Graduate Route Visa Cut to 18 Months from January 2027: Final Window to Apply for Two-Year Permission
The UK Graduate Route visa for bachelor's and master's graduates is being shortened from two years to 18 months for applications made on or after 1 January 2027. Students applying before the deadline will retain the current two-year permission; PhD graduates are unaffected.
The Change: Two Years Becomes 18 Months
For those with Student permission in the UK that have successfully completed an eligible UK bachelor's degree or master's degree, successful Graduate route applications will be granted 18 months of permission if the application is made on or after 1 January 2027. This is a reduction from the current grant of two years.
For applicants who have completed a PhD or other doctoral qualification, the Graduate visa will continue to be granted for 3 years.
Critical Deadline: 31 December 2026
For most other successful Graduate route applicants, the length of permission will depend on the date of application: applicants who apply on or before 31 December 2026 will normally be granted 2 years' permission; applicants who apply on or after 1 January 2027 will normally be granted 18 months' permission.
The date you apply matters—not when your course ends or when you graduate. This means that the timing of a Graduate visa application may be important for non-doctoral applicants. However, applicants should not apply before they meet the requirements.
Practical Impact on Your Post-Study Plans
If you complete an undergraduate or master's degree in late 2026 or early 2027, you face a strategic choice. Applying before the end of 2026 secures the full two years for job-hunting, training contracts, or professional qualification periods. Applying after January 1, 2027 gives you only 18 months—potentially cutting short your ability to transition into a Skilled Worker visa role. If you graduate in June 2027, for example, an 18-month visa expires around December 2028, leaving limited time to secure sponsorship before your permission ends. Plan your graduate visa application timeline carefully, consult your university on when they can certify completion of your degree, and consider applying as soon as eligibility requirements are met if you want the longer period.
Sources
Independent app, not a government. General information, not advice. The official source:
