Nationality 1
US citizens: the UK work visa rules that apply to you
US citizens use the same routes as everyone else; what differs is the English requirement and which US universities are on the HPI list.
| Graduate visa | Yes, after a UK course; you apply before your Student visa expires Authority GOV.UK guidance, Graduate visa: Overview (gov.uk). The passage relied onYou must apply before your Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa expires. |
|---|---|
| High Potential Individual | Yes, with a degree from a listed university awarded in the last 5 years Authority Appendix High Potential Individual, HPI 5.1 (gov.uk). The passage relied onYou must have been awarded your qualification in the last 5 years. |
| Skilled Worker | Yes, with a job from a sponsor listed as A-rated Authority Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 5.3 (gov.uk). The passage relied onSW 5.3. The sponsor must be listed as A-rated on the Home Office’s register of licensed sponsors, unless the applicant was last granted permission as a Skilled Worker and is applying to continue working for the same sponsor as in their last permission. |
| Global Talent | Possibly, as a leader or potential leader in academia or research, arts and culture or digital technology Authority GOV.UK guidance, Apply for the Global Talent visa: Overview (gov.uk). The passage relied onYou can apply for a Global Talent visa to work in the UK if you’re a leader or potential leader in one of the following fields: |
| Youth Mobility Scheme | No: the United States is not in the scheme Authority GOV.UK guidance, Youth Mobility Scheme visa: Eligibility (gov.uk). The passage relied onYou can apply for the visa if you’re aged 18 to 35 and from: |
This note is for US citizens studying in the UK or holding a UK degree, and for US citizens planning UK study or looking at UK jobs with a US degree. The routes are the same as for everyone else; the differences are set out below.
After a UK degree: the Graduate visa
You apply from inside the UK, before your Student visa expires. A Graduate visa lasts 2 years if you apply on or before , or 3 years after a PhD or other doctorate. The steps are in how to apply for the Graduate visa.
Scheduled: Graduate visas applied for on or after last 18 months, except after a doctorate. (HC 1333)
Skilled Worker needs a licensed sponsor
A Skilled Worker visa needs a job with a sponsor listed as A-rated on the register. You usually need to be paid at least £41,700 a year or the going rateGoing rate The yearly pay listed for each occupation code in Appendix Skilled Occupations. A Skilled Worker's salary must meet both the going rate for the job and the threshold that applies. for the occupation code, if that is higher.
You’ll usually need to be paid the ‘standard’ salary rate of at least £41,700 per year, or the ‘going rate’ for your job, whichever is higher.
A US degree and the HPI visa
The High Potential Individual (HPI) visa needs a degree awarded in the last 5 years by a university on the list; UK universities are not eligible. You do not need a job offer. You cannot be granted an HPI visa after a Graduate visa.
The newest GOV.UK list, published , covers degrees awarded from to . Its US universities are below.
- Boston University
- Brown University
- California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
- Carnegie Mellon University
- Columbia University
- Cornell University
- Duke University
- Harvard University
- Johns Hopkins University
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
- New York University (NYU)
- Northwestern University
- Princeton University
- Purdue University - West Lafayette
- Stanford University
- The University of Texas at Austin
- University of California, Berkeley (UCB)
- University of California, Irvine
- University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
- University of California, San Diego (UCSD)
- University of California, Santa Barbara
- University of Chicago
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- University of Pennsylvania
- University of Southern California
- University of Washington
- University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Vanderbilt University
- Washington University in St Louis
- Yale University
An HPI visa lasts 2 years, or 3 years if you have a PhD or other doctoral qualification. You need English at level B2, and applications are capped at 8,000 a year. Earlier lists are in the HPI list finder.
Not in the Youth Mobility Scheme
The United States is on neither Youth Mobility Scheme list; both lists are on the Youth Mobility Scheme page.
The English requirement
A Skilled Worker visa needs English at level B2, but US nationals do not need to prove their knowledge of English. The rule and its list of nationalities are in the English requirement.
Allowances, bonuses and overtime are treated differently from basic pay; see what counts as salary.
History
- . Entry updated.
- . Entry first published.
Common questions
Can a US citizen get a UK work visa without a job offer?
