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Status: Confirmed Immigration Rules change—not a proposal
Published: 14 October 2025
Effective for applications: 1 January 2027
Urgency: High—client-facing content should be corrected now
The standard Graduate visa will be reduced from two years to 18 months for most applicants submitting their application on or after 1 January 2027.
- Applications submitted by 31 December 2026 remain eligible for two years.
- Applications submitted from 1 January 2027 receive 18 months.
- PhD and other doctoral graduates continue to receive three years.
This is determined by the Graduate visa application date, not when the student began or completed their course. The rules are confirmed in Appendix Graduate, with the policy rationale and transitional date in the Home Office explanatory memorandum. The public-facing Graduate visa guidance also reflects the change.
Who is affected
Non-doctoral international students who become eligible and apply for the Graduate visa from 1 January 2027, including many students completing bachelor’s and master’s courses during 2027.
Students cannot simply apply early to secure two years. They must have successfully completed an eligible course, their university must have notified the Home Office, and they must apply while their Student permission remains valid.
Updates required for Global Educational Consultants
Immediately review:
- Graduate visa and post-study-work website pages
- “Why study in the UK?” course pages
- FAQs, brochures and downloadable guides
- Facebook, Instagram and video content claiming a two-year post-study visa
- Counsellor scripts and consultation presentations
- Student offer, pre-departure and graduation checklists
Replace blanket statements such as “International graduates can stay for two years” with:
Eligible graduates who apply by 31 December 2026 may receive two years of Graduate permission. For applications submitted from 1 January 2027, most bachelor’s and master’s graduates will receive 18 months. PhD and other doctoral graduates will continue to receive three years. Eligibility and duration are subject to the Immigration Rules in force when the application is submitted.
Counsellors should identify each student’s expected course-completion date, Student visa expiry date and earliest lawful Graduate application date before discussing whether the two-year period could apply.
This is general information and should not be presented as individual immigration legal advice.
