International graduates will get less time to work in the UK after their studies from next year, after the government confirmed that the Graduate visa will last 18 months instead of two years for most applicants.

The shorter length applies to applications submitted on or after 1 January 2027. Graduates who apply on or before 31 December 2026 will still receive two years of post-study work permission.

PhD and other doctoral graduates are not affected and will continue to receive three years, regardless of when they apply. The deciding factor is the date the application is submitted, not the date the course finishes or the graduation ceremony takes place.

The change was set out in the statement of changes to the Immigration Rules HC 1333, laid before Parliament on 14 October 2025, following proposals in the government’s May 2025 Immigration White Paper, Restoring Control over the Immigration System. Its explanatory memorandum states that the change to 18 months will apply to applications submitted on or after 1 January 2027.

The Graduate visa lets international students stay and work, or look for work, after completing an eligible UK degree, with no job offer and no salary threshold. It cannot be extended, and it is not a route to settlement.

The application costs £937, plus the immigration health surcharge, usually £1,035 for each year of the visa. Graduates planning to stay on after their Graduate visa ends would need to switch to another route, such as the Skilled Worker visa, if they meet its requirements.

Anyone affected by the change should check the current terms on GOV.UK’s Graduate visa page before applying, as the rules are set out in Appendix Graduate of the Immigration Rules.