Quick Answer: What Is the PSW Visa in the UK?
"PSW visa" (Post-Study Work visa) is the informal name Nepali and international students use for what the UK Home Office officially calls the Graduate visa or Graduate Route. They are the same visa — there is no separate "PSW" category. It allows international students who completed an eligible UK course to stay and work in the UK afterward, with no job offer or employer sponsor required. Duration is 2 years for applications made on or before 31 December 2026, dropping to 18 months for applications from 1 January 2027 (PhD graduates always receive 3 years). The application fee is £937, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge. (Source: UK Home Office, gov.uk/graduate-visa, verified June 2026.)
How Long Is the PSW Visa in the UK?
The Graduate Route duration depends on when you apply — a rule that changed in 2026. This is the single most important fact on this page for anyone timing their application.
Full 24 months of unrestricted work rights, no job offer or sponsor required. Applies to anyone submitting their Graduate Route application on or before 31 December 2026, regardless of when their course finishes.
Source: UK Home Office, gov.uk/graduate-visa, 2026The duration reduces to 18 months for applications submitted on or after 1 January 2027. Students planning their UK study timeline should factor this transition into their graduation and application planning now.
Source: UK Home Office, gov.uk/graduate-visa, 2026PhD graduates are unaffected by this change: doctoral and other eligible PhD-level graduates receive 3 years on the Graduate Route regardless of application date. (UK Home Office, gov.uk/graduate-visa.)
Cannot be extended: the Graduate Route visa itself cannot be renewed or extended once granted. To remain in the UK after it expires, graduates must switch to a different visa category — most commonly the Skilled Worker visa. (UK Home Office, gov.uk/graduate-visa.)
Requirements for the PSW Visa in the UK
All four conditions below must be true. Source: UK Home Office, gov.uk/graduate-visa/course-you-studied.
You are physically in the UK at the time of application — the Graduate Route cannot be applied for from outside the UK, including from Nepal.
Your current visa is a Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa — other visa categories do not qualify for this route.
You studied an eligible course — a UK bachelor's degree, postgraduate degree, or other eligible qualification — for the minimum required period on that Student visa.
Your university has confirmed completion to the Home Office — you do not need to wait for your graduation ceremony or physical certificate; ask your university if you are unsure whether this has been reported.
Nepali students are fully eligible — the Graduate Route has no nationality restriction. Nepal is among the top 5 source countries for UK student visas, with 20,600+ visas issued in the year to 2024, a 63% year-on-year increase (UK Home Office immigration statistics, 2024).
How Much Does the PSW / Graduate Visa Cost?
Two separate payments: a fixed application fee, and the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), which scales with visa length.
| Item | Cost (£) | Cost (NPR, approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee (one-time) | £937 | ≈ NPR 1.83 lakhs |
| Healthcare Surcharge — 18-month visa | £1,152.50 | ≈ NPR 2.25 lakhs |
| Healthcare Surcharge — 2-year visa | £2,070 | ≈ NPR 4.04 lakhs |
| Healthcare Surcharge — 3-year visa (PhD) | £3,105 | ≈ NPR 6.05 lakhs |
| Total — typical 2-year applicant | £3,007 | ≈ NPR 5.86 lakhs |
NPR conversions at NPR 195/£ (Nepal Rastra Bank reference rate), indicative only — exact rates fluctuate. You will be told the precise amount owed during the online application.
Healthcare sector exception: doctors, nurses, and health/adult social care workers may qualify for the Health and Care Worker visa instead — cheaper to apply for, with no annual Immigration Health Surcharge. (UK Home Office, gov.uk/graduate-visa.)
How to Apply for the PSW / Graduate Visa in the UK
Six steps, based on UK Home Office guidance (gov.uk/graduate-visa/apply). Most decisions arrive within 8 weeks.
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1
Confirm Course Completion
Ask your UK university or college to confirm they have reported your successful course completion to the Home Office. You do not need to wait for your graduation ceremony or physical certificate.
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2
Check Eligibility & Timing
Confirm your current visa is a Student visa, that you studied the minimum required period, and that you are physically in the UK. Apply before your current Student visa expires.
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3
Gather Your Documents
Collect your passport, CAS reference number, and current visa status proof (eVisa share code or BRP). Arrange certified translations for non-English documents.
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4
Apply Online & Pay
Submit the Graduate visa application via gov.uk. Pay the £937 fee plus the Immigration Health Surcharge for your applicable visa length.
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5
Verify Your Identity
Prove your identity as instructed — some applicants require an in-person appointment. You will be told during the process whether this applies to you.
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6
Wait for Your Decision
Most decisions arrive within 8 weeks of completing your application, identity check, and documents. You may remain in the UK while your application is processed.
Documents You Need to Apply
Source: UK Home Office, gov.uk/graduate-visa/documents-youll-need-to-apply.
Valid Passport
Or another travel document showing identity and nationality.
CAS Reference Number
From your original Student visa application, sent by your university. Ask your university if you cannot find it.
eVisa Share Code or BRP
Proof of your current Student visa status. BRP holders can use their card up to 24 months after the printed expiry, or until 31 December 2026, whichever is sooner.
Certified Translations
Any document not in English or Welsh requires a certified translation.
Family Relationship Proof
If your partner or children are applying alongside you.
