students. It allows you to work, change jobs or look for employment without needing sponsorship.

Before you apply for the Graduate visa, however, be aware that:

• the Graduate visa must be applied for from within the UK and you cannot apply from abroad;
• you may apply from the point at which your university notifies UKVI of your successful completion and award of your degree, up to the expiry date of your current visa.

Although this visa provides valuable flexibility, the Graduate route is not itself a route to settlement.

Key Distinctions:

• Five-year qualifying routes (e.g. Skilled Worker visa): Time on the Graduate visa does not count towards the five continuous years needed for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) on those routes;
• 10-year-long residence route: Time on the Graduate visa can count, provided it is combined with other periods of lawful leave in the UK.

For example, if you spend two years on the Graduate visa before switching to a Skilled Worker visa, those two years will not count towards the five-year settlement period under the Skilled Worker route. However, they may still be relevant if you later qualify under the 10-year-long residence route, provided you meet the relevant requirements when you apply.

If settling in the UK is your long-term goal, you will usually need to move into a visa category that leads to settlement before your Graduate visa comes to an end, as this cannot be extended. If you do not switch immigration categories, you will need to leave the UK prior to the expiry of your Graduate visa or risk being in breach of your immigration conditions.

What changes are coming to the Graduate route?

Following the publication of the Government’s immigration White Paper in May 2025, new Immigration Rules came into force in October 2025, which significantly reshaped the Graduate visa route.

From 1 January 2027, bachelor’s and master’s degree graduates will see their post-study work period reduced from two years to 18 months. This change will not affect PhD graduates, who will continue to benefit from three years. The two-year grant of leave will remain available to those who apply before the deadline.

The White Paper also proposes a broader rethink of how settlement is attained. Under the proposed “Earned Settlement” model, the standard qualifying period for ILR would rise from five to 10 years, with some individuals able to reach that threshold sooner or later, depending on their assessed contribution to the UK.

For graduates, this matters. Many international students arrive with the assumption that study, post-study work and employment will lead to settlement within a manageable timeframe. A doubling of the qualifying period could significantly alter that calculation.

What does this mean for you?

If you are a graduate wanting to remain in the UK long-term, you must understand that the Graduate visa is a bridge, not a destination.

Depending on your circumstances, switching to another immigration route, such as the Skilled Worker visa, may allow you to start building the five-year qualifying period for settlement. Every situation is different, so the right option will depend on your career plans, your employer and your personal circumstances. Planning ahead can give you more flexibility and help you avoid unnecessary complications later.

Gherson insight

Many graduates focus on what happens after university without realising that the immigration decisions they make now can affect their longer-term plans. Some of the most common misunderstandings we encounter include the belief that:

• the Graduate visa automatically leads to settlement;
• time spent on the Graduate visa counts towards the five-year settlement requirement;
• any employer can sponsor an employee under the Skilled Worker route; or
• they can wait until their visa is about to expire before exploring their options.

At Gherson, we regularly advise individuals on moving from the Graduate visa to a settlement route, helping them understand the options available and prepare for future immigration changes. Early advice can often make the process simpler and reduce the risk of unexpected issues further down the line.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a Graduate visa lead directly to settlement?

No. The Graduate visa allows you to remain and work in the UK after completing your studies, but it is not a direct route to ILR/settlement.

Does time on a Graduate visa count towards the five-year settlement route?

No. Time spent on a Graduate visa does not count towards the five-year qualifying period for settlement, unlike routes such as the Skilled Worker, for example.

Can my Graduate visa count towards the 10-year-long residence route?

Yes, it can. Time spent lawfully in the UK on a Graduate visa may count towards an application based on 10 years’ continuous lawful residence, provided you meet the relevant requirements.

Should I switch to another visa?

If you hope to settle in the UK through a five-year immigration route, you will usually need to switch to a qualifying visa before your Graduate visa expires.

How Gherson can assist

Gherson’s Immigration Team are highly experienced in advising graduates on UK visa matters and long-term settlement planning. If you have any questions arising from this blog, please do not hesitate to contact us for advice, send us an e-mail, or, alternatively, follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn to stay-up-to-date.

The information in this blog is for general information purposes only and does not purport to be comprehensive or to provide legal advice. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the information and law is current as of the date of publication it should be stressed that, due to the passage of time, this does not necessarily reflect the present legal position. Gherson accepts no responsibility for loss which may arise from accessing or reliance on information contained in this blog. For formal advice on the current law please do not hesitate to contact Gherson. Legal advice is only provided pursuant to a written agreement, identified as such, and signed by the client and by or on behalf of Gherson.

This article was first published in 2023 and has been updated in July 2026. 

©Gherson 2026