Study and graduate visas are open. Overseas care-worker visas closed in July 2025, and skilled jobs now need a degree-level role and higher pay.
Why Nepalis go: Strong historic ties (Gurkhas), a large Nepali community, world-class universities and the National Health Service (NHS) hiring nurses.
The catch: The UK tightened almost every work route in 2024–2025. Most master's students can no longer bring family, and settlement is planned to take longer.
Most common route: Student visa → Graduate visa → Skilled Worker visa → settlement (ILR). Nurses can go directly on the Health and Care Worker visa.
Student visa
A UK university gives you a CAS number, you show money for fees and living, and you come to study.
Who it's for: Students with an offer from a licensed UK student sponsor.
Cost: Visa fee £558 + Immigration Health Surcharge £776 per year (≈ Rs 1 lakh + Rs 1.4 lakh a year). Tuition often £12,000–25,000 a year.
Time: Usually about 3 weeks after biometrics.
Stay: Length of course plus a few months.
Family: Only for PhD/research-based postgraduate courses. Taught master's students can't bring dependants (since Jan 2024).
Leads to permanent residence: Not directly. It can lead to the Graduate visa, then Skilled Worker.
Graduate visa
After finishing a UK degree you can stay and work in any job without a sponsor for a while.
Who it's for: Students who complete a UK bachelor's or master's degree.
Cost: Visa fee £937 + health surcharge £1,035 per year.
Time: About 8 weeks.
Stay: 2 years if you apply by 31 December 2026; 18 months from 1 January 2027 (PhD: 3 years).
Family: Only family already with you as dependants.
Leads to permanent residence: No, but you can switch to Skilled Worker.
Skilled Worker visa
A UK employer with a sponsor licence offers you an eligible job and gives you a Certificate of Sponsorship.
Who it's for: People offered a graduate-level (RQF 6) job paying at least £41,700, or a lower rate in some cases.
Cost: Visa £819 for up to 3 years (from outside the UK) + health surcharge £1,035 per year.
Time: About 3 weeks from outside the UK.
Stay: Up to 5 years, renewable.
Family: Yes (except some shortage-list roles).
Leads to permanent residence: Yes — currently settlement (ILR) after 5 years; the government plans to lengthen this.
Health and Care Worker visa (nurses, doctors, other health professionals)
Nurses and other registered health professionals can be hired by the NHS or private healthcare with cheaper fees and no health surcharge.
Who it's for: Qualified nurses, midwives, doctors and allied health professionals. Care workers from overseas: closed since 22 July 2025.
Cost: Reduced visa fee (£324 for up to 3 years) and no health surcharge.
Time: About 3 weeks after the offer.
Stay: Up to 5 years.
Family: Yes for nurses and health professionals.
Leads to permanent residence: Yes, after the qualifying period.
British Army Gurkhas & Gurkha settlement
Young Nepali men and women can apply to join the Brigade of Gurkhas through British Gurkhas Nepal. Former Gurkhas and their families may settle in the UK.
Who it's for: Recruitment: Nepali citizens about 18–21 years old who pass a very tough selection. Settlement: ex-Gurkhas and certain family members.
Cost: Recruitment is FREE. Settlement applications have UK visa fees.
Time: Recruitment is once a year; selection takes months.
Stay: Service contract; then settlement eligibility.
Family: Yes, for settlement cases.
Leads to permanent residence: Yes.
Scams to avoid
Care-worker visas from overseas closed in July 2025 — anyone selling them is a scammer.
Certificates of Sponsorship cannot legally be sold.
The UK Seasonal Worker visa is free to recruit for — scheme operators must not charge you recruitment fees. See the Seasonal work tab.
Nepal is not part of the UK Youth Mobility Scheme.