Visa
UK Graduate visa for Nepali students: who qualifies, why it drops from 2 years to 18 months for applications from 1 Jan 2027, the GBP 937 fee and IHS, dependant rules and switching to a Skilled Worker visa.
"After my UK master's, how long can I stay and work?" For years the answer was two years, but that is changing. This guide explains the UK Graduate visa for Nepali students: who qualifies, why most new graduates will get 18 months instead of 2 years from 1 January 2027, what it costs, what it means for family members, and how to move into a Skilled Worker job. Every rule below comes from GOV.UK and the UK Immigration Rules. Fees, salary thresholds and rules can change, so always check the current details on gov.uk before you apply.
If you have not applied for your Student visa yet, start with our UK student visa from Nepal guide, which covers CAS, funds, documents and English requirements.
The Graduate visa (the Graduate route) lets international students stay in the UK after successfully completing an eligible UK degree, without a job offer or employer sponsor. GOV.UK says you can work in most jobs, look for work, be self-employed, do voluntary work and travel in and out of the UK. You cannot claim most public funds (benefits) or work as a professional sportsperson.
Two points matter from the start. You cannot extend a Graduate visa; when it ends you must switch to another visa (for example Skilled Worker) or leave. And the Immigration Rules say you cannot get it if you have previously held one, so it is a once-only opportunity.
According to GOV.UK and Appendix Graduate of the Immigration Rules, you can apply if all of the following are true:
You are in the UK on a Student visa: you must apply from inside the UK while holding a Student (or Tier 4) visa. You cannot apply from Nepal.
You studied an eligible course: usually a UK bachelor's degree, master's degree, or PhD/doctorate. Some other courses also count, such as the PGCE/PGDE, an SRA-approved law conversion course, the Legal Practice Course and the Bar Practice Course.
Your provider has a track record of compliance: your university must be a licensed student sponsor shown as "Student Sponsor - Track Record" on the register of sponsors.
Your university has reported successful completion: your provider must tell the Home Office you have successfully completed the course on your current Student visa. You do not need to wait for graduation or your certificate, but you cannot apply before this report.
You studied in the UK for long enough: at least 12 months for courses longer than 12 months, or the whole course if it is 12 months or shorter. Trips home during term breaks do not count against you, as long as you were in the UK whenever your provider needed you there.
The Home Office's Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules (HC 1333, 14 October 2025) reduced the length of the Graduate visa. GOV.UK now states:
Applications made on or before 31 December 2026: 2 years for bachelor's, master's and other eligible qualifications.
Applications made on or after 1 January 2027: 18 months for bachelor's, master's and other eligible qualifications.
PhD or other doctoral qualification: 3 years, unchanged.
The key word is apply: the rule uses the date you submit your Graduate visa application, not your course start date. The visa runs from the day it is approved.
September 2026 intake (one-year master's): most one-year taught master's courses finish in late summer or autumn 2027, after the dissertation. Your university will report completion after that, so you will be applying in 2027 and should plan for 18 months, not 2 years.
January 2027 intake: your course will finish in 2028, so again plan for 18 months.
PhD students: you will still get 3 years after a successful doctorate.
Students finishing in late 2026: only those who can apply on or before 31 December 2026, after completion is reported, get 2 years. Ask your university when it will report, and do not leave it to the last week of December.
In practice, 18 months is a shorter window to find a graduate-level job, so start your job search during your course.
GOV.UK lists two main costs:
Application fee: GBP 937.
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): usually GBP 1,035 for each year of the visa. GOV.UK gives the totals as GBP 1,552.50 for 18 months, GBP 2,070 for 2 years and GBP 3,105 for 3 years.
So an 18-month Graduate visa costs about GBP 2,489.50 (fee plus IHS) for the main applicant. Each eligible family member pays their own fee and IHS.
No maintenance funds required: unlike the Student visa, the Graduate route has no requirement to show savings. You still need money to live on while you look for work, so budget before your course ends.
Decision time: usually within 8 weeks, according to GOV.UK. You can stay in the UK while you wait.
You apply online with your passport and the CAS reference number from the Student visa you completed your course on. You may also need proof of relationship for family members, written consent from a scholarship sponsor that paid your fees and living costs in the last 12 months, and certified translations. You prove your identity with the UK Immigration: ID Check app or at a UKVCAS service point, and a successful applicant gets an eVisa.
