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

Switching from a Student visa to a Skilled Worker visa inside the UK: what the job must be, the salary threshold in 2026, the new-entrant rate, and the timing.

Reviewed 28 September 2026 · 1 min read

Short answer: Yes, from inside the UK, if an employer with a sponsor licence offers you an eligible job: at RQF level 6 or above for most occupations, paid at least £41,700 a year in 2026 or the occupation's going rate, whichever is higher. Graduates under 26 and recent UK graduates can use a reduced new-entrant threshold.

Two routes

Directly from the Student visa once you have completed the course, if an employer is ready to sponsor you.
Via the Graduate visa: two years of unsponsored work (18 months for applications from 1 January 2027), then a switch before it ends. This is what most graduates do.

What the job must be

With an employer that holds a sponsor licence.
At RQF level 6 (graduate level) or above for most occupations, following the July 2025 changes.
Paid at least the general threshold of £41,700 a year in 2026 or the occupation's going rate, whichever is higher. Graduates under 26 and recent UK graduates qualify for a reduced "new entrant" threshold.

Timing

An employer without a licence needs around eight weeks to get one (a £500 priority service cuts it to ten working days), then a Certificate of Sponsorship and your visa application. Plan for about three months from offer to start date, and start conversations at least six months before your current visa ends.

Why the switch matters

Time on a Skilled Worker visa counts towards settlement; time on the Graduate visa does not. The Graduate visa guide and the sponsor licence guide cover both sides.

Sources

General information, not regulated immigration advice. Rules change; check the source before you act, and speak to an IAA-registered adviser about your case.