UK Graduate Visa for Nepali Students: 2026 Rules explains course eligibility, the UK study requirement, application timing, fees, documents, work rights and the change from two years to 18 months for non-doctoral applications made from 1 January 2027. The route is optional, unsponsored and decided only after an eligible course is successfully completed.
Information checked on 24 July 2026. Immigration rules and fees can change, so check GOV.UK and your university before applying or making career decisions.
UK Graduate visa at a glance
| Item | Current rule |
|---|---|
| Application location | You must be in the UK when you apply |
| Current immigration status | You must hold a Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa and apply before it expires |
| Non-doctoral duration before 2027 | Two years when the application is made on or before 31 December 2026 |
| Non-doctoral duration from 2027 | 18 months when the application is made on or after 1 January 2027 |
| Doctoral duration | Three years for a PhD or other doctoral qualification |
| Application fee | £937, plus the applicable Immigration Health Surcharge |
| Typical decision time | Usually within 8 weeks after the online application, identity and document steps |
What is the UK Graduate visa?
The Graduate route allows an eligible person who has successfully completed qualifying UK study to remain in the UK and work or look for work. Appendix Graduate describes it as an unsponsored route, so a job offer or employer sponsorship is not required for the application itself.
It is not guaranteed when a university admits a student, issues a CAS or awards a degree. The applicant must meet the Graduate rules in force on the application date. The Home Office, not the university or an employer, decides the application.
Students still comparing study options should begin with the complete study in the UK from Nepal guide. A course should be chosen for its academic, professional and financial fit, not only because a future immigration route may be available.
Who can apply?
GOV.UK states that the applicant must be in the UK, hold a current Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa, have successfully completed an eligible course and have studied it for the required period. The education provider must have told the Home Office that the course was successfully completed.
The provider must be a licensed student sponsor with a track record of compliance. The public sponsor register shows this status. Ask the university whether completion has been reported if you are unsure, but do not wait for a graduation ceremony or certificate when the university has confirmed the required report.
Eligible qualifications
A UK bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, PhD or doctorate is normally eligible. GOV.UK also lists certain professional and education qualifications, including specified law courses, the PGCE and PGDE. A qualification that makes the graduate eligible for a profession regulated by UK law or a UK public authority may also qualify.
Do not decide eligibility from the course title alone. Confirm the exact award, provider status and Graduate route position with the university’s international student advisers. A foundation, pre-sessional English programme or short course does not automatically qualify.
How long must you study in the UK?
GOV.UK says an applicant normally needs to have studied in the UK for at least 12 months when the total course is longer than 12 months. If the total course is shorter than 12 months, the applicant normally needs to have studied in the UK for the full course length.
Ordinary travel during weekends or term breaks does not necessarily interrupt the study period when the student was in the UK whenever the provider required. Special historic concessions exist for COVID-19-related distance learning, but a current applicant should not assume another period of overseas study qualifies.
Tell the university about a placement, authorised absence, remote study or course change that could affect the assessment. Keep travel and attendance records where the situation is unusual.
Two years versus 18 months
The application date now changes the non-doctoral grant. GOV.UK states that a successful application made on or before 31 December 2026 receives two years. A successful application made on or after 1 January 2027 receives 18 months. A PhD or other doctoral qualification continues to receive three years.
The visa starts on the date it is approved, not the course-completion or graduation date. An applicant cannot submit before the university has reported successful completion, and must apply before the Student permission expires. Do not attempt to choose a date that falls outside those conditions merely to obtain a longer period.
When to apply
Apply after the education provider has notified the Home Office of successful completion and before the current Student or Tier 4 permission expires. GOV.UK says you do not need to wait for graduation or a physical certificate.
Confirm the reporting process and expected timing with the university. Check the eVisa expiry date directly rather than relying on an old BRP card. Prepare the fee, identity access and CAS reference in advance so a missing detail does not push the application beyond the deadline.
You must be physically in the UK when applying. A Graduate application cannot be submitted from Nepal as an entry-clearance application.
Application fee and healthcare surcharge
The current Graduate visa application fee is £937. The Graduate rate of Immigration Health Surcharge is usually £1,035 for each year of permission. GOV.UK currently lists an IHS total of £1,152.50 for 18 months, £2,070 for two years and £3,105 for three years.
Each eligible dependant makes a separate application and pays the required fee and surcharge. Charges can change, so use the amount displayed in the official application rather than a saved budget. Read the UK study and immigration cost guide when planning the full transition.
Documents commonly needed
- A valid passport or other travel document showing identity and nationality
- The CAS reference used for the completed Student or Tier 4 application
- Online immigration-status evidence and a share code when required
- Relationship evidence for eligible dependants applying with you
- Certified translations for required documents not in English or Welsh
- Written sponsor consent when a government or international scholarship agency paid both tuition and living costs in the previous 12 months
The application does not normally require the student to upload every academic document again. Follow the personalised checklist. Ask the university for the original CAS reference if it has been misplaced.
How to apply step by step
- Check the current eVisa. Confirm that Student permission is valid and note its expiry.
- Confirm course eligibility. Verify the award and sponsor track-record status.
- Complete the course. Meet every academic requirement and wait for the university’s successful-completion report.
- Prepare identity and documents. Locate the passport, CAS reference and any sponsor consent.
- Apply online from the UK. Submit before the Student permission expires.
- Pay the fee and IHS. Use the amount calculated by the official application.
- Complete identity steps. Use the ID Check app or attend UKVCAS when instructed.
- Remain in the permitted travel area. Do not leave the UK, Ireland, Channel Islands or Isle of Man before the decision.
Travel while the application is pending
GOV.UK warns that leaving the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man before the Graduate decision will withdraw the application. Postpone overseas travel until the decision and digital status are available.
This includes optional holidays and non-urgent trips. If an emergency arises, obtain qualified immigration advice before travelling rather than assuming the application will continue.
Graduate visa work rights
The Graduate route generally allows employment, self-employment, business and professional activity. The principal work restriction is that a Graduate cannot work as a professional sportsperson. Employers will still complete a right to work check using the eVisa.
The route does not guarantee a job, salary or professional registration. Graduates must meet any regulatory, qualification or employer requirement for the role. Use the visa period to build a focused search, improve evidence and understand whether a later sponsored route is realistic.
The UK Student work rules guide applies before the Graduate application is decided. Do not start an activity prohibited by Student conditions simply because you intend to apply for the Graduate route.
Can you study on a Graduate visa?
Study can be permitted, but the Graduate route is not a replacement for Student permission where the chosen course qualifies for Student sponsorship. Check the exact course and immigration requirement before enrolling.
An ATAS certificate may still be required for certain sensitive postgraduate subjects and nationalities. The education provider should explain the academic requirement, but the individual remains responsible for immigration compliance.
Partners and children
A partner or child who was already a dependant on the applicant’s current Student or Tier 4 permission can normally apply to stay as a Graduate dependant. A child born in the UK during the current Student permission can also apply under the published rules.
A partner cannot normally become a new Graduate dependant after remaining outside the Student dependant route. GOV.UK notes that new dependants may be able to join later if the main applicant switches to another route such as Skilled Worker. Every family member submits a separate application.
Rules concerning a child born during Graduate permission were amended in July 2026, so a family in that situation should use the current Appendix Graduate and obtain advice before travel.
Can the Graduate visa be extended?
No. GOV.UK states that the Graduate visa cannot be extended. It also does not itself lead to settlement. A person who wants to remain longer must qualify for another route, such as Skilled Worker, before the Graduate permission expires.
Switching is not automatic. The future route can require an eligible employer, occupation, salary, English evidence or other conditions. Begin research early and never pay for a guaranteed Certificate of Sponsorship.
Common Graduate visa mistakes
- Applying before the university reports successful completion
- Submitting after the Student permission expires
- Applying while physically outside the UK
- Assuming every course or provider qualifies
- Using an old BRP expiry without checking the eVisa
- Travelling abroad before the decision
- Expecting two years for an application submitted from 1 January 2027
- Believing the Graduate route guarantees employment or settlement
Frequently asked questions
Is the UK Graduate visa still two years?
For a non-doctoral application made on or before 31 December 2026, the grant is two years. Applications made from 1 January 2027 receive 18 months. Doctoral graduates receive three years.
Can I apply for a Graduate visa from Nepal?
No. You must be in the UK and hold current Student or Tier 4 permission when you apply.
Do I need a job offer?
No. The Graduate route is unsponsored, so a job offer is not an application requirement. You must still meet all course, study and immigration conditions.
How much is the Graduate visa?
The application fee is currently £937, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge. GOV.UK lists current IHS totals based on an 18-month, two-year or three-year grant.
Can I extend the Graduate visa?
No. It cannot be extended, but you may be able to switch to another visa before it expires if you meet that route’s requirements.
Related guidance in Nepal
For a visible second review of course choice, Student visa planning and the limits of post-study routes, read the MKS Education UK guidance. Applicants preparing for IELTS, PTE, GRE, GMAT or SAT can compare options at MKS Prep. The university and Home Office remain the final authorities for Graduate route eligibility.