Frequently asked questions

The Graduate Route is for students who completed their degree at any recognised UK university. The High Potential Individual (HPI) visa is for graduates from a specific list of top-ranked global universities (set by the Home Office each year) who did not study in the UK. Both allow 2 years of unrestricted work. They cannot be held simultaneously.

The Graduate Route visa application fee is £822 (as of 2024). You also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) of £1,035 per year, so for a 2-year Graduate Route visa the total IHS is £2,070. The combined cost is approximately £2,892 for a 2-year visa.

From April 2024, the minimum salary for a Skilled Worker visa is £38,700 per year, or the going rate for the occupation — whichever is higher. A lower 'new entrant' rate of £30,960 applies if you are under 26 or in your first job in the relevant occupation. Some shortage occupations have different thresholds.

Yes. You can apply for a Skilled Worker visa from inside the UK while you are on the Graduate Route. Your employer must issue a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). Apply at least 4 weeks before your Graduate Route expires. You can continue working during the application.

No. The Graduate Route visa does not count towards the 5-year continuous residence required for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). To build towards ILR, you need to switch to a route that qualifies — most commonly the Skilled Worker visa. Every year on a Skilled Worker visa counts towards the 5-year requirement.

You must either leave the UK or have switched to another visa before it expires. Common options are switching to a Skilled Worker visa (if you have a sponsored job offer), applying for a Student visa to continue studying, or applying for a Skilled Worker visa from abroad. There is no extension available for the Graduate Route.

The standard processing time is 3–8 weeks when applying from inside the UK. A priority service (available for an extra fee of around £500) reduces this to 5 working days. Apply well before your current visa expires — do not wait until the last month.

You do not need a new IELTS test if you already hold a degree taught entirely in English from a recognised institution. Many UK university graduates are automatically exempt from the English language requirement for Skilled Worker applications. Your employer and visa application will confirm whether you need to provide evidence.

Yes. GradPilot AI is built exclusively for international students studying in the UK. Every feature is designed around the challenges international graduates face in the UK job market.

The Graduate Route lets international students who complete a UK degree stay and work for 2 years after graduating (3 years for PhDs). During this time you can work for any employer without sponsorship.

No — during your Graduate Route period you can work for any UK employer freely. Employers only need to sponsor you if you want to stay beyond it, via a Skilled Worker visa.

We're currently in pre-launch, building the platform and growing our waitlist. Join the waitlist for early access and 3 months of Pro free at launch.

There's a generous free tier. For unlimited AI features, mentor matching, and interview prep, Pro is £9.99/month or £99.99/year.

Every feature is built around the international student experience: job search defaults to visa-sponsoring employers, and the AI understands Graduate Route rules.

No. It's configured with deep context about UK immigration and hiring practices, and it knows your profile to give personalised advice a generic chatbot can't.

Yes. Your data is encrypted and never shared with third parties without consent. You can delete your account and all data at any time.