Visa & Immigration · checked 30 October 2026
New UK Student Visa Rules 2026: Every Change for Nepali Students, and What Comes in 2027
The UK changed its student visa and immigration rules several times in 2026, and more changes are fixed for 2027. Here is every one, in date order, with what it means for a student applying from Nepal and what has not changed.
What Are the New UK Student Visa Rules for 2026?
The main 2026 UK student visa changes: the visa fee rose to £558 (April), universities face stricter compliance tests (June), money to show rises to £1,203 a month outside London from 30 November, and the Graduate visa falls to 18 months from January 2027. Work hours and dependant rules are unchanged.
Five changes matter for Nepali students. The Student visa fee rose to £558 on 8 April 2026. From 30 November 2026 you must show £1,203 a month for living costs outside London (£1,570 in London), up to nine months. Graduate visa applications from 1 January 2027 get 18 months, not two years, though the government plans to keep two years for some universities. Universities face tougher Home Office compliance checks since 1 June 2026, so expect stricter interviews. And Skilled Worker visas need B2 English since January 2026.
Unchanged: 20 hours a week of term-time work, the dependant rules from 2024, and the 28-day bank rule. Nepal is not affected by the March 2026 visa brake.
Key facts
Checked against the sources cited on 30 October 2026.
- Student visa fee
- £558 since 8 April 2026 (was £524)Home Office fees, 8 Oct 2026
- Money to show
- £1,203 a month outside London, £1,570 in London, for applications from 30 November 2026OTS Solicitors (HC 584)
- Graduate visa
- 18 months for applications from 1 January 2027; PhD 3 yearsUniversity of Surrey
- Two-year exception
- Announced 28 October 2026 for high-compliance universities; not yet lawThe PIE News, 28 Oct 2026
- University compliance
- Refusals below 5%, enrolment at least 95%, from 1 June 2026Home Office compliance guidance
- Visa brake
- Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, Sudan since 26 March 2026; not NepalGOV.UK
- Work and dependants
- Unchanged: 20 hours a week in term; dependants only for research postgraduates or sponsored studentsUniversity of Cambridge
- Nepal refusal rate
- 4.6% in the year to June 2026 (5.8% with withdrawals)The PIE News, 5 Oct 2026
All 2026 UK Student Visa Changes, in Date Order
This is the full list, with the date each rule started and whether it touches a student applying from Nepal. Dates after today are rules already made or announced, not predictions.
| Date | What changed | Does it affect Nepali students? |
|---|---|---|
| 8 January 2026 | English for Skilled Worker, High Potential Individual and Scale-up visas raised from B1 to B2 | Yes, later: when you switch to a work visa after your degree |
| 26 March 2026 | Visa brake: Student visa applications from outside the UK refused for nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan | No. Nepal is not on the list |
| 8 April 2026 | Student visa fee up from £524 to £558; Graduate visa fee from £880 to £937 | Yes: every applicant pays it |
| 1 June 2026 | Tougher compliance tests for universities: visa refusal below 5%, enrolment at least 95%; new Red-Amber-Green ratings | Yes: universities check Nepali applicants harder |
| 3 August 2026 | Children born in the UK to Graduate visa holders can be added as dependants | Only a few families |
| 28 October 2026 | Budget: two-year Graduate visa to stay for graduates of “high-compliance universities” (announced, not yet law) | Possibly, from a date not yet set |
| 30 November 2026 | Money to show rises to £1,203 a month outside London and £1,570 in London | Yes: anyone applying from 30 November (most January and all September 2027 starters) |
| 1 January 2027 | Graduate visa cut to 18 months for bachelor’s and master’s applications from this date (PhD stays 3 years) | Yes: almost every 2026 and 2027 starter |
| 1 April 2027 | Minimum wage rises to £13.21 an hour (21 and over) | Yes: part-time pay |
| 1 June 2027 | University course-completion pass mark rises from 85% to 90% | Indirectly |
| 1 August 2028 | £925-per-student levy on universities in England | Indirectly: possible fee rises |
Not listed: the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), which is for visa-free visitors and does not apply to Nepali passport holders, and the October 2026 Erasmus+ changes, which do not apply to students from Nepal.
