Rules 3

Switching to Skilled Worker before your course ends

On a degree-level course, you can switch once your course is complete, or earlier if the job starts after it ends.

Figures in force on this page
Figure	In force	Since	Authority
Time to apply after the certificate of sponsorship	3 months	Start date not verified	Skilled Worker visa: Your job (gov.uk)
Most time on new-entrant rates	4 years	Start date not verified	SW 12.3 (gov.uk)

A curving stone staircase with an iron balustrade inside the Supreme Court in London — Plate 9. A staircase inside the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, on Parliament Square. Photo: Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Adapted (greyscale, cropped).

The Immigration Rules give three ways for a Student to switch to Skilled Worker from inside the UK. Other entries in Rules cover what happens if a sponsored job ends.

You need to meet one of three conditions

The three conditions for switching from a Student visa
Condition	What it requires
Condition A	You have completed the course of study for which your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) was assigned. Authority Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 1.5A (Conditions A, B and C) (gov.uk). The passage relied on (a) Condition A: the applicant must have completed the course of study for which the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies was assigned (or a course to which ST 27.3 of Appendix Student applies); or
Condition B	Your job start date is after your course has finished. The course must be a full-time, degree-level course at a higher education provider with a track record of compliance. Authority Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 1.5A (Conditions A, B and C) (gov.uk). The passage relied on If you’re currently in the UK on a Student visa, you must also meet one of the following requirements:
Condition C	You are on a full-time PhD, and the start date on your certificate of sponsorship is no earlier than 24 months after the start date of that course. Authority Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 1.5A(c) (Condition C) (gov.uk). The passage relied on (ii) the Certificate of Sponsorship in SW 1.2(d) must have a start date no earlier than 24 months after the start date of that course.

(a) Condition A: the applicant must have completed the course of study for which the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies was assigned (or a course to which ST 27.3 of Appendix Student applies); or

Immigration Rules, Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 1.5A (Conditions A, B and C) (gov.uk). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.

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Whichever condition applies, you apply before your Student visa expires, and within 3 months of getting your certificate of sponsorship.

Work out your own dates

Date Workings: switching before your course ends

Example case. Change the dates above to work out your own.

Date Workings: switching before your course ends
Course completion date	30 September 2027	Entered
Proposed job start date	4 October 2027	Entered
Can you apply to switch now?	Yes, under Condition B, if the course is a full-time degree-level course at a higher education provider with a track record of compliance	Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 1.5A
Earliest date a full-time permanent job can start while a valid application is pending, 3 months before completion, if every ST 26.6 condition applies	30 June 2027	Appendix Student, ST 26.6
Apply after the certificate of sponsorship is assigned	Within 3 months	GOV.UK, Skilled Worker visa: Your job
Immigration Skills Charge	Not payable while you hold Student permission	GOV.UK, UK visa sponsorship for employers

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A degree-level Student who has made a valid Skilled Worker application may start a full-time permanent job up to 3 months before the course completion date, while the application is pending, if all the conditions in ST 26.6 apply.

ST 26.6. A Student who makes a valid application for permission to stay under the Skilled Worker, or Graduate route, may start employment in a full-time permanent vacancy either up to 3 months prior to the course completion date (for the Skilled Worker route) or once they have successfully completed their course of study (for the Graduate route), provided all of the following apply:

Immigration Rules, Appendix Student, ST 26.6 (gov.uk). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.

Switch now or take the Graduate visa first?

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If the certificate of sponsorship is assigned during your Student permission, the employer does not pay the Immigration Skills Charge; where due, the employer must pay it itself.

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On a Student visa at bachelor’s degree level or above, or on a Graduate visa, you can count as a new entrant, on a lower rate. Time on new-entrant rates is capped at 4 years in total, including Graduate visa time.