Important: GOV.UK warns that you must not travel outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision, or your application will be withdrawn. Do not book a trip home to Nepal while you wait.
Only existing dependants can stay: your partner or child can apply as your dependant on the Graduate visa if they were already your dependant on your Student visa. A child born in the UK during your stay can also apply. Their visa ends on the same date as yours.
Taught master's students usually have no dependants: since 1 January 2024, students on postgraduate courses can only bring a partner or children if the course is a PhD/doctorate or a research-based higher degree (or they are government-sponsored on a course longer than 6 months). Most Nepali students on one-year taught master's courses therefore cannot bring family, and so have no dependants to carry over to a Graduate visa.
No new dependants from Nepal: a spouse who was not your Student visa dependant cannot join you on a Graduate visa. GOV.UK notes new dependants may be able to join if you switch to a visa such as Skilled Worker.
Because the Graduate visa cannot be extended, the main long-term route is the Skilled Worker visa, which you can switch to from inside the UK. Based on GOV.UK as checked on 29 October 2026:
Job offer and sponsor: you need a job offer from a Home Office-approved employer and a certificate of sponsorship. Most new applicants need a job listed as "higher skilled"; a "medium skilled" job only qualifies if it is on the immigration salary list or temporary shortage list.
General salary rule: at least GBP 41,700 a year or the going rate for your occupation, whichever is higher.
New-entrant salary discount: if you are currently on a Graduate visa (or were in the last 2 years), or were on a Student visa at bachelor's level or above, you may be paid 70% of the going rate, as long as the salary is at least GBP 33,400 a year. GOV.UK says your total stay in the UK under this discount cannot be more than 4 years, including time already spent on a Graduate visa.
English: you need English at CEFR level B2, but a degree taught in English and awarded by a UK institution counts as evidence.
Fees: switching from inside the UK costs GBP 943 (up to 3 years) or GBP 1,865 (more than 3 years), or less for jobs on the immigration salary list, plus the IHS of usually GBP 1,035 per year.
Different salary rules apply to some healthcare and education jobs and to PhD holders. Settlement rules can also change, so check gov.uk before planning long term.
Before your Student visa expires: you must apply while your Student visa is still valid. Do not let it lapse.
After completion is reported: wait until your university confirms it has reported successful completion to the Home Office. Applying earlier can lead to refusal and a lost fee.
Timing around 31 December 2026: if you are close to the cut-off, apply as soon as completion is reported.
Counting on 2 years: students starting courses from September 2026 should plan for 18 months, not the 2 years that older articles still mention.
Assuming family can join later: dependants must already be on your Student visa (or be born in the UK).
Starting the job search late: 18 months leaves little time to find a sponsoring employer.
Comparing countries without the full picture: if post-study work matters most, compare the UK with options like New Zealand's post-study work visa and Australia's Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa before you choose.
It depends on when you apply. GOV.UK says it is 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026 and 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027. PhD graduates get 3 years.
No. You must be in the UK on a Student visa when you apply.
No job offer is needed, and the Graduate visa has no maintenance funds requirement. You pay the GBP 937 fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge.
Only if they were already your dependant on your Student visa. Since January 2024, most taught master's students cannot bring dependants, so in most cases a partner cannot join on the Graduate visa.
The Graduate visa depends on completing your UK course; a study gap matters at the Student visa stage. Read our guide on whether a study gap is accepted in the UK.
Everest Global Education helps Nepali students choose UK courses and universities with their post-study goals in mind. We check sponsor status, course length and intake timing, prepare Student visa documents, and offer IELTS and PTE coaching (see our IELTS vs PTE comparison). If you are also considering New Zealand, our New Zealand student visa from Nepal guide is a good place to start. All advice is checked against current official guidance.
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Beni: New Road, Beni Bazar, Myagdi
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Perth (Australia): 102 James St, Northbridge WA 6003
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Share your academic transcripts, English score, preferred course and career goals, and we will help you plan a UK study path that keeps your Graduate visa and work options open.
Submit an enquiry at https://everestglobaledu.com/enquiry and our team will contact you by phone or email.
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Email: info@everestglobal.com
Website: https://everestglobaledu.com/
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