If you are a student finishing your course of study in the UK, your next question is probably about whether you can stay and work after graduation. UK PSW visa categories allow eligible students to remain in the country after graduation and gain work experience.
The latest Graduate Route changes are particularly important for Nepali students planning to stay in the UK after graduation. Eligible graduates who apply by 31 December 2026 can receive two years of permission, while eligible non-doctoral graduates applying from 1 January 2027 will receive 18 months.
Students graduating from doctoral degrees such as PhD will still be able to stay for three years. Your application date will dictate which category you fall under, so graduating in 2026 will not automatically grant you a two-year visa. This article will provide more details on the new PSW visa rules and requirements.
What Is the UK PSW Visa?
PSW stands for “post-study work.” Although students often say “UK PSW visa,” the official name is the Graduate visa, also known as the Graduate Route.
It allows eligible international students to stay in the UK after successfully completing their studies. You do not need an employer to sponsor your Graduate application.
For students still planning their education, our guide to studying in the UK from Nepal explains the wider study process.
How Long Does the UK PSW Visa Last?
The duration depends on your qualification and when you apply.
|
Qualification |
When you apply |
Visa duration |
|
Bachelor’s, master’s or another eligible non-doctoral qualification |
On or before 31 December 2026 |
2 years |
|
Bachelor’s, master’s or another eligible non-doctoral qualification |
On or after 1 January 2027 |
18 months |
|
PhD or another doctoral qualification |
Before or after the change |
3 years |
Your Graduate permission starts when your application is approved. The duration rules are set out in the official Graduate Route immigration rules.
What Does the January 2027 Change Mean?
Suppose you finish your master’s degree in December 2026, but you apply for Graduate in January 2027. In that case, you will be granted leave under the 18-month rule. If you submit an eligible application in December 2026, the two-year rule will apply even though the decision may come in January.
Nevertheless, you can’t apply before fulfilling the requirements just to get the more extended period. The university has to report to the Home Office that you have successfully completed the course before extending your leave.
Who Is Eligible for the UK PSW Visa?
You normally need to meet all of these requirements:
- Be in the UK when you apply.
- Hold Student or Tier 4 (General) permission.
- Successfully complete an eligible course.
- Meet the required period of study in the UK.
- Have your education provider report your successful completion to the Home Office.
Your provider must also be a licensed Student sponsor with a track record of compliance.
Which Courses Qualify?
The main qualifying courses are UK bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees and doctorates.
Certain other qualifications can qualify, including PGCE and PGDE teaching qualifications and specified legal courses. Some courses leading to a profession regulated by UK law or a public authority may also be eligible.
Do not assume that every diploma or postgraduate course qualifies. Ask the university before enrolling and check the official course eligibility requirements.
How Long Must You Study in the UK?
For a course lasting more than 12 months, you normally need at least 12 months of study in the UK. For a course shorter than 12 months, you normally need to study in the UK for its full length.
If your course lasts exactly 12 months or includes an unusual study arrangement, ask your university to confirm how the requirement applies.
When comparing UK universities, check both the course details and the institution’s Graduate Route eligibility.
UK PSW Visa Fees and Other Costs
The current Graduate visa application fee is £937. Adult applicants normally also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, or IHS, at £1,035 per year.
The surcharge is paid upfront when you apply.
|
Visa duration |
Application fee |
Health surcharge |
Total |
|
2 years |
£937 |
£2,070 |
£3,007 |
|
3 years |
£937 |
£3,105 |
£4,042 |
These figures are listed on the official Graduate visa costs page.
How Much Should You Budget for an 18-Month Visa?
For an 18-month Graduate visa, the current Immigration Health Surcharge is £1,152.50. Adding the £937 application fee gives an estimated total of £2,089.50.
These costs exclude rent, food, transport and family applications. If you are budgeting in Nepali rupees, allow for exchange-rate changes and your bank’s payment charges.
When Can You Apply for the UK Graduate Visa?
You can apply when your University has notified the Home Office that you have successfully completed your course. Make sure to apply before your Student permission expires. You do not need to wait until you have graduated or received your degree before applying.
The easiest thing to do is to get in touch with your international student team at the University and ask them if they have submitted the completion report. This is particularly important if your course finishes shortly before your visa expiry date or the December 2026 deadline.
How to Apply for the UK PSW Visa?
1. Confirm Your Course Completion
Ask your university whether it has reported your successful completion to the Home Office.
2. Prepare Your Documents
You will normally need your passport and the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies, or CAS, reference used for your Student application.
Follow the application instructions for proving your current immigration permission. Depending on your situation, you may also need:
- Consent from a scholarship or sponsorship provider.
- Relationship documents for eligible dependants.
- Certified translations of documents outside English or Welsh.
Check the official Graduate visa document list before starting.
3. Submit the Online Application
Apply through the official GOV.UK Graduate visa application page. Complete the form carefully and pay the application fee and health surcharge.
Eligible dependents must submit their own applications.
4. Complete Your Identity Check
The application will tell you whether to use the UK Immigration: ID Check app or attend an appointment for fingerprints and a photograph.
5. Wait for the Decision
Decisions usually take up to eight weeks after you complete the online application, prove your identity and provide your documents.
Do not travel to Nepal while the application is pending. Leaving the UK, Ireland, Channel Islands or Isle of Man before a decision causes the application to be withdrawn.
Can Nepali Students Bring Dependants?
The Graduate Route generally allows existing Student dependants to continue their stay. It does not normally allow a new spouse to join you from Nepal.
Your partner must have previously held permission as your Student or Tier 4 dependant. Children usually require previous dependant permission too.
An exception applies to children born in the UK during your current Student, Tier 4 or Graduate permission.
Each eligible family member must apply separately and pay the relevant charges. Their permission ends on the same date as yours. Read the official Graduate dependant rules before making family plans.
What Jobs Can You Do on the UK PSW Visa?
Graduate permission allows you to work in most jobs, look for work and be self-employed.
For example, you may work for an employer or take freelance work, provided you meet any other legal requirements for that activity. You cannot work as a professional sportsperson.
You also cannot access most public funds.
Can You Continue Studying?
Study options are limited. If your next course qualifies for a Student visa, you cannot normally take it using Graduate permission.
Some study or research may also require an Academic Technology Approval Scheme, or ATAS, certificate. Check the Graduate visa conditions before enrolling.
Can You Work as a Care Worker?
Working in a care job using Graduate permission is distinct to receiving sponsorship for a care-worker visa.
New overseas applications for care workers and senior care workers closed on 22 July 2025. This does not mean that all healthcare jobs are closed to overseas applicants.
Some people already in the UK can still switch into sponsored care-worker roles in accordance with transitional rules. For graduates using this provision, the requirements include working legally for the sponsoring employer for at least three months and applying to the visa no later than 22 July 2028.
The employer and job must also meet the other sponsorship requirements. These arrangements are currently under review, so make sure to check the official care-worker sponsorship guidance prior to relying on this option.
Can You Switch to a Skilled Worker Visa?
Yes, if you meet the Skilled Worker requirements. Receiving a Graduate visa does not automatically qualify you for a sponsored work visa.
You generally need:
- An eligible job.
- An employer with a valid sponsor licence.
- A Certificate of Sponsorship.
- The required salary.
- Evidence that you meet the English-language requirement.
The usual salary requirement is £41,700 per year or the occupation’s going rate, whichever is higher. Some jobs and applicants follow different salary rules.
Higher-skilled jobs qualify, while some medium-skilled jobs remain eligible through specified lists or exceptions. Check the occupation code and the official Skilled Worker job requirements.
Can Graduates Qualify With a Lower Salary?
Some graduates qualify under the “new entrant” rules. These can allow a salary of at least £33,400, alongside at least 70% of the job’s standard going rate, if the relevant conditions are met.
The concession has a four-year limit that includes time already spent on Graduate permission. It does not apply automatically to every graduate.
Check the lower salary requirements before accepting a job on the assumption that it will qualify.
The current English requirement is generally B2. An eligible degree taught in English and awarded by a UK institution can provide evidence. See the official English-language requirements.
UK PSW Visa vs Skilled Worker Visa
|
Feature |
Graduate visa |
Skilled Worker visa |
|
Employer sponsorship |
Not required |
Required |
|
Job offer |
Not required |
Required |
|
Work options |
Work in most jobs and self-employment |
Work subject to sponsorship conditions |
|
Salary requirement |
No sponsored-job salary threshold |
Applicable salary and going-rate requirements |
|
Extension |
Cannot be extended |
May be extended if eligible |
|
Longer-term stay |
Requires another eligible immigration route |
May lead to settlement if the requirements are met |
A job you can do on Graduate permission may not qualify for Skilled Worker sponsorship. Check your options early if you hope to stay longer.
What Should Nepali Students Plan Before Applying?
Start with three things: your university’s completion-reporting date, your visa expiry date and your budget.
If you are still choosing a course, ask when it is expected to finish and whether it qualifies for the Graduate Route. Our UK intake guide can help you compare study timelines.
During your studies, prepare your CV, build relevant experience and research employers in your field. If sponsorship is your goal, find out which employers hold sponsor licences and which roles could qualify.
Keep enough savings for the visa payment and living costs while looking for work. Graduate permission gives you time to search, but it does not guarantee employment.
Planning Your Next Step
The UK PSW visa can give eligible Nepali graduates time to gain experience and explore career options. Before applying, confirm that your university has reported your completion, check your deadline and review the current fees.
For help comparing universities, courses and admissions, you can contact CIC Education Hub. For immigration requirements, use GOV.UK and speak with your university’s international student team.
Immigration rules and fees can change. Check the latest official guidance before submitting your application.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is the UK PSW visa the same as the Graduate visa?
Yes. “PSW visa” is the name commonly used by students. The official name is the Graduate visa or Graduate Route.
2. Will I get a two-year visa if I graduate in 2026?
Only if you meet the requirements and apply by 31 December 2026. Eligible non-doctoral applications made from 1 January 2027 receive 18 months. The graduation year alone does not determine the duration.
3. Can I apply for the UK PSW visa from Nepal?
No. You must be in the UK when you apply and meet the Student permission and course-completion requirements.
4. Do I need a job offer to apply?
No. You do not need a job offer or employer sponsorship for the Graduate Route.
5. How much does a two-year UK Graduate visa cost?
At the current rates, the total is £3,007. This includes the £937 application fee and £2,070 health surcharge. Living costs and dependant applications are separate.
6. Can my spouse join me from Nepal on the Graduate Route?
A new spouse generally cannot join through this route. Your partner normally needs to have been your dependant under your Student or Tier 4 permission.
7. Can I extend my PSW visa or apply again after another degree?
No. Graduate permission cannot be extended. Completing another degree does not allow you to receive it a second time. You would need to qualify for another immigration route to stay longer.
8. Can I visit Nepal while waiting for my Graduate visa decision?
No. Travelling to Nepal before the decision causes your application to be withdrawn. Wait until your application is approved before travelling.
