The Graduate visa has long been a vital pathway for international students seeking to build their careers after successfully completing their studies in the UK. The Graduate visa is not a static route and continues to evolve in response to shifting immigration policies, job market needs, and government priorities. In recent months, significant discussions and developments have emerged that will reshape how the Graduate visa operates, influencing how long qualifying students can stay, and what opportunities are available to them. This FAQ style article explores the latest updates and what they mean for current and future international graduates in the UK.
What is the Graduate visa?
The Graduate visa is a permission to stay route that allows international students present in the UK to stay in the UK after the successful completion of their approved qualification. The Graduate visa allows you to live and work in the UK.
Students currently eligible to apply for permission to stay under the Graduate visa are allowed to stay in the UK for up to 24 months while PhD students are allowed to stay in the UK for 36 months. However, changes have been made by the UK Government that have impacted on this route.
What changes have been made to the Graduate visa?
The UK Government published a Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules on 14 October 2025 highlighting changes impacting various immigration routes, including the Graduate visa route.
The main change that has been made is the length of time that you can stay in the UK on the Graduate visa route. The Statement of Changes has shortened the permitted length of stay to 18 months, meaning that eligible students who apply under this route on or after 1 January 2025, will be allowed to remain in the UK for a maximum of 18 months.
These changes do not impact eligible PhD students as they will continue to be allowed to stay in the UK on a Graduate visa for 36 months.
When do these changes come into effect?
These changes have not yet come into effect and students who successfully apply under the Graduate visa route until 31 December 2026 will be allowed to stay in the UK for 2 years.
Any applications submitted on or after 1 January 2027 will be subject to the new rules, meaning that students who successfully apply for the Graduate visa on or after 1 January 2027 will be allowed to stay in the UK for up to 18 months.
If you think that these changes impact you, contact our experts to understand how these changes impact you and what next steps you may be able to take.
