UK Cuts Graduate Route Visa To 18 Months From May, Impacting Indian Students' Work Opportunities

Indian students and skilled workers in the UK are bracing for a wave of stricter immigration reforms unveiled by Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday, with many fearing the new measures could make life more uncertain for international communities already navigating complex visa routes.

The UK government’s newly released Immigration White Paper introduces sweeping changes across work, study, and family migration routes — a move aimed at curbing the country’s rising migration figures. For Indian nationals, who form one of the largest cohorts of student and skilled worker visa holders, the reforms mark a significant policy shift.

Graduate route visa cut to 18 months

The primary cause for concern is the decision to shorten the two-year period for the Graduate Route visa, a post-study work permit, to 18 months. The route has been especially popular among Indian students looking to gain international work experience after completing their degrees in the UK.

Sanam Arora, chair of the National Indian Students and Alumni Union (NISAU) UK, urged the government to provide early clarification while also advocating calm.

"Although we are glad the Graduate Route has been kept, albeit for a shorter period of time, we strongly recommend that its implementation—as well as the broader reforms—be handled with caution, clarity, and cooperation," she told PTI.

NISAU emphasised that without timely communication, the changes could trigger panic among both current students and prospective applicants from India — a country that has consistently topped UK visa application charts in recent years.

Stricter english language and settlement rules

Another feature of the new rules is that candidates and their dependents must meet stricter English language competency requirements. During their stay, dependents will now need to demonstrate more advanced levels of English proficiency.

The government has also extended the period from five to ten years for applying for permanent settlement in the UK. This extension is expected to have a wide-ranging impact on international workers, including Indians already contributing in sectors like healthcare, IT, and education.

Call for alignment and transparency

NISAU welcomed some aspects of the reforms, especially the government’s stated intent to align immigration policies with skills needs and improve transparency in the education agent ecosystem.

"We have made very clear requests for increased accountability and transparency in education agent practices, and we firmly support this movement," Arora explained.

Speaking from Downing Street, Starmer described the measures as required to safeguard British interests and societal cohesion."We run the risk of becoming an island of strangers if we don't follow these rules," stated the governor. "To give us more control, we will tighten up every aspect of the immigration system, including work, family, and education."