The HPI visa needs no job offer, if your degree is from a university on the list and was awarded in the last 5 years. A Skilled Worker visa needs a job with a licensed sponsor.
Can Americans use the Youth Mobility Scheme?
No. The United States is not in the Youth Mobility Scheme.
Does a UK degree count for the HPI visa?
No. UK universities are not eligible for the HPI visa. If you are in the UK on a Student visa, you may be able to apply for a Graduate visa instead.
Which US universities are on the HPI list?
This note shows the US universities on the newest list, with the date GOV.UK published it. Lists for earlier award years are in the HPI list finder.
Can Americans work in the UK without sponsorship?
Yes, on a route that needs no sponsor, for example a Graduate visa after a UK course, or an HPI visa if a listed university awarded your degree in the last 5 years. A Skilled Worker visa needs a licensed sponsor.
Sources
- Graduate visa: Overview (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
You must apply before your Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa expires.
2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026
18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027
If you have a PhD or other doctoral qualification, it will last for 3 years.
- Immigration Rules: Appendix Graduate (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
The Graduate route is an unsponsored route.
- Statement of Changes HC 1333 (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
2 years if the applicant has successfully completed a course at UK bachelor’s degree or master’s degree level, or another relevant qualification that meets the requirement of ST8.1/2/3 of the Rules, and the application is made before 1 January 2027.
APP HPI5. In the table in HPI 4.1, for “level B1”, substitute “level B2.”.
- Statement of Changes HC 1333: explanatory memorandum (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
5.26 The change to 18 months will apply to applications submitted on or after 1 January 2027, with PhD graduates continuing to receive three years of leave.
There will also be a cap placed on the route of 8,000 applications per year.
5.22 The English language requirement for the Skilled Worker, High Potential Individual and Scale-up routes is increased from B1 Level to B2 Level (as defined under the Common European Framework for Reference for Languages (CEFR)).
- Immigration Rules: Appendix Skilled Worker (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
SW 5.3. The sponsor must be listed as A-rated on the Home Office’s register of licensed sponsors, unless the applicant was last granted permission as a Skilled Worker and is applying to continue working for the same sponsor as in their last permission.
- Skilled Worker visa: Your job (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
You’ll usually need to be paid the ‘standard’ salary rate of at least £41,700 per year, or the ‘going rate’ for your job, whichever is higher.
- Statement of Changes HC 997 (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
APP SW2. In row A of the table following SW 4.4, for “£38,700”, substitute “£41,700”.
- High Potential Individual visa: Eligibility (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
You must have been awarded your qualification in the last 5 years.
UK universities are not eligible. If you’re already in the UK on a student visa you may be able to apply for a Graduate visa.
You do not need to have a job offer to apply.
- Immigration Rules: Appendix High Potential Individual (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
HPI 1.6. The applicant must not have been previously granted permission under the Student Doctorate Extension Scheme, as a Graduate or as a High Potential Individual.
HPI 1.6A The number of applications (for both entry clearance and permission to stay) must not have exceeded 8,000, the annual total allocation of places for the route (where the annual period begins on 1 November and ends on 31 October of each year).
- High Potential Individual visa: Switch to this visa (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
You cannot switch to this visa if you’re on a Graduate visa.
- High Potential Individual visa: Overview (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
An HPI visa lasts for 2 years. If you have a PhD or other doctoral qualification, it will last for 3 years.
- High Potential Individual visa: Knowledge of English (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
You must prove you can read, write, speak and understand English to at least level B2 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale.
- Youth Mobility Scheme visa: Eligibility (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
You can apply for the visa if you’re aged 18 to 35 and from:
You can apply for the visa if you’re aged 18 to 30 and from:
You must be selected in the Youth Mobility Scheme ballot before you can apply for your visa if you’re from:
- Skilled Worker visa: Knowledge of English (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
You must prove you can read, write, speak and understand English to at least level B2 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale.
You do not need to prove your knowledge of English if you’re a national of one of the following countries or territories:
- Global talent: Overview (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
You can apply for a Global Talent visa to work in the UK if you’re a leader or potential leader in one of the following fields:
You must also be at least 18 years old.
How each figure is checked: Sources and method.
This is general information about the rules, not legal advice. For advice on your own situation, use a solicitor or an adviser regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority (gov.uk).