Graduate Visa to Skilled Worker: How to Switch in 2026

Yes, you can switch from a Graduate visa to a Skilled Worker visa without leaving the UK. You need a job offer from a licensed sponsor, a salary that meets the “new entrant” rate, and English at level B2, which a UK degree usually proves. You must apply before your Graduate visa expires.

Timing matters more than usual right now. GOV.UK confirms the Graduate visa is getting shorter:

For bachelor’s and master’s graduates, that leaves six fewer months to find a sponsoring employer. If you are finishing a course now, the date you apply decides which length you get. If you are close to the cut-off, check the dates carefully on GOV.UK before you apply.

Why switch from Graduate to Skilled Worker?

The Graduate visa is flexible: you can work in most jobs and look for work without a sponsor. But it has three big limits:

1. It cannot be extended. When it ends, you need a different visa or you must leave.
2. It does not count towards settlement. GOV.UK’s list of visas that can be combined towards the 5-year Skilled Worker route to indefinite leave to remain does not include the Graduate visa. Your settlement clock usually starts on your Skilled Worker visa.
3. Graduate dependants are limited. Only partners and children who were already your dependants on your Student visa can be on it. GOV.UK notes that new dependants may be able to join you if you switch to a visa such as Skilled Worker.

So for most graduates who want to stay long term, the Skilled Worker visa is the next step.

Eligibility: what you need to switch

GOV.UK lists these requirements for switching to a Skilled Worker visa:

• A job offer from a Home Office-licensed sponsor. You can check the employer on the official register.
• A certificate of sponsorship from that employer, with your job and salary details.
• An eligible occupation. Most tech roles (SOC codes 2131 to 2139) are listed as higher skilled.
• The right salary (see the next section).
• English at level B2. GOV.UK says that if you are switching from a different visa, you need B2. A degree-level qualification taught in English and awarded by a UK institution is one of the listed ways to prove it.

Graduate visa holders are not on GOV.UK’s list of people who cannot switch. That list covers visit visas, short-term student visas, Parent of a Child Student visas, seasonal worker visas, domestic worker visas, immigration bail and leave outside the rules.

Graduate to Skilled Worker salary requirements

This is where most switches succeed or fail. The normal Skilled Worker threshold is the higher of £41,700 or the going rate for your occupation code. Graduates often qualify for a lower “new entrant” rate.

GOV.UK says you can be paid 70% of your job’s standard going rate, provided the salary is at least £33,400 a year, if:

• you are currently in the UK on a Graduate visa, or
• you have been in the last 2 years and a Graduate or visit visa was your most recent visa.

The same discount applies if you are under 26 when you apply, or if you are switching straight from a Student visa (bachelor’s level or above).

The 4-year cap

GOV.UK adds an important catch: if you use this discount, your total stay in the UK cannot be more than 4 years, and this includes time you have already spent on a Graduate visa. After that, you would need to meet the full going rate to extend.

New entrant rates for tech jobs

From the Appendix Skilled Occupations, here are the 70% figures for the main IT occupation codes, next to the standard rate:

Occupation code	Standard rate	New entrant (70%) minimum
2131 IT project managers	£58,200	£40,700
2133 Analysts, architects, systems designers	£54,900	£38,400
2134 Programmers and software developers	£54,700	£38,300
2139 IT professionals n.e.c. (incl. DevOps)	£52,300	£36,600
2135 Cyber security professionals	£48,500	£34,000
2137 IT network professionals	£45,600	£33,400
2136 IT quality and testing professionals	£41,200 (so £41,700 applies)	£33,400

So a graduate software developer (code 2134) would usually need at least £38,300, compared with £54,700 for an experienced hire. For a full comparison with what the market pays, see our DevOps and cloud salary breakdown.

Your occupation code is chosen by your employer based on what the job involves, not the job title. Ask which code they will use before you accept, because it changes the minimum salary.

How much does it cost to switch?

Because you are applying from inside the UK, the higher in-country fees apply:

Cost	Amount
Application fee, up to 3 years	£943
Application fee, more than 3 years	£1,865
Immigration health surcharge	£1,035 per year of the visa
Certificate of sponsorship fee	£525, paid by the employer

As an example, a 3-year Skilled Worker visa from inside the UK adds up to £4,048 (£943 + £3,105 surcharge) before any priority service. Our full Skilled Worker fees guide covers family costs and refunds.

You only need to show savings of £1,270 if you have been in the UK for less than 1 year. Most Graduate visa holders will be past that point.

How to switch: step by step

1. Secure a job offer from a licensed sponsor. Confirm the employer is on the register for the Skilled Worker route.
2. Agree the occupation code and salary. Check it meets the 70% new entrant rate, or the full rate if you will hit the 4-year cap.
3. Get your certificate of sponsorship reference number. Your employer assigns it. You must apply within 3 months of getting it. Read more in our certificate of sponsorship guide.
4. Apply online before your Graduate visa expires. You can apply up to 3 months before your job start date.
5. Prove your identity. You will either use the UK Immigration: ID Check app or attend a UKVCAS appointment.
6. Stay in the Common Travel Area. Don’t travel outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision. If you do, your application will be withdrawn.
7. Wait for a decision. GOV.UK says it usually takes 8 weeks. You may be offered a paid faster decision when you apply.

What about your partner and children?

GOV.UK says your partner’s or child’s visa does not automatically switch when yours does. They can apply at the same time as you or at any point before their current visa expires. Each person pays their own application fee and surcharge.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Leaving it too late. Sponsorship takes time, and you must apply before your Graduate visa ends. With 18-month grants from 2027, start job hunting early.
• Assuming any job will do. Many medium-skilled roles are no longer eligible unless they are on a shortage list.
• Forgetting the 4-year cap. Plan a pay rise or promotion that will meet the full going rate by the time you need to extend.
• Paying for sponsorship yourself. Employers must pay the certificate of sponsorship fee and immigration skills charge. A request to pay them is a red flag.

Settlement rules are also under review. If you are planning for the long term, read our explainer on the proposed 10-year earned settlement model.

Frequently asked questions

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

Yes. GOV.UK says you cannot extend a Graduate visa but you may be able to switch to a Skilled Worker visa from inside the UK, as long as you have a job offer from a licensed sponsor that meets the Skilled Worker requirements.

What is the minimum salary to switch from Graduate to Skilled Worker?

If you are currently on a Graduate visa you can usually be paid 70% of the standard going rate for your occupation, as long as the salary is at least £33,400 a year. Your total stay under that discount cannot exceed 4 years, including time on the Graduate visa.

How long does a Graduate to Skilled Worker switch take?

GOV.UK says you will usually get a decision within 8 weeks of applying from inside the UK. You may be offered a paid faster decision when you apply.

Does time on a Graduate visa count towards indefinite leave to remain?

The Graduate visa is not on GOV.UK's list of visas that can be combined towards the 5-year Skilled Worker settlement route, so the clock generally starts from your Skilled Worker (or other qualifying) visa.

Can I travel abroad while my switch application is pending?

GOV.UK says you must not travel outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision, or your application will be withdrawn.