·United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland·Material change·Scheduled
UK: Graduate route shortened to 18 months for applications from 1 January 2027
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
The 14 October 2025 Statement of Changes cuts the Graduate route from 2 years to 18 months for applications made on or after 1 January 2027; PhD graduates keep 3 years.
Effective from .
What changed
Policy claim 1
Graduate-route permission falls from 2 years to 18 months for applications made on or after 1 January 2027.
Claim ID: uk-2025-10-graduate-route-18-months#claim-1·Cite this claim
Source: GOV.UK — Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules (14 October 2025) (UK Home Office)·source verified ·page reviewed
Policy claim 2
Doctoral (PhD) graduates are unaffected and continue to receive 3 years.
Claim ID: uk-2025-10-graduate-route-18-months#claim-2·Cite this claim
Source: GOV.UK — Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules (14 October 2025) (UK Home Office)·source verified ·page reviewed
Policy claim 3
Students starting courses from late 2026 will typically apply after the cutoff, so should plan around 18 months of post-study work.
Claim ID: uk-2025-10-graduate-route-18-months#claim-3·Cite this claim
Source: GOV.UK — Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules (14 October 2025) (UK Home Office)·source verified ·page reviewed
Routes affected
Primary source
Primary source
GOV.UK — Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules (14 October 2025) ↗ · UK Home Office
Link last verified:
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