UK Graduate Visa 2027: The New 18-Month Graduate Route Explained
International students planning their future in the UK need to understand an important change taking effect from 1 January 2027. The UK Graduate visa will reduce from two years to 18 months for most eligible graduates who apply on or after that date.
The route remains available, as it still allows eligible international students who successfully complete a UK degree or other qualifying course to remain in the UK after their studies, work in most jobs, look for employment and be self-employed.
The important change is the amount of time available. If you are studying in the UK now, or considering a UK university course that will finish during 2027, understanding exactly when the new rule applies can help you plan ahead.
When does the Graduate visa change to 18 months?
The date that matters is the date you apply for the Graduate visa. According to current GOV.UK guidance:
If you apply on or before 31 December 2026, the Graduate visa lasts for two years.
If you apply on or after 1 January 2027, it lasts for 18 months.
Students completing a PhD or other doctoral qualification continue to receive three years.
This means your course start date does not by itself determine whether you receive two years or 18 months. Your Graduate visa application date is critical. For many students completing a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree during 2027, the new 18-month period will therefore apply.
Who can apply for the UK Graduate visa?
To be eligible, you must be in the UK when you apply, your current immigration permission must be a Student visa or a Tier 4 (General) student visa, and you must have successfully completed an eligible course.
Your university or other education provider must also have told the Home Office that you have successfully completed the course. You do not need to wait for your graduation ceremony or physical degree certificate before applying. Once your education provider has confirmed successful completion to the Home Office, and you meet the other requirements, you can apply before your Student visa expires.
Which courses qualify for the Graduate Route?
Most students using the Graduate visa will have successfully completed a UK Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree, PhD or doctorate. Certain professional education and legal courses can also qualify, including the PGCE and PGDE and specified law and legal practice qualifications.
Your education provider must be a licensed student sponsor with a track record of compliance.
There is also a requirement around how long you studied in the UK. If your course lasts more than 12 months, you normally need to have studied in the UK for at least 12 months. If your course lasts less than 12 months, you normally need to have studied in the UK for the full length of the course. For example, a student completing a one-year UK Master’s degree would normally need to have studied that course in the UK for its full duration, although normal trips outside the UK during weekends or term breaks do not prevent that period from counting.
What can you do on an 18-month Graduate visa?
The core work rights remain broad. Current GOV.UK guidance says Graduate visa holders can work in most jobs, look for work and be self-employed. You can also do voluntary work, travel outside the UK and return, and continue living with eligible partner or child dependants. You cannot work as a professional sportsperson or normally claim most public funds or the State Pension. There are also restrictions as well, on study. If the course you want to take is eligible for a Student visa, you would normally need to use the Student route instead. For graduates, the practical value of the Graduate visa is therefore the opportunity to spend a period in the UK working, seeking work and developing experience after completing an eligible course.
Can you extend the Graduate visa?
No, the Graduate visa cannot be extended. Once your 18 months is approaching its end, you would need to leave the UK or, if eligible, switch into another immigration category.
GOV.UK gives the Skilled Worker visa as one example of a route that some Graduate visa holders may be able to switch into. Eligibility for another visa depends on the rules for that route, so students should avoid assuming that completing a UK degree automatically creates a longer-term immigration right.
When should you apply?
You must apply before your existing Student or Tier 4 visa expires. You should wait until your university or education provider has told the Home Office that you successfully completed your course and you do not need to wait until graduation day.
The Graduate visa application must be made online while you are physically in the UK. Once you have applied, you should not travel outside the UK, Ireland, Channel Islands or Isle of Man until a decision is made. GOV.UK states that leaving during this period will cause the application to be withdrawn.
Current guidance says a decision is usually made within eight weeks after you have applied, proved your identity and supplied the required documents.
What documents do you need?
The main documents include a valid passport or other travel document and the CAS reference number that was used for your Student visa application. Depending on your circumstances, you may also need evidence relating to eligible dependants or a letter approving your Graduate visa application if an official scholarship or sponsorship provider paid both your course fees and living costs during the previous 12 months. Documents that are not in English or Welsh need a certified translation.
How much does the Graduate visa cost?
Current GOV.UK guidance lists the Graduate visa application fee as £937 and you must also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge. The Graduate visa guidance currently states this is usually £1,035 for each year you will be in the UK, although the exact amount depends on the length of immigration permission granted. Fees can change though, so students applying during 2027 should always check GOV.UK again before submitting their application.
What happens to existing dependants?
If your partner or children were already dependants on your current Student or Tier 4 visa, they may be able to apply to remain as your dependants on the Graduate visa if they continue to meet the requirements. Their Graduate permission will normally end on the same date as yours. A partner normally needs to have already been your dependant under the Student route. Similar rules apply to children, with an exception for a child born in the UK during your current Student or Graduate permission.
What does the 18-month Graduate visa mean for students planning UK study?
The confirmed change makes early career planning particularly valuable. Students applying for a UK university course should understand the academic qualification first and consider how it fits their longer-term career plans. From January 2027, most eligible Bachelor’s and Master’s graduates will have 18 months of Graduate permission rather than two years. That still provides a period in which eligible graduates can work in most jobs and look for employment, but it is six months shorter than the previous route.
Choosing a course that genuinely supports your career direction, using university careers support and understanding your immigration options before graduation therefore becomes increasingly useful.
How ASFE Consultants can help
ASFE Consultants helps international students make informed decisions about UK university study, including course selection, university applications and planning the wider study journey.
If the Graduate visa and your future career in the UK are part of your decision about where and what to study, ASFE can help you compare suitable UK university courses based on your academic background, career plans, budget and intended intake.
Immigration decisions and Graduate visa applications remain matters for UK Visas and Immigration, so students should always use the latest official GOV.UK rules for their individual application.
If you are considering UK study for 2027, contact ASFE before choosing your course.
Tell us what you have studied, what you want to do next and the career direction you are considering. We can help you explore UK university options that support the future you are trying to build.
