Visitor Visas for Attending Graduation

If you are a visa national and your current Student (previously Tier 4) visa expires before your graduation date, you will need to leave the UK and apply for a Standard Visitor visa to come back to attend your graduation ceremony. If you are a non-visa national (someone who does not need a visa to come to the UK for a short visit) then you can request entry as a Visitor when you arrive at the airport, but you should carry with you evidence of your graduation, evidence you have sufficient funds for your visit, and evidence you intend to leave again within 6 months.

Nationals from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the United States of America will be able to use the eGates for fast automated arrival.

Students from European Economic Area and Switzerland, who are not eligible for EU Settlement Scheme can also use eGates entrance as Visitors.

You can apply for a Standard Visitor visa online. It is helpful if you can provide evidence of the date of your ceremony (invitations to attend the Graduation Ceremony are emailed to graduating students approximately 6 weeks before the date of each ceremony).

If you are a non-visa national (someone who does not need a visa to come to the UK for a visit of less than 6 months) but you may need to apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) before travelling. You can then request entry as a Visitor at the airport you do not have to apply for a visa in advance, but can request entry as a Visitor at the airport. You still need to ensure you have all the documents below with you in your hand luggage. You can find out whether you are a visa national here.

Documents required when applying:

• The current application fee can be found on the Home Office website
• Passport(s)
• Evidence that you have sufficient funds for your proposed visit (eg: at least 3 months' bank statements).
• Evidence that you intend to leave the UK at the end of your visit (eg: a return flight)
• Your graduation ceremony invitation email
• Official English translation if any documents are not in English

How to apply

• Apply via the online form on the UKVI website
• If you are in China, use the beta service

If you leave the UK on completion of your course, and want to come back on your current Student Visa in order to attend a graduation ceremony (so within the 4 months additional time granted on top of your course-end date) you can do so with confirmation of your graduation ceremony.

If you chose elective options, you will have been reported to the Home Office and your visa will have been curtailed (cancelled) as your official end date will have changed to July rather than September. If you were reported to the Home Office for early completion you will have received an email from our Visa Compliance team confirming this. You would therefore need to get a Standard Visitor Visa to come back for graduation.

If not, you should be allowed to re-enter the UK if you have travelled abroad before your current visa expires. UK Visas and Immigration have advised us that you are entitled to leave and return to the UK as often as required during the four months after the end of the visa "known as the "wrap up period". As long as you leave on or before the day your visa expires you should be able to re-enter with the visa you have. However, they have also advised us that you may be questioned by Border Force Officers on whether you intend to adhere to the conditions of your visa. You might also be asked why you are coming back to the UK if you have completed your programme of studies. This is because it is their job to check what you intend to do in the UK. For students specifically, they may want to know your reason for re-entering using your Student visa if you have finished the studies for which it was granted, so when you re-enter the UK you must ensure you arrive prepared to show evidence of your graduation date. You should also be able to provide evidence of a flight ticket out of the UK.

If your family members need a visa to travel to the UK, they will also need to apply for a Standard Visitor visa to visit you and attend your graduation ceremony in the UK, unless they are a non-visa national (someone who does not need a visa to come to the UK for a short visit).

Documents required by family members when applying:

• The application fee is from £95 in local currency
• Passport(s)
• Evidence that they have sufficient funds for their proposed visit (eg: at least 3 months' bank statements and/or payslips). If you are funding their visit, you will need to provide proof of your finances.
• Evidence that they intend to leave the UK at the end of their visit (eg: a letter from their employer)
• Evidence of their relationship to you (eg: a birth or marriage certificate or family book)
• Evidence of suitable accommodation (eg: a copy of your tenancy agreement if they will be staying with you)
• A support letter for family members applying for a visit visa to attend your Graduation
• Your graduation ceremony invitation email
• An invitation letter from you (use this a sample letter as a guide)
• Copies of your current passport and student visa
• Official English translation if any documents are not in English
• You can find UKVI’s Guidance to supporting documents here

How to apply

• Apply via the online form on the UKVI website