Visa approved — eVisa, travel and arriving
Your status is now digital: an eVisa in a UKVI account, linked to the passport you travel with. Set it up before you fly, arrive inside your window, and know the Graduate visa clock that starts when your course ends.
When can I travel to the UK?
Up to 1 month before a course over 6 months (1 week for shorter courses) — but never before the start date on your visa. Read the arrival and eVisa checklist
What is an eVisa, and how do I access mine?
A digital record of your status and conditions, accessed through a free UKVI account — eVisas have replaced physical documents. Read the arrival and eVisa checklist
How do I prove my status for a job or a home?
With a share code from your eVisa — it lasts 90 days, and the checker will need your date of birth. Read the arrival and eVisa checklist
I changed my passport. What must I update?
Your UKVI account — you must travel with a passport that is added to it, with details matching what you give your carrier. Read the arrival and eVisa checklist
What happens when my course ends?
The Graduate visa lets you stay to work or look for work — 2 years if you apply by 31 December 2026, 18 months from 1 January 2027, 3 years after a PhD. Read the Graduate visa guide
Can I extend, switch, or stay longer?
Student visas can be extended for further study with academic progress; the Graduate visa itself cannot be extended — staying means switching to another route. Read the Graduate visa guide
Fresh in this section
NEW Arriving in the UK on a Student Visa: eVisa, When You Can Travel and Your First Weeks
Arriving in the UK on a Student visa: when you can travel, setting up your eVisa and UKVI account, share codes for work and renting, and first-week checks.
NEW Graduate Visa Guide: Staying in the UK After Your Course
The Graduate visa explained in full: eligibility, the change from 2 years to 18 months on 1 January 2027, the £937 fee, your work rights, and dependants.