Switch to Skilled Worker Visa From Student Visa in UK

Can you switch from a Student visa to a Skilled Worker visa?

Migrants can switch from tier four Student Visas to Skilled Worker visas inside the United Kingdom if they have completed their course or studies and have had a UK employer with a sponsor licence offer them employment. As well as this, the individual needs to ensure that they meet all of the eligibility requirements for a Skilled Worker.

Since 2023, immigration laws have allowed individuals to apply for Skilled Worker visas before the end date of their course; however, the date of employment starting cannot be any earlier than the date of course completion. If this is not done, the individual would have to leave and then submit to gain a Skilled Worker visa from outside of the UK.

If the individual is studying for a PhD, then the start date of a Skilled Worker visa can be no sooner than 24 months after the date of the course beginning.

If an individual is on a short-term Student Visa in the UK, they will not be allowed to switch to a Skilled Worker visa.

The main work visa scheme for migrants worldwide to enter the UK is the Skilled Worker visa. Those who obtain this visa are granted Indefinite Leave to Remain after being on this visa for five years.

Sponsoring A Skilled Worker: Key Requirements

One of the most important requirements of hiring via the Skilled Worker visa route is that the organisation that is hiring migrant workers holds a skilled worker sponsor licence that is valid.

It is also imperative that the organisation pays all relevant fees to recruit and sponsor visa workers on a points-based system; this includes the Immigration Skills Charge.

Another important requirement for sponsoring Skilled Workers is to assign the worker a Certificate of Sponsorship. This will certify that the applicant and the role available are both applicable and meet the requirements of the visa.

After this stage, the applicant will then make their skilled worker application to the Home Office using the Certificate of Sponsorship given by the organisation.

This application needs to be submitted within three months after the Certificate of Sponsorship has been issued; however, it can also be no sooner than three months before the proposed start of employment date.

Businesses that are sponsored licence holders in the UK are operating under the compliance duties of the immigration system regarding their sponsored workers. This means that they are obligated to notify the Home Office if there are unexplained absences or if the employee leaves employment with them early.

If the licence holder does not comply with these duties, then this could cause penalties, which may influence the business’s ability to employ workers through this scheme.

Eligibility Criteria For Switching To A Skilled Worker Visa As A Student

For an individual to be able to switch from a Student Visa to a Skilled Worker Visa in the UK, they must meet the following criteria:

• The individual must have completed their course. If they study for a full-time PhD, then the date employment begins can be no sooner than 24 months after the start of their course.
• The individual must meet the minimum salary requirements.
• The applicant must have a job offer from an employer that is equipped with a sponsor licence for Skilled Workers.
• The skilled worker job offer they have received must be on the list of eligible occupations.
• The applicant needs to meet the requirements for the English language.
• The individual should have sufficient funds to be able to support themselves with living costs in the UK. However, this is not necessary for those who have been in the United Kingdom for over a year on a Student Visa.

What Are The Lower Salary Requirements?

New graduates who are entering the job market will often not meet the typical salary requirement of the Skilled Worker visa, which is £41,700. However, it is still possible for them to switch from a Student Visa to a Skilled worker visa if they get a lower salary and they fit certain criteria.

• New entrants must be paid at least £33,400 per year or 70% of the going rate for the occupation, whichever is higher (from 22 July 2025). This applies to those who are:
  • Under 26 years of age.
  • Are working towards gaining a recognised UK-regulated professional qualification.
  • Are working towards getting full registration or chartered status in the role that they are gaining sponsorship for.
• Should an applicant hold a relevant PhD, they can switch from a Student Visa to a Skilled Worker visa if their PhD is relevant to its subject or if it is a STEM subject. To check that the PhD is relevant, applicants and employers can check the list of Skilled Occupations with the Home Office.
  Those who are eligible will have PhD points for Skilled Workers. Those who are eligible will only need a salary that is 80% of the typical going rate if they have a PhD in a STEM subject; alternatively, if the PhD is not in a STEM subject, then the salary should be 90% of the typical going rate.

How To Switch To A Skilled Worker Visa: The Process

For an individual to swap over from a Student Visa to a Skilled Worker visa in the United Kingdom, there are several steps that the individual must undertake. The first step is gaining employment and getting a Certificate of Sponsorship from the employer.

