You can switch from a UK Student or Graduate visa to a Skilled Worker visa without leaving the UK, provided you meet the requirements. This is known as an in-country switch. It still requires a sponsoring employer with a valid sponsor licence, so you can’t switch on your own. This guide covers the basics you’ll need to know and common errors to avoid.
Current holders of a Student visa (formerly Tier 4) or a Graduate visa can switch to Skilled Worker from inside the UK. The key condition is that your studies must be finished (or nearly finished) when the new job starts. In practice, this means you should have completed the course on which your Student visa was granted and the Home Office expects you to have studied to the end of your programme. If you were granted a Graduate visa (the 2-year post-study route), the same rules apply and you can switch as long as your visa is still valid and you meet the job requirements.
You cannot switch before your course is complete, unless your employer sets the job’s start date after your official course end date and your university agrees. Graduate students sometimes arrange to start work immediately after finishing exams, but it’s safest to apply once the course end date has passed (or with clear proof from the provider that you’ll finish by the job start).
Short-term study visas and Visitor visas are not eligible for switching inside the UK. If you are in the UK on a short-term study visa or visitor visa, you must leave and apply from your home country or somewhere you hold valid residency.
Your UK employer must be a licensed Skilled Worker sponsor and hold an A-rated sponsor licence. The employer must assign you a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) using the Sponsor Management System (SMS). This CoS should be issued specifically for your job with them, showing your name, job title, SOC code, salary and hours. The important thing is that the CoS must be the correct category for your situation. Assigning a CoS under the wrong category will not be accepted, meaning a new CoS will need to be assigned. This can delay the application process and, if the correct CoS is not provided, may ultimately result in the application being refused.
The job on the CoS must be matched to an eligible occupation code listed in Appendix Skilled Worker Occupations.
The employer must also pay the Certificate of Sponsorship and Immigration Skills Charge (ISC) fees for your application. This charge is an employer cost and cannot be passed on to you. As of today, the ISC is £1,320 per year of sponsorship (or £480 for small employers/charities)
The Skilled Worker visa has strict salary rules. In general, your salary must meet the higher of the standard threshold (currently £41,700) or the going rate for the occupation.
Since you are switching from a study route, you’ll likely qualify as a “new entrant”. The new entrant minimum is £33,400 per year (or 70% of the going rate for the occupation, whichever is higher). In practice, this means the employer can pay you 70% of the standard going rate as long as your salary is at least £33,400. (For example, if the going rate for your SOC code is £40,000, you could be paid £28,000 a year under the 70% rule – but only if £28,000 ≥ £33,400, so in that case you’d still need to earn £33,400.) You can be paid the new entrant rate for a maximum of 4 years in total, and any time spent on the Graduate visa counts towards that 4-year total
The new entrant rule generally applies to your first Skilled Worker application. If you later extend or change your CoS, depending on your age (26 or over) or your previous duration of sponsorship, you’ll likely have to be paid the standard rate for your visa extension.
The standard skilled worker salary threshold is currently £41,700 per year (or the occupation’s going rate, whichever is higher). This applies if you do not qualify as a new entrant – for example, if you’ve already had a Skilled Worker visa before and are over 25, or if your employer does not confirm new entrant status. Even as a new entrant, your salary still must meet these minimums in each pay period (Home Office policy is that the threshold must be satisfied in each pay reference period, not just on average over the year).
When you apply, you’ll submit several key documents. Make sure you have:
You must apply before your current visa expires. This means you can lawfully remain in the UK between visas. You can apply up to 3 months before the job start date listed on the CoS,
Your CoS must have been assigned no more than 3 months before your application submission date. If it’s older than 3 months when you apply, the application may be unsuccessful.
If opting for the standard service, it’s wise to apply at least 8 weeks before the start date on your CoS, as standard processing time can take up to 8 weeks.
Switching from a Student visa to a Skilled Worker visa is a well-established path, but it requires careful coordination between the applicant and the sponsoring employer. Start the process early, ideally several months before your studies end. Confirm with your employer that they are ready to sponsor: they should have a valid licence, agree your job meets the rules, and assign the correct CoS. Double-check the CoS details (job code, salary, start date) and your own documents before applying.
Many switch applications fail due to avoidable mistakes: missed deadlines, wrong CoS type, salary miscalculations, etc.
If you're a student or recent graduate looking to make the switch, professional support can make a real difference. The Migrate UK team can guide you and your employer through each stage helping you avoid costly delays. Get in touch to discuss your case and help ensure your Skilled Worker application goes smoothly.
Student Visa to ILR: What Are Your Long-Term Settlement Options?
Graduate to Skilled Worker Visa Route
Breakdown of the Costs for a Skilled Worker Visa in 2025
Guide on switching from a Graduate to a Skilled Worker Visa