Do I need a sponsor licence to hire someone on a Graduate visa?

No. Graduate visa holders have unrestricted work rights. You do not need a sponsor licence to hire them and there is no minimum salary requirement. You only need a sponsor licence if you want to sponsor them for a Skilled Worker visa later.

Can a Graduate visa holder work in any role?

Yes. Graduate visa holders can work in any job at any skill level. There are no restrictions on the type of work they can do during the 2-year (or 3-year for PhD) validity of their visa.

How do I check a Graduate visa holder's right to work?

Use the Home Office online right to work checking service. The employee will generate a share code from their UKVI account, which you enter along with their date of birth to view their immigration status and work rights.

What happens when their Graduate visa expires?

The Graduate visa cannot be extended. If you want to keep the employee, you will need to sponsor them on a Skilled Worker visa. This requires a sponsor licence, a certificate of sponsorship, and meeting the salary and skill level requirements.

Hiring Graduate Visa Holders: Employer Guide 2026

Graduate visa holders can work in any role without sponsorship. Employers do not need a sponsor licence to hire them and there is no minimum salary. However, the visa expires after 2 years (3 for PhDs) and cannot be extended. To retain talent, employers should plan early for a Skilled Worker visa transition.

Why Hire Graduate Visa Holders

The Graduate Route creates a large pool of talented international graduates with UK degrees who are immediately available to work. Key advantages for employers:

No sponsorship costs or administrative burden during the Graduate visa period.
Graduates bring international perspectives and language skills.
They have been educated to UK standards and are familiar with UK culture.
Hiring is as simple as hiring a British worker: conduct a right to work check and offer the job.

Right to Work Checks

As with all employees, you must conduct a right to work check before the employee starts. For Graduate visa holders:

Ask the employee to generate a share code from their UKVI account.
Enter the share code and the employee's date of birth on the employer checking service.
Verify the employee's identity matches the information displayed.
Record the date of the check and retain evidence.

The check will show the employee's visa expiry date. Set a diary reminder to conduct a follow-up check before this date. See our right to work check guide.

No Sponsorship Required

Graduate visa holders have unrestricted permission to work. This means:

You do not need a sponsor licence.
You do not need to assign a certificate of sponsorship.
There is no minimum salary or skill level requirement.
The employee can work full-time or part-time.
The employee can work for multiple employers simultaneously.

This makes hiring Graduate visa holders significantly easier and cheaper than sponsoring a Skilled Worker. See our Graduate vs Skilled Worker comparison.

Planning for the Transition to Skilled Worker

The Graduate visa is temporary and cannot be extended. If you want to keep an employee beyond the Graduate visa period, you will need to sponsor them on a Skilled Worker visa. Plan early:

Get a sponsor licence: If you do not already have one, apply at least 3 months before you need it. See our sponsor licence guide.
Check the role qualifies: The role must be at RQF Level 3 or above and appear on the list of eligible occupations.
Check the salary: The employee must be paid at least the going rate or the general salary threshold, whichever is higher. New entrant discounts may apply.
Assign a certificate of sponsorship: See our CoS guide.

The employee can switch from a Graduate visa to a Skilled Worker visa from inside the UK at any time during their Graduate visa. See our Graduate to Skilled Worker guide.

Costs of Sponsoring After the Graduate Visa

When you transition to sponsoring the employee, costs include:

Sponsor licence (if you do not already have one): £536 to £1,476.
Certificate of sponsorship: £525.
Immigration Skills Charge: £364 to £1,000 per year.
The employee pays the visa fee and Immigration Health Surcharge.

For a complete cost breakdown, see our Skilled Worker cost guide.

Common Employer Questions

Can I hire a Graduate visa holder for an internship?

Yes. There are no restrictions on the type of role. Internships, part-time roles, and entry-level positions are all permitted.

What if the employee's Graduate visa is about to expire?

If you submit a Skilled Worker visa application before the Graduate visa expires, the employee can continue working under Section 3C leave while the application is being processed.

Can I be penalised for employing someone whose Graduate visa has expired?

Yes. If you continue to employ someone after their visa has expired without conducting a follow-up right to work check, you may face civil penalties.