What Has Not Changed for 2026
Much of what circulates on social media as “new rules” is old, or wrong. These stay the same:
- Work: 20 hours a week in term time on a degree course (10 below degree level), full time in official vacations. There is no 2026 cut. See part-time work rules.
- Dependants: since January 2024 only students on a postgraduate research course of at least nine months, or fully government-sponsored students, can bring a partner or children. Taught master’s students cannot. See dependant rules for Nepali students.
- The 28-day rule: money must be held for 28 days in a row, with the closing balance no more than 31 days old when you apply.
- Student English: B2 for degree courses, B1 below degree. The January 2026 rise to B2 was for work visas, not the Student visa.
- Settlement: the proposed 10-year “earned settlement” model is not in force. No final rules or start date had been published by October 2026.
- eVisa: your visa is digital, held in your UKVI account. This was completed in 2025, not new in 2026.
How Much Money You Need for a UK Student Visa From 30 November 2026
| Where you study | Applications up to 29 Nov 2026 | Applications from 30 Nov 2026 | In rupees (new rate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outside London (9 months) | £1,171 a month, £10,539 | £1,203 a month, £10,827 | NPR 21.1 lakhs |
| London (9 months) | £1,529 a month, £13,761 | £1,570 a month, £14,130 | NPR 27.6 lakhs |
The rate depends on the date you submit the visa application, not on your CAS or course start. Most January 2027 and all September 2027 applicants will use the new figures. Hold the higher amount from the start of your 28 days, so a top-up does not restart the clock.
Full NPR breakdown: the 30 November maintenance rise and the 28-day bank balance rule.
UK Student Visa Fee 2026 and the Health Surcharge
| Cost | Amount | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Student visa application | £558 (was £524) | NPR 1.09 lakhs |
| Immigration Health Surcharge, one-year master’s (1.5 years at £776) | £1,164 | NPR 2.27 lakhs |
| Typical total, one-year master’s | £1,722 | NPR 3.36 lakhs |
| Graduate visa later (fee only) | £937 (was £880), plus health surcharge at £1,035 a year | — |
The surcharge depends on your exact visa length; use the official calculator with your CAS dates. Do not use the old shortcut of £558 plus one year of surcharge: it undercounts a one-year master’s by £388.
Graduate Visa: 18 Months From 2027, Two Years for Some
- Apply on or before 31 December 2026: two years after a bachelor’s or master’s.
- Apply on or after 1 January 2027: 18 months. The date that counts is when you submit and pay for the Graduate visa, not when your course started.
- PhD: three years, unchanged.
- New on 28 October 2026: the Budget said graduates of “high-compliance universities where there are strong labour market outcomes” will get two years. No list, definition or start date has been published, and it is not yet in the Immigration Rules.
For a Nepali student starting in January or September 2027, plan on 18 months. Do not choose a university because someone promises it will qualify for two years. Details: the two-year Graduate visa announcement and the Graduate visa guide.
Stricter Rules for Universities: Why Nepali Applications Get More Checks
From 1 June 2026 the Home Office’s annual Basic Compliance Assessment (BCA) for universities got tougher: visa refusals must stay below 5% and at least 95% of students given a CAS must enrol. Course completion (85% now) rises to 90% for assessments from June 2027. Universities are also placed in Red, Amber or Green bands; a Red rating can cut the number of CAS a university may issue.
Home Office figures reported by The PIE News show 4.6% of Nepali Student visa applications were refused in the year to June 2026 (5.8% counting withdrawals), close to the 5% line. The result for you:
- More credibility interviews and document checks before a CAS is issued.
- Earlier deadlines for some markets: some universities put Nepal in a group with earlier application and interview dates.
- Less tolerance for gaps, inconsistent documents or funds that cannot be explained.
