UK Graduate Trainee Visa Checklist
A Graduate Trainee visa lets you come to or stay in the UK to work for your employer in their UK branch, on an eligible job that is part of a graduate training programme for a managerial or specialist role. You must be paid at least £27,300 per year, and you cannot switch to it from inside the UK. Based on the official GOV.UK pages (gov.uk/graduate-trainee-visa).
Three quick facts
- At least £27,300 per year. You must be paid at least £27,300 per year, and do a job on the list of eligible occupations.
- No switching from inside the UK. You cannot change (‘switch’) to a Graduate Trainee visa from inside the UK — you must apply from outside the UK.
- 12 months, and you cannot extend. Stay for the shorter of the CoS time plus 14 days, or 12 months; you cannot extend, but you can apply for another Graduate Trainee visa from outside the UK.
The checklist — what to prepare
| Certificate of sponsorship (CoS) | You must have a certificate of sponsorship from your employer with information about the work you will do in the UK. |
| Approved sponsor | You must be an existing employee of an organisation approved by the Home Office as a sponsor. |
| Proof of at least 3 months working for the sponsor overseas | You must have worked for your sponsor outside the UK for at least 3 months immediately before you apply. |
| Graduate training programme evidence | Your job must be part of a graduate training programme for a managerial or specialist role. |
| Eligible occupation | You must do a job that is on the list of eligible occupations. |
| Salary of at least £27,300 | You must be paid at least £27,300 per year. |
| Personal savings evidence | You, your partner or children will each need to prove you have enough personal savings. The exact amount is not stated on the visa page, so it is not asserted here. |
| Healthcare surcharge | You, your partner or children will each need to pay the healthcare surcharge for each year of your stay. The official page gives the application fee as £340. |
What the visa is for
A Graduate Trainee visa allows you to come to or stay in the UK to work for your employer in their UK branch. Your job must be eligible and part of a graduate training programme for a managerial or specialist role. This visa has replaced the Intra-company Graduate Trainee visa. If you are not on a graduate training programme, you may still be able to work for your employer’s UK branch with a Senior or Specialist Worker visa.
How long you can stay, and the no-switching rule
You can stay for whichever is shorter of the time given on your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days, or 12 months. You cannot extend your visa, but you can apply for another Graduate Trainee visa from outside the UK. A maximum of 5 years in any 6-year period applies if you have spent time on this or the other listed visas (Intra-company Graduate Trainee, Intra-company Transfer, Graduate Trainee, Secondment Worker, Senior or Specialist Worker, Service Supplier, UK Expansion Worker). You must have been working for your sponsor outside the UK for at least 3 months immediately before the date you apply, and you cannot switch to this visa from inside the UK — you must apply online from outside the UK.
You can apply up to 3 months before the day you are due to start work. Decisions usually take 3 weeks. For the wider UK picture see the UK visa documents checklist, and check the photo with the UK passport photo page and the passport photo checker.
What you can and cannot do
| Can | Work for your sponsor in the job described in your CoS; study; bring your partner and children as dependants if eligible; travel abroad and return; do unpaid voluntary work for a registered charity, voluntary organisation, associated fundraising body or statutory body. |
| Cannot | Apply for most benefits (public funds) or the State Pension; change jobs; do a second job; apply to settle permanently in the UK. |
What is not published
The exact personal-savings amount is not published on the visa page, so not asserted here. Check the official pages for the current position.
Common reasons an application fails
- Salary below £27,300 per year.
- Less than 3 months working for the sponsor outside the UK immediately before applying.
- Applying to switch from inside the UK — expressly not allowed on this route.
- Job not on the eligible occupations list, or not part of a graduate training programme.
- 5 years in any 6 already used across the listed routes, or attempting to extend a route you cannot extend.
Frequently asked questions
What is the salary threshold?
You must be paid at least GBP27,300 per year, and do a job that is on the list of eligible occupations and part of a graduate training programme.
Can I switch to this visa from inside the UK?
No - you cannot apply to change ('switch') to a Graduate Trainee visa from inside the UK. You must apply online from outside the UK.
Can I extend the visa?
No - you cannot extend your visa, but you can apply for another Graduate Trainee visa from outside the UK. You can stay for whichever is shorter of the CoS time plus 14 days, or 12 months.
How long must I have worked for my sponsor?
At least 3 months outside the UK, immediately before the date you apply.
Can I bring my family?
Yes - your partner and children can apply to join you or stay in the UK as your dependants if they are eligible.
How does the 5 years in any 6 year period rule work?
You can only stay a maximum of 5 years in any 6-year period if you have spent time on this or the other listed Global Business Mobility and Intra-company visas.
Sources: GOV.UK - Graduate Trainee visa (Global Business Mobility): overview and apply-from-outside-the-UK pages (gov.uk/graduate-trainee-visa), retrieved 2026-09-28. Rules and fees change, so confirm the current position before you apply.