Switch from a Student to a Skilled Worker
You can switch from a Student Visa to a Skilled Worker Visa inside the UK if you meet the switching rules and have an eligible sponsored job. A job offer alone is not enough: your course circumstances, Certificate of Sponsorship, salary and English proficiency must also satisfy the requirements.
If you already hold a Graduate Visa, you can also apply to switch, but check your remaining permission and whether time on that route affects a new entrant salary discount.
This guide takes you through the application steps, documents, costs and work restrictions. For advice about your job offer, see our Skilled Worker Visa service.
Understanding the Skilled Worker Visa
The Skilled Worker Visa allows you to live and work in the UK for an approved employer in an eligible role. It replaced the old Tier 2 (General) visa.
You need a job offer from an employer with a Home Office sponsorship licence, a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), an eligible occupation code, the required salary and proof of English. Financial proof may be required unless an exemption applies.
Permission can be granted for up to five years, depending on your sponsorship and circumstances. It can lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), provided you later meet the settlement rules.
Why Switch Instead of Leaving and Reapplying?
An eligible in-country application can avoid an overseas application and associated travel. However, switching is not automatically cheaper or faster. The correct approach depends on your immigration status, application costs and timing.
Students must satisfy one of three conditions:
- You have completed the course you were sponsored to study, including an eligible permitted course change.
- You are studying a full-time degree-level course or above at a higher education provider with a track record of compliance, and your CoS start date is no earlier than your course completion date.
- You are studying an eligible full-time PhD at such a provider, and your CoS start date is no earlier than 24 months after the course began.
There is no general rule allowing a switch simply because you have studied for 12 months. Confirm your course dates with your university. Your graduation ceremony does not necessarily establish the relevant completion date.
Step-by-Step: How to Switch from a Student Visa to a Skilled Worker Visa
Step 1: Find a Licensed Sponsor Employer
Check the employer against the official register of licensed sponsors. This is sometimes called the Sponsor List. Confirm the correct legal entity and that it holds the appropriate permission to sponsor your role.
Being listed does not mean the employer sponsors every vacancy or can immediately assign a CoS.
If your employer needs a licence, see our sponsor licence service.
Step 2: Receive Your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)
A Certificate of Sponsorship is a record assigned by your sponsor, not a paper certificate. Its reference number connects your application to the sponsored job.
Check your personal details, job title, occupation code, salary, weekly hours, work location and sponsorship dates. For a Student Visa switch, compare the proposed start date with the applicable course condition.
Raise discrepancies before applying. An offer letter, employment contract and CoS should describe a consistent role. Your sponsor must ensure the CoS is valid for the application and used within the applicable time limit.
Step 3: Check Salary and Occupation Code
The standard salary threshold is usually £41,700 per year or the occupation’s going rate, whichever is higher. Different salary rules apply to some healthcare and education roles and other eligible categories.
Your occupation code must reflect the actual duties. A job title or degree subject alone does not establish the correct code or skill level. Check whether the occupation is eligible under the current rules.
Higher-skilled roles can qualify, while medium-skilled roles generally need a specified basis, such as inclusion on the Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage List. Certain special provisions also exist. Older references to shortage occupations should not be used without checking the current lists.
Some students and graduates qualify as new entrants. Under the standard new entrant option, pay must normally reach both £33,400 and 70% of the relevant going rate. New entrants do not qualify simply because they are starting a new job.
The discounted option has a four-year limit across relevant permission, including time on a Graduate Visa. That can affect how long your employer can sponsor you at the discounted rate. Salary calculations must also account for working hours and permitted pay components.
Step 4: Prepare Your Documents
Your checklist should match your circumstances. Typical documents include:
- Your passport or travel ID and details of your current immigration status.
- Your Certificate of Sponsorship reference number and sponsored job information.
- Proof of English meeting the applicable requirement.
- Course completion or course-date evidence where relevant.
- Financial proof, if required.
- Written scholarship consent or an ATAS certificate where applicable.
- Additional documents for eligible dependants, including relevant marriage or birth certificates.
If an older checklist asks for your current visa or BRP, check how you now demonstrate your status through your UKVI account and eVisa. Keep your application history and identity details consistent.
Proof of English for Skilled Workers
A first switch from Student or Graduate permission normally requires B2 English in reading, writing, speaking and listening. Do not assume holding a Student Visa automatically establishes the required level.
A qualifying degree taught in English and awarded by a UK institution may meet the requirement. An overseas qualification generally needs the relevant Ecctis assessment. An approved test or another permitted method may also be available.
If your degree has not yet been awarded, check what evidence is acceptable before relying on it. This can matter where you are applying before course completion.
Financial Proof and Maintenance for Skilled Workers
If you have held valid UK permission for at least 12 months, you will normally meet the maintenance requirement without showing funds. Otherwise, you usually need £1,270 held for the required 28-day period, unless your sponsor certifies maintenance appropriately.
Dependants have separate maintenance requirements and exemptions. This money is different from the application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge. Budget for both the application and your living costs while arrangements are finalised.
