UK To Cut Graduate Visa from 2 Years to 18 Months

The UK government is reducing the length of the Graduate Route visa from two years to 18 months. 

The UK government has unveiled a new immigration white paper, introducing stricter rules across all major visa categories, including student, work, and family routes.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged tougher enforcement and a sharp reduction in migration numbers, stating that “enforcement will be tougher than ever and migration numbers will fall.”

This move is part of a wider plan to tighten immigration rules and address what the government calls “abuse” in student, asylum, and family visa systems.

What’s Changing?

Graduate Visa Shortened

The Graduate Route visa, which allows international students to stay in the UK after their studies, part of a growing Post-Study Work Visa route, will now last only 18 months instead of two years. It will also be harder to switch to a work visa and bring dependants.

The government says the visa has become a “loophole” for people to work without sponsorship and claims it no longer serves its original purpose.

Stricter Rules for Universities

Only universities that meet stricter compliance standards will be allowed to keep their licenses to recruit international students. Institutions with poor graduate employment outcomes or misleading recruitment practices could face penalties.

Tougher Asylum and Deportation Rules

Asylum Changes

People applying for asylum could be refused automatically if their home country hasn’t changed significantly or if they delay their application after arriving in the UK.

Deportation Expansion

New laws will make it easier to deport foreign nationals convicted of any crime — not just those jailed for more than 12 months. Special focus will be on those who commit violence against women and girls. The government also wants to limit how often Article 8 (right to family life) can be used to challenge deportations.

Crackdown on Visa Sponsorship Abuse

Employers, universities, and others who sponsor visas could face heavy penalties — including fines, license loss, or bans — if they are caught abusing the system.

“Sponsorship is a privilege, not a right,” the Home Office said. “Sponsors will be held accountable.”

The government says these reforms are necessary to restore trust in the immigration system and bring overall migration numbers down.

“We want to welcome skilled workers and global talent — but not at the expense of border control or public confidence,” said Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.

The UK Graduate Visa, also known as the Graduate Route, allows international students who have completed a degree in the UK to stay and work, or look for work, after graduation.

The graduate route does not require a job offer and provides graduates the flexibility to work at any skill level. However, stricter rules will now limit options for switching to other visa types and restrict the ability to bring dependants.

When Will the 18-Month Graduate Route Start?

The current Graduate Route remains 24 months. Although the May 2025 White Paper proposes cutting the post-study Graduate Route from 24 months to 18 months, this remains just a policy intention for now. No “Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules” has yet been laid before Parliament to actually amend the Graduate Route’s length. Until a new Statement of Change has been made, anyone applying under the UK Graduate Route will still receive the existing two-year visa leave.

Timing & implementation mechanics

In the UK system, most visa-route changes (including the Graduate Route) happen via Statements of Changes rather than Acts of Parliament. The Home Office published its last batch of student-route tweaks on 12 March 2025, with many taking effect from 9 April 2025. We expect the 18-month Graduate Route change to follow a similar path. Once the Home Secretary (the UK’s Immigration Minister) places the change in a Statement, it will specify an exact “coming into effect” date (often within a few weeks of publication). Only applications made on or after that date will be capped at 18 months, and any graduates admitted beforehand will continue to enjoy the full two-year leave.

Graduate Route FAQs

How long can I stay in the UK with a Graduate Visa?

Currently, the Graduate Route (Post-Study Work-PSW visa) grants up to two years’ visa to stay in the UK after successful completion of your bachelor’s and master’s degree (and up to three years for PhD holders). You should apply before your Student visa expires (you need to contact us to get assistance if you don’t), and once granted you can live and work here without restrictions for the full period of 2 years.

Can the UK Graduate Visa be extended beyond two years?

No. There is no extension of the Graduate Route itself. If you want to stay in the UK after your PSW leave ends, you must switch into another visa category (for example, a Skilled Worker visa with a sponsoring employer, or a Global Talent visa if you qualify). Applications to switch must be made before your Graduate Visa expires.

What happens after two years of PSW in the UK?

Before your two-year Graduate Route leave runs out, you’ll need to either:

• Switch into a work visa (e.g. Skilled Worker) if you’ve secured sponsorship;
• Apply for another visa route (e.g. Start-Up, Innovator Founder); or
• Depart the UK. You cannot remain here simply on a “grace period” after the two years are up.

Who is eligible for the two-year Post-Study Work visa in the UK?

To qualify you must have:

1. Completed a UK bachelor’s degree or higher on a valid Student visa;
2. Applied for the Graduate Route before your Student visa’s expiry; and
3. Met the Immigration Rules’ maintenance and compliance requirements.

If you tick those boxes, you’re entitled to the full two years (or three, if you held a PhD).

Is the PSW closing in the UK?

The Graduate route itself is not being closed, but the Government has announced plans to shorten it from two years to 18 months for new applicants once the change is formally laid in a Statement of Changes. Until that new Statement takes effect, anyone applying under the Graduate Route will continue to receive the current two-year leave.

What are your thoughts on changes to the Graduate route? Talk to us in the comments section below. Or if you need more advice on the above, contact us for further travel & immigration advice.

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Charlie

Travel and Immigration Writer and Client Relationship Manager at IaM (Immigration and Migration)

Charlie is IaM’s resident Travel & Immigration Writer and Client Relationship Manager. They craft clear, engaging guides that demystify complex visa and migration rules - and then personally supports each client through every step of their journey.

Over the past 6+ years, with IaM, and working in the travel and immigration sector, Charlie has authored 200+ in-depth guides on Schengen, UK visas & other destinations they have relocated 1,000+ families safely through the system. A Clockwork Practitioner, Charlie also works hard to streamline operations and adheres to the mantra "Task Clients Well".

When they’re not translating policy into plain English, you’ll find them scouting new destinations, collecting local stories, and mastering a new language to better serve our global community.

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