Introduction: the moment every international student eventually faces
Completing your studies in the UK is a milestone worth celebrating, but it also triggers one of the most consequential immigration decisions you will ever make. The transition from a Student visa to a Graduate visa or a work visa is not automatic, nor is it forgiving of errors. It is governed by a web of immigration rules, policy guidance, and timing requirements that have changed significantly since 2024 and continue to evolve.
For many international graduates, this moment represents opportunity and anxiety in equal measure. The opportunity lies in staying on, building a career, and potentially settling in the UK. The anxiety stems from misunderstanding eligibility rules, salary thresholds, sponsorship requirements, and future planning. A single wrong assumption can derail months or even years of effort.
This guide explains, in detail, how to switch from a Student visa to either the Graduate route or a work visa, what the law currently allows, what has recently changed, and how to make decisions that protect your long-term immigration future.
Understanding your post-study visa options in the UK
Before making any application, it is essential to understand what routes are actually available after study. Not all visas serve the same purpose, and not all lead to settlement.
The Graduate route is explained in practical terms
The Graduate route was introduced to allow international students to remain in the UK after completing an eligible degree. It does not require sponsorship, does not impose skill-level restrictions, and does not require a minimum salary.
For most Bachelor’s and Master’s graduates, the visa is granted for two years. For PhD and other doctoral graduates, it is granted for three years.
However, there is an important forward-looking change that students planning beyond 2026 must understand. The UK government has confirmed that for applications made on or after 1 January 2027, the duration of the Graduate visa for Bachelor’s and Master’s graduates will be reduced to 18 months. While this change is not yet in force, it materially affects career planning for students currently studying in the UK.
The Graduate route is flexible, but it is not a settlement route. Time spent on it does not count toward indefinite leave to remain.
Work visas available after study
The most common long-term work route is the Skilled Worker visa. This visa requires sponsorship from a UK employer and compliance with strict salary and role requirements, but it does lead to settlement.
Other routes exist, such as the Global Talent visa or the Health and Care Worker visa, but these apply only to specific profiles. For most graduates, the real decision is between using the Graduate visa as a buffer or moving directly into a Skilled Worker role.
Core eligibility rules before you can switch visas
Switching visas inside the UK is a privilege, not a right. You must meet specific conditions before you can even apply.
Immigration status and lawful residence
You must hold a valid Student visa at the time you submit your application. Overstaying, even by a short period, usually removes your ability to switch in-country and can have long-term consequences.
Applications must be made from within the UK. Leaving the UK before applying can force you to apply from overseas or block eligibility entirely.
Academic completion and university reporting
Eligibility is based on successful course completion, not attendance or intention. Your education provider must formally notify the Home Office that you have completed the qualification listed on your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies.
If you are waiting for resits, delayed assessments, or final confirmation, you cannot apply yet. Applying before completion is one of the most common refusal reasons.
Switching from a Student visa to a Graduate visa
Who can apply for the Graduate route
You can apply for the Graduate visa if you have completed an eligible UK degree, your sponsor has reported completion, and you apply before your Student visa expires.
The route is available only once in your lifetime. Completing another degree later does not reset eligibility.
What you are allowed to do on a Graduate visa
The Graduate route is deliberately permissive. You can work full-time or part-time, take permanent or temporary roles, switch employers freely, and even be self-employed.
There are no restrictions on job skill level or salary. This makes the visa particularly attractive to graduates who need time to build UK experience or secure sponsorship.
Limitations that matter more than people expect
Despite its flexibility, the Graduate visa has hard limits. It cannot be extended. It does not lead to settlement. Once it expires, you must leave the UK unless you have switched to another route.
Many graduates underestimate how quickly two years pass, especially when job hunting or progressing internally with an employer that is not yet licensed.
Dependant rules: a critical restriction many miss
Dependant policy changes introduced in January 2024 fundamentally altered who can bring family members.
Only students on Postgraduate Research courses (such as PhDs) or those government-sponsored are permitted to have dependants.
If you did not have dependants on your Student visa, you cannot add them when switching to a Graduate visa. This is not discretionary and applies even if your circumstances change.
Dependants already in the UK as Student dependants may extend as Graduate dependants, but no new dependants can be added.
Switching directly to a Skilled Worker visa after study
Understanding the Skilled Worker route
The Skilled Worker visa allows you to work for a UK employer that holds a valid sponsor licence. The job must meet skill, salary, and genuineness requirements.
