Graduate Route 2027 — what changes and who it affects

What is the Graduate Route

Graduate Route (introduced in July 2021) is an unsponsored work visa for graduates of UK universities. After you get your degree you apply for this visa and can stay in the UK 2 years (Bachelor's/Master's) or 3 years (PhD), working in any job for any employer — no sponsor needed.

• No job offer needed when you apply — you can apply right after your degree
• No sponsor needed — your employer does not need a sponsor licence
• Any job — full-time, part-time, freelance, self-employed, starting a business
• Cannot be extended — after 2 years (or 18 months from 2027) you must switch to another visa or leave
• Does not count towards ILR — years on the Graduate Route do not directly count towards the 5 years for permanent residence

What changes from 1 January 2027

In May 2025 the UK government published an Immigration White Paper that announced a series of changes to the student and post-study system. The main change for the Graduate Route is the reduction of the period.

Why the reduction: The government explained it as "focusing on the most productive migrants" — they said 2 years is too long, and in 18 months those who have really found a job should be able to switch to Skilled Worker. Criticism: 18 months is too short, especially for industries with a long recruitment cycle (graphics, academia, creative industries).

Who the reduction affects

The key date is when you submit your Graduate visa application (after successfully completing your course, while your Student visa is still valid) — not your course completion date.

• Apply by 31 December 2026 → Graduate Route 2 years. Example: Master's finishes September 2026, you apply October 2026 — old rules apply.
• Apply from 1 January 2027 → Graduate Route 18 months. This will apply to most students starting a Bachelor's in September 2026 (degree in 2029) and Master's 2026-27 if the application falls in 2027.
• PhD candidates — unchanged, still 3 years regardless of when they apply.

What this means for applying in 2026: if you plan a Bachelor's starting September 2026, you get the Graduate Route under the new rules — 18 months after your degree. Plan your career with this in mind.

Requirements for the Graduate Route

• Finished a course at a UK university with a track record ("international student" with a Student visa), at Bachelor's, Master's or PhD level
• The university must be on the list of Track Record sponsors — more than 180 institutions, almost all normal universities are included
• You must be in the UK when you apply
• The course must be fully completed — the university must tell UKVI that you have successfully finished (this is an automatic process)
• Apply before your Student visa expires — usually you have 4-6 months after the end date of your course
• NOT required: job offer, sponsor, minimum salary, IELTS again

How to apply

1. Wait for confirmation from your university that you have successfully completed the course. The university itself tells UKVI — this step is called "course completion notification". Without it you cannot apply.
2. Go to gov.uk/graduate-visa and start the online application. You can only apply from inside the UK — if you go home after your degree you cannot apply.
3. Fill in the form — your passport details, BRP/eVisa, CAS number from your old Student visa, academic details.
4. Pay the fee and IHS — see the section below.
5. Biometrics — usually through the UK Immigration: ID Check app, a selfie and documents. Sometimes you need to visit a Service Centre.
6. Wait for a decision — usually 8 weeks, sometimes faster. You can work full-time from the moment you apply (Section 3C leave protection).

Cost in 2026

• Application fee: £937 (from 8 April 2026)
• Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): £1,035 per year × visa length. For 2 years — £2,070. For 18 months (from 2027) — £1,553. Paid as one lump sum when you apply
• Biometrics: free through the app, ~£200 if you need to visit a Service Centre
• Total for a 2-year visa: ~£3,007
• Total for an 18-month visa (from 2027): ~£2,490

IHS rates go up from time to time — the numbers above are correct as of April 2026, check gov.uk before you apply.

Working on the Graduate Route

The main advantage — there are no restrictions. You can:

• Full-time for any employer — without a sponsor licence
• Several jobs at the same time — OK
• Self-employed / freelance — OK (unlike the Student visa)
• Start a business — OK, but not at the Innovator visa level
• Internship / volunteering — OK
• Work in any industry — no minimum salary, no minimum skill level

What you cannot do:

• Work as a professional sportsperson — you need a separate visa
• Receive public funds (Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, etc.)
• Bring dependants who were not already on your Student visa

Switching to Skilled Worker

The main scenario: during the Graduate Route find an employer who will sponsor you for a Skilled Worker visa. This gives you a long-term path to ILR.

Requirements for Skilled Worker (as of April 2026):

• Sponsor licence for the employer — this is key
• Minimum salary: £41,700/year or the going rate for the profession (whichever is higher). Reduced for new entrants and shortage occupations
• Skill level RQF 6+ (roughly Bachelor's level for the profession)
• English B1+ (usually confirmed by a UK university degree — IELTS not needed)
• CoS (Certificate of Sponsorship) from the employer

If you get a Skilled Worker job before your Graduate Route expires, you switch inside the UK without leaving. Time on the Graduate Route does NOT count towards the 5 years for ILR — the count starts from the moment you start the Skilled Worker visa.

Path to ILR (Permanent Residence)

Standard path:

1. Student visa (3-4 years Bachelor's or 1 year Master's) — does NOT count towards ILR
2. Graduate Route (2 years or 18 months from 2027) — does NOT count towards ILR
3. Skilled Worker (5 years continuously) — THESE years count towards ILR
4. Apply for ILR — usually after 5 years on Skilled Worker
5. British citizenship — 1 year after ILR (usually)

Realistic timeline for a Bachelor's in 2026:

Total: from starting a Bachelor's to ILR — about 9.5 years. To a passport — 10.5 years. This is the general path for those going "study → work → ILR" without a family route or Global Talent.

Strategy for students applying in 2026

If you are applying in 2026 and fall under the new 18 months — here is what is important to consider:

1. Start looking for a job while you are still studying. Do not wait for your degree. UK graduate schemes accept applications in September-November of your final year. Spring Weeks for first-years (Goldman, JPMorgan, Linklaters) are a real entry point.
2. STEM / technical subjects switch to Skilled Worker more easily — many employers have a sponsor licence, salary thresholds are lower.
3. Humanities / creative subjects — more difficult. Fewer sponsor licence holders, lower average salaries. You definitely need a Plan B: family / Global Talent / return home.
4. Internships are essential. 18 months without UK work experience — it is almost impossible to convert to Skilled Worker. With 1-2 internships it is realistic.
5. Networking is more important than your CV. 60-70% of all graduate jobs in the UK are found through personal connections. LinkedIn, alumni events, career fairs.
6. Alternatives to Skilled Worker: Global Talent (for exceptional people + endorsement), High Potential Individual (for graduates of the top 50 world universities), Innovator Founder (for a business with investment).

Frequently asked questions