The UK Graduate Route — What Changes in 2027

The UK Graduate visa is the most straightforward post-study work route in the world: no job offer, no employer sponsor, no salary threshold. You finish your degree, you apply, and you get time to work or look for work.

But the duration is changing. From 1 January 2027, the Graduate visa shortens for most applicants. If you apply on or before 31 December 2026, you keep the current 2-year duration. If you apply on or after 1 January 2027, you get 18 months. PhD graduates keep 3 years either way [citation:1][citation:11].

The key eligibility rules: you must apply from inside the UK, while your Student visa is still valid. Your university must have notified the Home Office that you successfully completed your course. You can only apply once — there is no second chance if you let it lapse [citation:1][citation:13].

What it costs: £937 application fee, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge. For 18 months the surcharge is £1,152.50; for 2 years it is £2,070; for 3 years it is £3,105 .

Canada — PGWP Is No Longer Automatic

Canada's Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) used to be one of the most generous open work permits in the world. You graduated, you applied, you worked for any employer for up to 3 years. That is no longer the full picture.

Three changes now filter who qualifies:

• Language requirement. University degree holders (bachelor's, master's, doctoral) need CLB 7 in all four areas. College and non-degree program graduates need CLB 5 [citation:3].
• Field-of-study requirement. If you graduated from a non-degree program (college, polytechnic), your field of study must be on IRCC's approved list linked to long-term labour shortages. Degree holders are exempt from this specific requirement [citation:3].
• Fewer eligible institutions. Only graduates of eligible Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) can apply. Check your institution on IRCC's DLI list before you assume you qualify [citation:3].

Duration: Programs of 8 months to under 2 years get a PGWP up to the same length as the program. Programs of 2 years or more get up to 3 years. Eligible master's graduates may get 3 years even if the program was shorter than 2 years [citation:9].

Apply within 180 days of receiving confirmation of completion [citation:9].

Australia — 485 Visa, Age and English Tightened

Australia's Subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate) visa gives you 2 to 4 years depending on your qualification. Bachelor's and coursework master's graduates get 2 years. Research master's and PhD graduates get 3 years. Hong Kong/BNO passport holders can get up to 5 years [citation:5].

What has tightened:

• Age limit: 35 years old (research master's and PhD graduates can be up to 50) [citation:5].
• English: IELTS 6.5 overall with no band below 5.5. One Skill Retake scores are no longer accepted [citation:5][citation:10].
• Timing: You must apply within 6 months of completing your course, and you must be in Australia when you apply [citation:5].

The upside: Australia has strong demand in IT, engineering, nursing and early childhood education. The 485 gives you time to work in those fields and build a pathway to permanent residency through employer sponsorship or state nomination [citation:5].

New Zealand — PSW With a Clearer PR Path

New Zealand's Post Study Work visa is smaller than Australia's but cleaner in one important way: the path to residence is more direct for graduates in Green List occupations.

• Duration: Bachelor's (Level 7) and master's (Level 9) graduates can get up to 3 years. PhD graduates get 3 years. Postgraduate Diploma holders get 1 year [citation:5].
• Timing: Apply within 3 months of your student visa expiring (6 months for PhD holders) [citation:5].
• Family friendly: Spouses of master's students and students in shortage undergraduate programs can get open work visas. Children can attend public schools for free [citation:5].
• Residence: If your job is on the Green List and meets the wage threshold, you can apply for residence without going through the points system. This is the clearest graduate-to-residence path of the four countries in this guide [citation:5].

How to Turn Your Graduate Visa Into a Sponsored Job

A graduate visa is a bridge, not a destination. In every country above, the goal is to move from the graduate route into a sponsored work visa before your time runs out.

The pattern is the same everywhere:

1. Secure a job offer from a licensed sponsor. The employer must hold a valid sponsorship licence (UK), be LMIA-approved or exempt (Canada), or be an approved sponsor (Australia/NZ).
2. Check the role is eligible. The occupation must be on the relevant skilled list and meet the skill level.
3. Check the salary. You must meet the going rate or threshold. In the UK, new entrant discounts can lower the threshold for recent graduates — but time on the Graduate visa may count towards the maximum period you can rely on new entrant status [citation:1].
4. Apply before your graduate visa expires. If you apply in time, you can usually stay while the application is processed. If you miss the deadline, your options shrink dramatically.

Frequently Asked Questions — Graduate Work Visas

What IFMOSA Helps You Do as a New Graduate

• Find roles from employers who already hold sponsorship licences, so you are not wasting time on companies that cannot sponsor you.
• See the sponsorship route attached to each listing, so you know whether a role can lead to a work visa before you apply.
• Get direct employer contact details through Go membership, so you can speak to hiring managers instead of disappearing into an ATS queue.
• Link to the official government page for every country, so you can verify the salary threshold, occupation code, and application process yourself.