Can I Switch from Student Visa to Skilled Worker Visa in the UK?

Information only, not advice. This page summarises what the UK government publishes. It is not immigration advice on anyone's case. The official pages on gov.uk are the final word.

According to gov.uk, yes, a Student visa holder can apply to switch to a Skilled Worker visa from inside the UK, but only in set situations: when you have completed the course you were sponsored for, when your job starts after your course has finished, or when you are on a full-time PhD and have studied for at least 24 months. You also need a job offer that meets the Skilled Worker rules, and you must apply before your current visa expires.

We read the gov.uk Skilled Worker pages on 2 November 2026. Below is what they say, with rupee figures at £1 = Rs 370, the mid-market rate on Wise that day (Rs 370.5).

What gov.uk says about switching

The Skilled Worker switching page says you must meet the visa's general requirements (a job that qualifies and English at the required level), and that a Student visa holder must also meet one of these:

• you have completed the course you were sponsored to study;
• your job start date is after your course has finished;
• you are studying for a full-time PhD and have been for at least 24 months.

It also says:

• you must apply online before your current visa expires;
• you must not leave the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision, or the application is withdrawn;
• you'll usually get a decision within 8 weeks, which can take longer if documents need checking or an interview is needed;
• if you have been in the UK for less than a year, you must also show you can support yourself.

Gov.uk lists visas you cannot switch from, including the Visit visa and the Short-term student visa. The Student visa is not on that list.

What job and salary does the Skilled Worker visa need?

Gov.uk's job requirements page says the job must have an eligible occupation code and an employer approved by the Home Office, which issues a certificate of sponsorship. You must apply within 3 months of getting it. The usual minimum salary is £41,700 a year (about Rs 1.54 crore), or the "going rate" for the job if that is higher.

Is the salary lower for students?

Gov.uk's page on being paid less says you can be paid 70% of the going rate, with a salary of at least £33,400 a year (about Rs 1.24 crore), if one of these applies:

• you are under 26 when you apply;
• you are in the UK on a Student visa studying at bachelor's level or above, or were in the last 2 years with a Student or visit visa as your most recent visa;
• you are on a Graduate visa, or were in the last 2 years;
• you are working towards a recognised professional qualification or registration.

Gov.uk says your total stay cannot be more than 4 years if you apply on these grounds, including any time on a Graduate visa. It also sets lower rates for some jobs held by people with a relevant PhD (80% of the going rate for STEM PhDs, 90% for others, with their own minimums), and says healthcare and education jobs can't use the £33,400 route.

How much does switching cost?

Gov.uk's fees page lists, for applications from inside the UK:

Gov.uk says biometrics have no fee. Each family member applying with you pays their own fee and surcharge.

Can I switch before my course ends?

Gov.uk's switching page lists a job start date after your course has finished as one of the options, and a full-time PhD with at least 24 months of study as another. It doesn't describe any other route for a student who hasn't finished. Gov.uk is the place to check how the dates in your own case fit those rules.

Do I need the Graduate visa first?

The switching page doesn't require it. It lists the Student visa conditions above. The Graduate visa is a separate route that needs no job offer; our article on the Graduate visa cut to 18 months from 2027 summarises what gov.uk says about its length.

What about scholarship conditions?

Some scholarships set their own rules on what you do after your course. Chevening's and the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission's terms, for example, expect scholars to return home; our Chevening vs Commonwealth comparison quotes them. Read your own award's terms, because breaking them can mean repaying the award.

Where to read more

The gov.uk pages linked above are the final word, and the rules can change at any time. For your own case, gov.uk is the source to follow, or a regulated immigration adviser; never pay an agent who promises a job or a visa. Our UK Graduate visa summary and the Study in the UK guide collect our other summaries of official UK pages.