No public list of university ratings exists, and HOA does not label any university Green, Amber or Red. In September 2026 one university, Buckinghamshire New University, had its sponsor licence suspended. See the RAG system explained, the BNU suspension and how to prepare for the credibility interview.
The UK Visa Brake: Is Nepal Affected?
No. Since 26 March 2026 the Home Office refuses Student visa applications made from outside the UK by nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan (and Skilled Worker applications from Afghan nationals). GOV.UK states that other routes and nationalities are not affected, and Nepal is not on the list.
It applies only to applications made from outside the UK, and visas already granted are not cancelled. The government says the brake is not permanent and will be reviewed. It shows the Home Office can act quickly against a whole nationality’s applications, which is one more reason accurate, honest applications from Nepal matter.
After Your Degree: Work Visa Rules in 2026 and 2027
- Skilled Worker English: B2 since 8 January 2026 for new applicants, up from B1. A degree taught in English can be used to meet the English requirement.
- Skilled Worker salary: usually £41,700 a year or the going rate, or 70% of the going rate (minimum £33,400) as a new entrant, which includes recent graduates.
- From spring 2027 (Budget): the new-entrant salary discounts are to be merged into a single figure and the PhD discount removed. Exact figures have not been published.
- High Potential Individual visa: extended in the Budget to graduates of the top 150 universities worldwide.
- Settlement: Skilled Workers can still qualify for settlement after five years. The proposed 10-year baseline is not law.
See the Skilled Worker visa guide and the route to settlement.
The Nepal Side: NOC and Money Transfers in 2026
Nothing has changed yet on the Nepal side. You still need a No Objection Certificate from the Ministry of Education (MoEST) before you send tuition fees abroad: online at noc.moest.gov.np, NPR 2,000, usually 1 to 5 working days.
In April 2026 The PIE News reported a proposal in the government’s reform roadmap to overhaul the NOC, allowing foreign currency only for “priority” subjects, with stricter rules and insurance for consultancies. It is a proposal, not a rule, and no date has been set. HOA will update this post if it is adopted. See NOC for UK study.
What Nepali Students Should Do Now
Check which date applies to you
Your visa application date decides your money figure (before or from 30 November 2026), and your Graduate visa application date decides 2 years or 18 months.
Hold the higher funds from day one
If you might apply on or after 30 November 2026, keep £10,827 (or £14,130 for London) plus unpaid tuition for 28 days in a row.
Budget £1,722 for the visa and surcharge
For a one-year master’s: £558 fee plus £1,164 health surcharge. Check the exact surcharge with your CAS dates.
Prepare for the credibility interview
Universities now screen Nepali applicants harder. Know your course, your funds and your plans after study, and make every document consistent.
Plan your career on 18 months
Do not count on a two-year Graduate visa until the rules name your university.
Get your NOC before paying fees
Apply at noc.moest.gov.np once you have your offer and before any tuition transfer.
Frequently Asked Questions
A £558 visa fee from 8 April 2026, higher money to show from 30 November 2026 (£1,203 a month outside London), stricter university compliance from 1 June 2026, and an 18-month Graduate visa for applications from 1 January 2027.
Yes, in the same ways as for all international students. There is no Nepal-specific restriction, and Nepal is not on the March 2026 visa brake list.
For applications up to 29 November 2026: £1,171 a month outside London or £1,529 in London. From 30 November 2026: £1,203 or £1,570 a month, for up to nine months, plus unpaid first-year tuition.
£558 from outside the UK, since 8 April 2026. You also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, £776 a year, which comes to £1,164 for a typical one-year master’s.
Two years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026; 18 months if you apply from 1 January 2027. PhD graduates get three years. The government plans two years for some high-compliance universities, not yet defined.
Only if you are on a postgraduate research course of at least nine months or are fully government-sponsored. Taught master’s students cannot bring dependants.
Yes. Degree students can work 20 hours a week in term time and full time in official vacations. That did not change in 2026.
