UK Graduate visa: how long it lasts, what it costs and when it ends (2026)
A UK Graduate visa lasts 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026 and 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027 (3 years after a PhD), and costs £937 plus the immigration health surcharge of £1,035 a year, according to the GOV.UK Graduate visa guide read on 30 October 2026. The calculator gives your length, end date and cost.
Length for bachelor's and master's graduates: 2 years → 18 months from 1 January 2027
Sources: GOV.UK, Graduate visa (GOV.UK guide); GOV.UK, Immigration Rules: Appendix Graduate. Read on 30 October 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Not legal or immigration advice. This page reports what GOV.UK and the Immigration Rules said on the date we read them. The Home Office decides on your application and can change the rules or the fees: check GOV.UK or ask the Home Office before you apply.
How long the Graduate visa lasts
| Qualification | Apply on or before 31 December 2026 | Apply on or after 1 January 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's, master's or other eligible course | 2 years | 18 months |
| PhD or other doctoral qualification | 3 years | 3 years |
What counts is the date you apply. The visa then starts on the day your application is approved and runs from that date; your partner's and children's visas end on the same date as yours.
“All other qualifications 18 months if the applicant has successfully completed a course at UK bachelor’s degree or master’s degree level, or another relevant qualification that meets the requirement of ST8.1/2/3 of the Rules, and the application is made on or after 1 January 2027.”
Source: GOV.UK, Immigration Rules: Appendix Graduate, GR 8.1 (amended by GOV.UK, Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 1333, 14 October 2025). Read on 30 October 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
The Home Office's explanatory memorandum to HC 1333 adds: “The change to 18 months will apply to applications submitted on or after 1 January 2027, with PhD graduates continuing to receive three years of leave.” What the 18-month change means.
Source: GOV.UK, Explanatory memorandum to the Statement of changes HC 1333. Read on 30 October 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
What it costs
Each person pays the £937 application fee and the immigration health surcharge (IHS): £1,035 a year for adults and £776 a year for children under 18. For 18 months the surcharge is one year plus half a year.
| Visa length | Application fee | Health surcharge (adult) | Total, one adult | Total, child under 18 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 years (apply on or before 31 December 2026) | £937 | £2,070 | £3,007 | £2,489 |
| 18 months (apply on or after 1 January 2027) | £937 | £1,552.50 | £2,489.50 | £2,101 |
| 3 years (PhD) | £937 | £3,105 | £4,042 | £3,265 |
Sources: GOV.UK, Graduate visa (GOV.UK guide); GOV.UK, Pay for UK healthcare as part of your immigration application; GOV.UK, UK visa fees (Home Office) (table "Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 October 2026"). Read on 30 October 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
When and how to apply
- You must be in the UK and apply before your Student visa expires.
- You can apply once your university or college has told the Home Office that you have successfully completed your course; you do not have to wait for graduation.
- You usually get a decision within 8 weeks, and you can stay in the UK while you wait.
- You cannot extend a Graduate visa; you may be able to switch to another visa, for example a Skilled Worker visa (salary thresholds).
Source: GOV.UK, Graduate visa (GOV.UK guide). Read on 30 October 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Questions people ask
How long is the UK Graduate visa?
2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026 and 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027. After a PhD or other doctoral qualification it lasts 3 years.
How much does the Graduate visa cost?
£937 application fee plus the immigration health surcharge of £1,035 a year: £2,070 for 2 years, £1,552.50 for 18 months, £3,105 for 3 years.
When does the Graduate visa start?
From the day your application is approved, not from the day you apply. You usually get a decision within 8 weeks.
Can I extend the Graduate visa?
No. You may be able to switch to another visa, for example a Skilled Worker visa.
Does the date I apply or the date of the decision count?
The date you apply: the 18 months apply to applications made on or after 1 January 2027. The visa then runs from the decision date.
Can my partner and children come?
If they are your dependants on your current Student visa (or children born in the UK during it), they can apply; their visa ends on the same date as yours.
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