1. The individual needs to gain employment with an eligible employer within the UK and then needs to ensure that they have the Certificate of Sponsorship from this employer before they start their application with the Home Office.
2. With the Certificate of Sponsorship, the applicant can now complete the skilled worker application form to switch their visa type, this is available on the website of the Home Office.
3. Once the applicant has completed the application form, they need to pay any necessary application fees.
4. The applicant will also need to provide proof of their identity. This can be done by attending an appointment for biometrics with their local UKVCAS service centre. This can also be done using the mobile phone app ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’.
5. Finally, the applicant needs to upload any further supporting documents that may help their application.

It is possible that an applicant could be asked to attend an interview with the home office before the granting of a Skilled Worker visa. This does depend on unique circumstances, however.

Applicants must make this application before their present Student Visa expires; if they do not, they may be classified as ‘overstaying’. That being said, once the applicant has made their application, they are then allowed to remain in the UK as long as necessary to get a decision on their application.

What Are The Necessary Fees For An Applicant To Pay?

Applicants intending to switch their visas will need to pay specific fees. These fees are as follows:

• £943 per person for a visa that lasts up to three years.
• £1,865 per person for a visa that lasts more than three years.
• £628 per person for a visa that lasts up to three years in a role on the immigration salary list.
• £1,235
  per person for a visa that lasts more than three years in a role on the immigration salary list.

Additionally, applicants will also need to pay a fee for the Immigration Healthcare Surcharge. This allows applicants access to the NHS (National Health Service). This costs £1035 per year.

How Long It Takes To Get A Decision On The Visa Switch

Overview

The amount of time it takes for an application to get a decision on a switch to a Skilled Worker visa can vary depending on the specifics of the application.

Should the applicant be using the standard service, they can expect to receive a decision within 8 weeks. However, should the applicant wish to get a decision faster, an additional fee can be paid. These options include the following:

• £500 can be paid for a priority service. This amount will provide the applicant with a response in five working days.
• £1000 can be paid as a super-priority service that grants the applicant a decision before the end of the next working day. If the appointment gained with UKVCAS is on a weekend day, this would be two working days.

How Long Is The Skilled Worker Visa Valid For?

Should a student migrant switch to the Skilled Worker visa, they will be permitted to stay for 14 days after the date that their current visa expires.

When a Student Visa holder applies for a Skilled Worker visa as a new entrant, they will not be able to be granted any more than four total years. That being said, they can still continue to extend their visa as a Skilled Worker, but they will not be able to meet the required salary unless they rely on the salary threshold of a ‘new entrant’.

On a standard Skilled Worker visa, entrants can see their visa last up to five years before it needs to be extended. A Skilled Worker visa needs to be extended or updated when it is due to expire or if the applicant changes employers or jobs.

Is It Possible To Bring Dependents On A Skilled Worker Visa?

A partner or children can apply to join an applicant who holds a Skilled Worker visa as dependents if they are considered to be eligible. Dependents will be required to complete separate applications from the primary applicant.

New rules brought in on 22nd July 2025 mean that Skilled Worker visa holders qualified below RQF Level 6 will no longer be eligible to bring dependents. RQF 3–5 jobs (sub-degree level) must be listed on the Immigration Salary List (ISL) or Temporary Shortage List (TSL), so many jobs (any below RQF Level 6) on these lists will not allow you to bring dependents to the UK. You must be paid a minimum of £41,700 or the higher going rate for the job you do.

If the dependent’s applications are successful, then their visa will expire on the same date as that of the primary applicant. If a child has two parents who have visas that expire on different dates, the date the child’s visa will expire will be the same as that of the parent’s earliest expiration date.

How can IAS Help with Switching to Skilled Worker Visa?

Switching from a current Student Visa to a Skilled worker visa can be complicated. The periods allowed for the switch and the process of gaining a valid certificate of sponsorship to complete skilled worker applications can be very complex and difficult.

This is why, when it comes to UK immigration law, it can be very useful to seek out the assistance of immigration lawyers. The immigration lawyers at IAS are experts in dealing with student-to-skilled worker visa switches. IAS lawyers and legal advisers can advise employers and international graduates on visa fees, jobs on the shortage occupation list, and the skilled worker category.

We can help you understand immigration rules for student visa holders and help those on or employing someone on the student route start the skilled worker visa application. Give us a call today at +44 (0)333 414 9244 or message us online to get started on switching from Student Visa to Skilled Worker visa UK.