Step 5: Apply Online and Pay Fees
Use the appropriate switching application. Submit before your current permission expires and within the permitted application window relating to the sponsored job start date.
Check your answers against the CoS and supporting documents. Pay the applicable application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), unless exempt. Save the submitted form, reference numbers and payment confirmations.
Starting a form or booking advice does not extend your permission. If your visa expiry is approaching and sponsorship is incomplete, address your options promptly.
Step 6: Prove Your Identity or Attend a Biometrics Appointment
You will be told whether to use the UK Immigration: ID Check app or attend an appointment to provide your fingerprints and photograph. Follow the instructions issued for your application, including any UKVCAS appointment arrangements.
Biometric information does not attract the old £19.20 fee. Optional appointment or scanning services may still cost extra.
Step 7: Wait for a Decision
Inside-UK Skilled Worker applications usually receive a decision within eight weeks. Priority services may be available, but additional checks can cause delays.
Monitor your email and respond to requests promptly. Do not travel outside the UK, Ireland, Channel Islands or Isle of Man while the application is pending, as this normally withdraws it.
Costs of Switching in 2026
For a standard inside-UK Skilled Worker application, charges checked on 10 October 2026 are:
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee for up to three years | £943 per person |
| Application fee for more than three years | £1,865 per person |
| Immigration Health Surcharge | Usually £1,035 per year for an adult |
| Priority service, if available | £500 extra per applicant |
| Super priority service, if available | £1,000 extra per applicant |
Reduced application fees apply to eligible Immigration Salary List jobs. Qualifying Health and Care Worker applications have different fees and IHS exemptions. Dependants require separate budgeting.
The final IHS calculation depends on the permission period. Check the amount shown during your application rather than assuming the contract length gives the exact charge. Professional fees and optional services are additional.
Can I Work While My Application Is Pending?
A valid, in-time application can extend your existing permission and conditions while it is decided. It does not automatically give you unrestricted Skilled Worker rights.
Students normally remain subject to Student work conditions. A specific exception can permit an eligible student with a valid Skilled Worker application to fill a permanent full-time vacancy up to three months before course completion. The institution, course and application conditions must all be met, and other Student restrictions remain relevant.
Ask your employer to verify your right to work and permitted hours before changing your working arrangements. Applying for permission and being allowed to start the sponsored role are separate checks.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Check these points before submission:
- Accepting a job without confirming sponsorship.
- Submitting an invalid or expired Certificate of Sponsorship.
- Applying without satisfying the applicable course condition.
- Using outdated salary codes, thresholds or shortage lists.
- Miscalculating new entrant eligibility or its remaining duration.
- Missing supporting documents or assuming dependants qualify automatically.
- Starting work beyond your current permission.
Professional guidance can help identify gaps, but no adviser can guarantee approval. Resolve discrepancies before submission rather than relying on the Home Office to request corrections.
Why Graduates Choose AHJ Immigration
AHJ Immigration can help you assess switching eligibility and identify issues requiring closer review. A free 15-minute consultation provides initial direction; it does not include a detailed document review.
Where appropriate, we can explain the scope and fees for CoS review, document review or application preparation, including agreed submission and Home Office correspondence. Any ongoing communication should fall within the service agreed with you.
If comparing OISC consultants or immigration solicitors for UK visas and applications, check current authorisation. AHJ provides advice through IAA-regulated immigration advisers, within the applicable scope.
What Happens After You Get the Skilled Worker Visa?
Check your eVisa, permission dates and work conditions. You can work for your sponsoring employer in the approved role. Changing employers normally requires a new CoS and an approved visa update before starting the new job.
Dependants do not switch automatically. Care worker, senior care worker and medium-skilled occupations have significant dependant restrictions, with specific exceptions. Check the family position before accepting sponsorship; our family visa service can help.
Current rules allow eligible Skilled Workers to seek ILR after five qualifying years. Student and Graduate permission do not count towards that five-year route. British citizenship has separate requirements. Proposed reforms should not be treated as enacted rules or a guarantee about future eligibility.
Skilled Worker FAQs
Can I switch before finishing my degree?
Potentially, if you meet the eligible course and CoS date condition or PhD condition. Twelve months of study alone is insufficient.
Do I need to leave the UK?
Eligible Student and Graduate holders can apply inside the UK before expiry. Check your status and application requirements first.
What if my employer loses their sponsor licence?
Revocation can lead to cancelled sponsorship and shortened permission, usually to 60 days or less. Check the Home Office notice immediately; do not assume continued work is permitted. Suspension has different consequences.
Can dependants switch with me?
Only if each person qualifies. Existing dependant permission does not establish eligibility under every sponsored occupation.
How soon should I apply?
Begin preparation early. The application window normally opens three months before the CoS job start date, not automatically three months before visa expiry.
Start Your Skilled Worker Journey Today
Book your free immigration consultation to discuss your job offer, course dates and visa expiry. Prefer a call? Request a call back.
Call 0121 828 2224 or email hello@ahjimmigration.co.uk.
Explore our Skilled Worker Visa service or Graduate Visa guidance for help with your next step.