No. The visa brake from 26 March 2026 covers nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan for Student visas. Nepal is not included.
Since 1 June 2026 universities must keep visa refusals below 5%. Nepal’s refusal rate was 4.6% in the year to June 2026, so universities check credibility, funds and documents more closely.
No. Degree courses still need B2. The January 2026 rise from B1 to B2 applies to Skilled Worker and some other work visas.
Yes, if you submit your visa application on or after 30 November 2026. The application date decides which rate applies.
Yes. The MoEST No Objection Certificate is still required before transferring tuition fees: online, NPR 2,000, usually 1 to 5 working days. A reform has been proposed but not adopted.
Not yet. A 10-year earned settlement model was proposed, but no final rules or start date had been published by October 2026. Skilled Workers can still settle after five years.
The 18-month Graduate visa (from 1 January 2027), a £13.21 minimum wage (1 April 2027), new Skilled Worker salary discounts (spring 2027) and a higher university completion test (June 2027).
No. HOA’s guidance for students is free at every stage.
Key Terms
- Basic Compliance Assessment (BCA)
- The Home Office’s annual test of each university’s visa refusals, enrolments and course completions.
- Red-Amber-Green (RAG) rating
- The banding added to the BCA in 2026. Red can cut how many CAS a university may issue.
- Visa brake
- A 2026 rule refusing Student visa applications from outside the UK for four named nationalities. Nepal is not included.
- Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)
- The NHS fee paid with the visa: £776 a year for students.
- Graduate visa
- Post-study work permission: 2 years for applications by 31 December 2026, 18 months from 1 January 2027.
Sources
Every figure on this page was checked against these sources on 30 October 2026. If an official page and this page disagree, the official page is right.
- Home Office, Immigration and nationality fees: 8 October 2026
- Queen’s University Belfast, Home Office increases immigration and nationality fees from 8 April 2026
- OTS Solicitors, Student visa maintenance funds increase from 30 November 2026
- University of Bath, Upcoming changes affecting Student visa applications (14 Sep 2026)
- Home Office, Explanatory memorandum to HC 584 (3 Sep 2026)
- Home Office, Student sponsor guidance, Document 3: compliance (v06/2026)
- GOV.UK, Visa brake: changes to the UK visa system (updated 26 Mar 2026)
- UKCISA, Student route visa brake announced (Mar 2026)
- Laura Devine Immigration, Home Office publishes Statement of Changes HC 1333 (15 Oct 2025)
- University of Surrey, How long will I be eligible to stay on the Graduate route?
- The PIE News, UK to extend graduate visa to two years for graduates of high-compliance universities (28 Oct 2026)
- Electronic Immigration Network, Budget unveils reforms to create Europe’s most pro-business migration system (28 Oct 2026)
- UKCISA, Student update: changes to the Immigration Rules, July 2026 (10 Jul 2026)
- University of Cambridge, Bringing your family (Student dependants)
- OTS Solicitors, Earned settlement after Labour Conference 2026 (22 Oct 2026)
- The PIE News, England’s universities face £330m loss under new £925-per-international-student levy (26 Nov 2025)
- GOV.UK / Low Pay Commission, LPC recommendations take the National Living Wage to £13.21 (28 Oct 2026)
- The PIE News, Nepal proposes scrapping current NOC process in sweeping reform push (7 Apr 2026)
- GOV.UK, Online immigration status (eVisa)
- The PIE News, How UK unis are staying under the 5% BCA threshold (5 Oct 2026)
About This Guide
Written by House of Admissions (HOA), a UK-only education consultancy founded in 2016 with offices in Kathmandu and Pokhara. All 20+ HOA counsellors hold the British Council’s UK counsellor certification. HOA’s guidance is free to students. Reviewed by Rahul Chhetri, Director. This is admissions guidance, not immigration advice. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
Related Guides
Applying Under the 2026 Rules?
A counsellor can check which dates and figures apply to your application, from funds to the Graduate visa. HOA’s guidance is free.