The government will keep a two-year Graduate visa for graduates of high-compliance universities with strong labour-market outcomes, under plans announced in Budget 2026 on 28 October. The move softens a planned reduction that would otherwise have cut the route to 18 months for most graduates from 1 January 2027.

Under the Immigration Rules changes published as HC 584 on 3 September 2026, bachelor's and master's graduates applying on or after 1 January 2027 would generally receive 18 months of permission, while doctoral graduates would keep three years. Applications made on or before 31 December 2026 generally still receive two years for eligible non-doctoral qualifications.

What Budget 2026 changes

Budget 2026 states that the Graduate visa duration will be set at two years for individuals who graduate from high-compliance universities where there are strong labour-market outcomes. The government has described the wider package as building the most pro-business migration system in Europe for highly skilled workers, alongside an expansion of the High Potential Individual visa to graduates of the world's top 150 institutions, with a proportionate increase to its annual cap.

What is not yet confirmed

Important details remain unsettled. The government has not yet published a list of qualifying universities or explained precisely how high compliance and strong labour-market outcomes will be assessed. The published Graduate visa guidance still sets out the 18-month period for applications from 1 January 2027, so the exception will depend on updated Immigration Rules and guidance.

Anyone planning an application should therefore check the current GOV.UK Graduate visa pages and Immigration Rules for the date they apply, and take advice from a regulated immigration adviser or solicitor where their situation is complex. This article reports the announced policy only and is not personal immigration advice.