Graduate visa changes from January 2027

How long your Graduate leave lasts depends on when you apply.

Checked against gov.uk on 28 Oct 2026

Who this is for: Students finishing a UK degree around the end of 2026 and into 2027.

Per gov.uk, the length of Graduate leave depends on the date you apply. Applications made on or before 31 December 2026 receive 2 years. Applications made on or after 1 January 2027 receive 18 months. Doctoral qualifications receive 3 years either way.

That date is the application date, not the date your course ends. You apply from inside the UK, and only after your university has reported your successful completion to the Home Office. So the order of events matters: your course finishes, your university reports it, and then you can apply.

If your course ends close to the cutoff, ask your university when it will report your completion and plan around that date. The Graduate route cannot be extended, so the length you receive is the length you get.

Use the Graduate dates checker on this site to see how many days you have, and read the gov.uk Graduate visa page for the current rules before you apply.

Key points

  • Apply on or before 31 December 2026 and you receive 2 years.
  • Apply on or after 1 January 2027 and you receive 18 months.
  • Doctoral qualifications receive 3 years either way.
  • The date that counts is the date you apply, not the date your course ends.
  • You can apply only after your university reports your completion to the Home Office.
  • The Graduate route cannot be extended.

Typical order of events

  1. Final termAsk your university when it will report your completion to the Home Office.
  2. Completion reportedYour university confirms your successful completion.
  3. ApplyApply from inside the UK. The application date sets the length of leave.
  4. DecisionWait for the decision and plan your job search around your leave dates.

General information only. This page does not say whether you qualify for anything, and rules change, so check the linked gov.uk pages. For advice on your own case, use an IAA-registered adviser or a solicitor.