Sponsor Letter (If Applicable)
Required if a scholarship or sponsor paid both your fees and living costs in the last 12 months.
What You Can and Cannot Do on the Graduate Route
You Can
- Work in most jobs, at any employer, in any sector
- Look for work without restriction
- Be self-employed
- Live in the UK with an eligible partner and children
- Travel abroad and return to the UK
- Do unpaid voluntary work for a registered charity
You Cannot
- Apply for most UK public funds (benefits) or the State Pension
- Work as a professional sportsperson
- Extend the Graduate visa itself once granted
- Study a course that is Student-visa eligible (extend your Student visa for that instead)
Source: UK Home Office, gov.uk/graduate-visa. If your application is successful, you will receive a full list of what you can and cannot do.
What Happens After the PSW Visa Expires?
Since the Graduate Route cannot be extended, most graduates follow this path to remain in the UK longer.
Student Visa
The visa you hold during your UK degree. Prerequisite for the Graduate Route.
Graduate Route (PSW) Visa
18 months if filed on/after 1 Jan 2027; 2 years if filed on/before 31 Dec 2026 (see duration section above), or 3 years for PhD. No job offer required.
Skilled Worker Visa
Requires a job offer from a licensed UK sponsor, paying at least £38,700/year (UK Home Office, Skilled Worker salary requirements, 2026).
ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain)
Typically available after 5 continuous qualifying years of UK residence across these visa categories.
Frequently Asked Questions — PSW / Graduate Route Visa
For personalised guidance, book a free appointment at Putalisadak or Pokhara.
PSW ("Post-Study Work") visa is the common name Nepali and international students use for what the UK Home Office officially calls the Graduate visa (Graduate Route). It is not a separate visa category — "PSW visa" and "Graduate Route visa" refer to the same UK immigration route. It allows international students who completed an eligible UK course to stay and work in the UK after graduation, with no job offer or employer sponsor required. Source: UK Home Office, gov.uk/graduate-visa.
This changed in 2026. If you apply for the Graduate visa on or before 31 December 2026, it lasts 2 years. If you apply on or after 1 January 2027, it lasts 18 months. PhD and other eligible doctoral graduates receive 3 years regardless of application date. The visa cannot be extended — you can only switch to a different visa category, such as the Skilled Worker visa. Source: UK Home Office, gov.uk/graduate-visa, updated 2026.
Four conditions must all be true: (1) you are physically in the UK when you apply; (2) your current visa is a Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa; (3) you completed a UK bachelor's degree, postgraduate degree, or other eligible course for the minimum required study period on that visa; (4) your university or college has confirmed to the Home Office that you successfully completed the course — you do not need to wait for your graduation ceremony or certificate. Source: UK Home Office, gov.uk/graduate-visa/course-you-studied.
You must apply online while still in the UK, before your current Student visa expires, and only after your university has confirmed course completion to the Home Office. The online application requires proving your identity (via eVisa share code or BRP) and uploading your documents, including your CAS reference number. Some applicants need an in-person appointment to verify identity. Most decisions arrive within 8 weeks, and you may remain in the UK while waiting. Source: UK Home Office, gov.uk/graduate-visa/apply.
The application fee is £937, paid once. In addition, you must pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): £1,152.50 for an 18-month grant, £2,070 for a 2-year grant, or £3,105 for a 3-year (PhD) grant. At the Nepal Rastra Bank reference rate of NPR 195/£, the combined cost for a 2-year grant is approximately £937 + £2,070 = £3,007, or roughly NPR 5.86 lakhs. Source: UK Home Office, gov.uk/graduate-visa/how-much-it-costs, 2026.
Your valid passport, your CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) reference number from your original Student visa application, and proof of your current visa status — either an eVisa share code or your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP). If your partner or children are applying with you, you also need relationship proof. Non-English or non-Welsh documents require a certified translation. Source: UK Home Office, gov.uk/graduate-visa/documents-youll-need-to-apply.
Yes. The Graduate Route has no nationality restriction — any international student on a UK Student visa who meets the eligibility conditions can apply, including Nepali students. Nepal is among the top 5 source countries for UK student visas, with 20,600+ visas issued in the year to 2024, a 63% year-on-year increase (UK Home Office immigration statistics, 2024). House of Admissions provides free guidance on Graduate Route eligibility and applications for its students.
You can work in most jobs, look for work, be self-employed, travel abroad and return, and do voluntary work for a registered charity. You cannot apply for most UK public funds (benefits) or the State Pension, and you cannot work as a professional sportsperson. You also cannot extend the Graduate visa itself — after it expires, you must switch to a different visa category, most commonly the Skilled Worker visa. Source: UK Home Office, gov.uk/graduate-visa.
Since the Graduate Route cannot be extended, most graduates who wish to remain in the UK switch to the Skilled Worker visa, which requires a job offer from a licensed UK sponsor paying at least £38,700 per year (UK Home Office, Skilled Worker salary requirements, 2026). After five qualifying years on the Skilled Worker route (time on a Student visa or the Graduate Route does not count toward that clock), a graduate may become eligible for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
Yes. House of Admissions provides free guidance on Graduate Route eligibility checks, application timing, and required documents as part of its ongoing free support for students it has placed at UK universities. HOA follows UKVI-compliant, AQF-aligned practice, with a 99% UK Student Visa success rate across 5,000+ guided applications since 2016 (internal tracking data).