Unlike the Graduate route, this visa ties you to your employer. Changing jobs usually requires a new application.
Salary thresholds: the most significant change graduates must understand
Salary rules changed dramatically in 2024 and 2025, and misunderstanding them leads to refusals.
The standard Skilled Worker salary threshold is now £41,700 per year. This represents a major increase from the previous £26,200 level.
However, most recent graduates qualify as “new entrants” to the labour market. Under this category, a discounted threshold applies.
The new entrant salary threshold is £33,400 per year. This is a crucial figure for graduates and is significantly higher than earlier years.
The role must still meet the occupation’s going rate, and whichever figure is higher will apply.
The end of the Shortage Occupation List and what replaced it
For years, applicants relied on the Shortage Occupation List to access salary discounts. That list no longer exists.
In April 2024, it was abolished and replaced by the Immigration Salary List (ISL).
The ISL is much narrower and does not provide a 20% discount on the going rate. Instead, it only allows certain roles to be paid below the general salary threshold, subject to limits.
Graduates must not assume their role benefits from reduced salary rules simply because it once appeared on the Shortage Occupation List.
Sponsorship and the Certificate of Sponsorship explained properly
What sponsorship actually involves
A Certificate of Sponsorship is not a document you apply for. It is assigned by your employer through the Home Office sponsorship system.
The employer must be licensed, compliant, and willing to meet reporting and monitoring obligations.
Common employer misunderstandings
Many employers believe sponsorship is quick or optional. Others delay applying for a licence, assuming the Graduate visa buys unlimited time.
In reality, sponsorship preparation often takes months. Late planning is one of the most common reasons graduates are forced to leave the UK despite having a job offer.
Application process and required documentation
What evidence is genuinely assessed
Applications are decided on documents and data, not explanations. Key evidence includes your Certificate of Sponsorship, salary details, English language compliance, and identity verification.
Inconsistencies between employment contracts, sponsorship data, and application forms are frequent refusal triggers.
Note: As of 8 January 2026, the English language requirement for Skilled Worker visas has increased to CEFR Level B2. Applicants switching from a Student visa may need to provide a new, higher-level test certificate if their previous evidence only met the old B1 standard.
Fees, biometrics, and processing
Applicants must pay the visa fee and Immigration Health Surcharge and attend a biometric appointment unless using a digital identity route.
Processing times vary, but in-country applicants can usually continue working under existing conditions while awaiting a decision.
Graduate visa first or Skilled Worker visa immediately?
Strategic pros and cons
The Graduate route offers flexibility but delays settlement. The Skilled Worker route offers stability but requires employer commitment.
For some graduates, using the Graduate visa to secure sponsorship later is sensible. For others, moving directly avoids future pressure, especially with rising salary thresholds.
Long-term settlement planning
Time spent on a Skilled Worker visa counts toward indefinite leave to remain. Time on the Graduate route does not.
Graduates with settlement goals must factor this into their decision early, not at the end of their visa.
Be aware that following reforms in April 2026, the standard qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) has been extended to 10 years for many workers. However, those earning above £50,270 may still access an accelerated 5-year route to settlement.
Common refusal reasons and how to avoid them
Refusals frequently stem from premature applications, incorrect salary assumptions, wrong occupation codes, or misunderstanding dependant rules.
Most of these errors are preventable with proper planning and professional review.
Life after switching visas: work, travel, and compliance
Visa conditions vary by route. Skilled Workers must work for their sponsor. Graduate visa holders have more freedom but less security.
Travel is permitted, but excessive absences can affect future settlement applications.
Planning ahead for extensions and settlement
Settlement is not automatic. It requires lawful residence, compliance with visa conditions, and continuity.
Early strategy makes the difference between smooth progression and last-minute crisis.
How LawSentis supports students and graduates
LawSentis provides UK immigration and relocation services, supporting students and graduates at every stage of their post-study journey. Advice is grounded in current immigration law, policy updates, and practical case experience.
From Graduate visa applications to Skilled Worker sponsorship strategy and employer guidance, support is tailored, compliant, and forward-looking.
Final thoughts
Switching from a Student visa to a Graduate or work visa is one of the most important transitions in UK immigration. The rules are stricter, salary thresholds are higher, and planning errors are less forgiving than ever.
For personalised advice, application support, or employer sponsorship guidance, contact LawSentis to speak with experienced UK immigration professionals and secure your next step with confidence.