Switching from a Student visa to a Skilled Worker visa: the 2026 rules

You have studied here, you have a job offer or you are close to one, and you want to stay and build a career in the UK. The good news is that you can usually move from a Student visa onto a Skilled Worker visa without leaving the country. The catch is that the rules changed significantly in 2025, so a lot of the advice still circulating online is now out of date. Here is what actually applies in 2026.

As a former UKVI Officer, I have seen how often these applications go wrong on timing and salary rather than on the merits of the person. The route is very workable when it is planned properly, and most of the avoidable problems come from following older guidance. So let us go through it as it stands now.

The starting point: you can switch from inside the UK

If you hold a valid Student visa, you do not need to return to your home country to apply. You can submit a Skilled Worker application in-country, as long as you do it before your Student visa expires. For most students moving into their first professional role, this is the standard pathway. You may also see the older names for these routes, Tier 4 for the Student visa and Tier 2 General for the Skilled Worker visa. The names changed but the idea of switching from study to sponsored work is the same.

What changed in 2025

Several important changes took effect from 22 July 2025, and they are the reason older articles can mislead you. The main ones are:

• Higher salary thresholds. The general minimum salary rose, and the occupation-specific going rates increased too.

• A higher skill level. The route now generally requires roles at degree level, known as RQF Level 6, rather than the lower level that applied before. Many lower-skilled roles that used to qualify no longer do, outside limited transitional and shortage arrangements.

• Clearer timing rules for students. The relationship between your course end date and your job start date is now strictly applied.

• Tighter dependant rules. Restrictions on bringing dependants have increased for certain groups, so this needs checking for your specific situation.

None of this means switching is closed off. It means the planning has to be right, particularly on salary and timing.

Can I switch before I finish my degree?

This is the question we are asked most, and the honest answer is more precise than a simple yes or no. You can submit your application before your course formally ends, but the start date of your Skilled Worker job cannot be earlier than your course completion date. In other words, the application can come first, but the work cannot begin before you have finished studying.

The Home Office generally looks at the course end date recorded on your CAS to decide this, so finishing your assignments early does not necessarily move the date forward. There is one well-established exception: if you are studying full-time for a PhD, your job start date can be set as early as 24 months after the start of that course, even if the PhD is not yet complete.

In short: for most students you must have completed your course, or be lining the job start date up with your course end date. For full-time PhD students, the 24 month rule gives more flexibility. Getting this date right is one of the most common things that makes or breaks these applications.

The salary rules and the new entrant discount

Salary is where most students are caught out, because graduate starting salaries often sit below the standard threshold. The route deals with this through a new entrant discount, which most people switching straight from a Student or Graduate visa can use.

	Skilled Worker salary tiers as of 2026 (from 22 July 2025). You must meet the relevant cash floor and the going rate for your occupation, whichever is higher.
Who you are	Minimum salary guide
Standard applicant	£41,700 per year, or the going rate for the role, whichever is higher
New entrant (includes most switching from a Student or Graduate visa, and those under 26)	£33,400 per year, or 70% of the going rate, whichever is higher
PhD relevant to the role	A reduced going rate applies, with different levels for STEM and non-STEM subjects

These figures are reviewed and updated periodically. Always check the current thresholds, and the going rate for your specific occupation code, before relying on them.

The new entrant discount is generous but not permanent. You can usually rely on it for a maximum of around four years, after which you are expected to meet the standard rate. That makes it important to think about not just whether you qualify today, but whether your salary is on a path to the full threshold before the discount runs out. This is exactly the kind of forward planning we work through with clients.

The full checklist

Putting it together, to switch from a Student visa to a Skilled Worker visa you will generally need:

• A job offer from an employer that holds a valid Skilled Worker sponsor licence.

• A valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) assigned to you for that role.

• A role on the list of eligible occupations, at the required skill level.

• A salary that meets both the relevant cash threshold and the going rate for the occupation.

• English language ability, normally at CEFR level B1 or above.

• Maintenance funds, usually proof of savings held for a set period, unless you have been in the UK for 12 months or more on your current visa, or your sponsor certifies maintenance for you.

• To apply from inside the UK before your Student visa expires, and to have met the course completion or PhD timing condition.

There are also application and healthcare costs to budget for, which are set by the Home Office and change from time to time.

Timing is everything

The single biggest practical risk is letting your Student visa lapse before you apply. If your Student visa has already expired, you will usually have to apply from outside the UK instead, which is slower and more disruptive. So the safe approach is to line up the sponsor, the CoS and the salary well before your current visa runs out, and to submit in good time. When the application is made correctly and in time, you can normally continue under your existing conditions while you wait for a decision.

Thinking ahead to settlement

One point worth knowing early: time spent on a Student visa does not count towards settlement (ILR), whereas time on a Skilled Worker visa does. Switching is therefore the start of your settlement clock, not a continuation of it. The qualifying period and the wider settlement rules are also under review at government level, with proposals that could change how long that takes in future, so it is sensible to factor your longer term plan in from the outset rather than leaving it to later.

A note for employers

If you are an employer wanting to keep a talented student or recent graduate, you will need a Skilled Worker sponsor licence and the ability to assign a Certificate of Sponsorship. If you do not yet hold a licence, that is the first step, and it takes time, so it is worth starting early. We advise both individuals and businesses on these applications and can help you get the sponsorship side right.

Can I switch without a job offer?

No. The Skilled Worker route is employer-sponsored, so you need a confirmed role with a licensed sponsor and a Certificate of Sponsorship before you can apply.

Can I switch from a Graduate visa too?

Yes. You can switch to the Skilled Worker route from a Graduate visa, and you can usually still use the new entrant salary discount.

Do I have to leave the UK to apply?

No, provided your Student visa is still valid. You apply in-country. If it has expired, you will generally need to apply from abroad.

My role pays below £41,700. Can I still qualify?

Possibly, if you qualify as a new entrant or another discount applies, but the salary must still meet the relevant reduced floor and the going rate for the occupation. This is worth checking carefully against your specific job.

Planning your move from study to work?

At Point B Legal we help students, recent graduates and employers get Skilled Worker switches right the first time, from checking the salary and timing to preparing the full application. As an IAA regulated firm led by a former UKVI Entry Clearance Assistant, we bring an insider understanding of how these applications are assessed.

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This article is general information about UK immigration, not legal advice for your specific situation. The Skilled Worker rules, salary thresholds and going rates change regularly, and some settlement reforms remain proposals rather than law at the time of writing. Always check the current requirements and seek advice on your own circumstances before applying. Point B Legal Ltd is regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority.