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UK Graduate Route from 1 January 2027: 18 months, and what else to know
In short: the UK Graduate visa lets you stay and work after your degree. If you apply on or before 31 December 2026 it lasts 2 years; from 1 January 2027 it lasts 18 months for bachelor’s and master’s graduates, while PhD graduates keep 3 years. You apply from inside the UK, before your Student visa expires, once your university has reported that you completed the course. The fee is GBP 937 plus the health surcharge, usually GBP 1,035 a year.
The rules, from GOV.UK
| What | Rule | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Apply on or before 31 Dec 2026 | 2 years | Bachelor’s and master’s graduates. |
| Apply from 1 Jan 2027 | 18 months | Bachelor’s and master’s graduates. |
| PhD or other doctorate | 3 years | Unchanged. |
| Application fee | GBP 937 | Paid when you apply. |
| Health surcharge | Usually GBP 1,035 a year | The standard rate, not the student rate. |
| Where and when | Inside the UK, before your Student visa expires | Your university must first tell the Home Office you completed the course. |
Source: GOV.UK: Graduate visa, read 7 Nov 2026.
What to do next
- Compare the stay after graduating in other countries: post-study work visas by country.
- Budget the UK: what the Student visa costs and the whole year.
- See every rule change coming: student visa rule changes 2026/27.
Questions
How long is the UK Graduate Route from 2027?
18 months for bachelor’s and master’s graduates who apply from 1 January 2027, and 3 years for PhD graduates, according to GOV.UK. Applications made on or before 31 December 2026 get 2 years.
Can I apply before 1 January 2027 to get 2 years?
Only if you are eligible by then: you must be in the UK on a Student visa, your university must have reported that you completed your course, and you apply before your Student visa expires.
How much does the Graduate visa cost?
GBP 937 for the application plus the health surcharge, usually GBP 1,035 for each year, according to GOV.UK.