What differs between the two paths
Fact	Switch from a Student visa	Switch after a Graduate visa
Immigration Skills Charge	Not payable if the certificate is assigned during Student permission Authority GOV.UK guidance, UK visa sponsorship for employers: Immigration skills charge (gov.uk). The passage relied on You will not have to pay the charge if they switch to either a Skilled Worker or Senior or Specialist Worker visa and then extend their stay on the new visa.	Paid by the employer where due Authority GOV.UK guidance, UK visa sponsorship for employers: Immigration skills charge (gov.uk). The passage relied on You must pay the immigration skills charge yourself. Your licence may be revoked if you ask the sponsored worker to pay the fee or any costs linked to your application.
New-entrant time limit of 4 years	Skilled Worker time counts towards it Authority Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 12.3 (gov.uk). The passage relied on SW 12.3. Granting the application must not mean the applicant’s combined permission as a Skilled Worker, Graduate and/or Tier 2 Migrant would be more than 4 years in total, whether or not the permission is for a continuous period.	Graduate and Skilled Worker time both count Authority Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 12.3 (gov.uk). The passage relied on SW 12.3. Granting the application must not mean the applicant’s combined permission as a Skilled Worker, Graduate and/or Tier 2 Migrant would be more than 4 years in total, whether or not the permission is for a continuous period.
English level	B2 Authority Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 4.1 (HC 1333 APP SW3) (gov.uk). The passage relied on If you’re applying to switch from a different visa, you need level B2.	B2 Authority Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 4.1 (HC 1333 APP SW3) (gov.uk). The passage relied on If you’re applying to switch from a different visa, you need level B2.

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A Graduate visa lasts 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026. To see when a Graduate visa granted on a given date would end, use an end-date calculator. The deadline to apply is in after your course ends.

Scheduled: Graduate visa applications made on or after 1 January 2027 get 18 months. (HC 1333)

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.

Immigration Rules, Appendix Graduate, GR 8.1, substituted by Statement of Changes HC 1333 (APP GR3), in force 11 November 2025 (gov.uk). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.

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Switching to Skilled Worker from another visa needs English at B2; the change from the earlier level is in the English requirement.

History

8 October 2026. Entry updated.
7 October 2026. Entry first published.
22 July 2025. In force. Skilled Worker jobs limited to RQF level 6, HC 997.

Common questions

Can I switch to Skilled Worker before graduation?

Yes, if one of three conditions applies: your course is complete; the job starts after a full-time degree-level course ends; or you are on a full-time PhD and have studied for the minimum period. You apply before your Student visa expires.

Can I start a Skilled Worker job before my course ends?

A degree-level Student who has made a valid Skilled Worker application may start a full-time permanent job before the course completion date, while the application is pending, if the conditions in ST 26.6 apply. How early is set out in ST 26.6.

Does my employer pay the Immigration Skills Charge if I switch from a Student visa?

No. If the certificate of sponsorship is assigned while you still hold Student permission, the employer does not pay the Immigration Skills Charge.

How long do I have to apply after getting a certificate of sponsorship?

You must apply within 3 months of getting your certificate of sponsorship.

Sources

Skilled Worker visa: Switch to this visa (gov.uk). Checked 7 October 2026.
The passage relied on
If you’re currently in the UK on a Student visa, you must also meet one of the following requirements:
you’re studying for a PhD full time, and have been for at least 24 months
Immigration Rules: Appendix Skilled Worker (gov.uk). Checked 7 October 2026.
The passage relied on
(a) Condition A: the applicant must have completed the course of study for which the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies was assigned (or a course to which ST 27.3 of Appendix Student applies); or
(f) the applicant’s most recent permission (disregarding any permission as a visitor) was as a Graduate, and if that permission has expired, it must have expired less than 2 years before the date of application.
SW 12.3. Granting the application must not mean the applicant’s combined permission as a Skilled Worker, Graduate and/or Tier 2 Migrant would be more than 4 years in total, whether or not the permission is for a continuous period.
(ii) the Certificate of Sponsorship in SW 1.2(d) must have a start date no earlier than 24 months after the start date of that course.
Immigration Rules: Appendix Student (gov.uk). Checked 7 October 2026.
The passage relied on
ST 26.6. A Student who makes a valid application for permission to stay under the Skilled Worker, or Graduate route, may start employment in a full-time permanent vacancy either up to 3 months prior to the course completion date (for the Skilled Worker route) or once they have successfully completed their course of study (for the Graduate route), provided all of the following apply:
Skilled Worker visa: Your job (gov.uk). Checked 7 October 2026.
The passage relied on
You must apply for your visa within 3 months of getting your certificate of sponsorship.
Skilled Worker visa: Overview (gov.uk). Checked 7 October 2026.
The passage relied on
You can apply for a visa up to 3 months before the day you are due to start work in the UK. This date is listed on your certificate of sponsorship.
UK visa sponsorship for employers: Immigration skills charge (gov.uk). Checked 7 October 2026.
The passage relied on
You will not have to pay the charge if they switch to either a Skilled Worker or Senior or Specialist Worker visa and then extend their stay on the new visa.
You must pay the immigration skills charge yourself. Your licence may be revoked if you ask the sponsored worker to pay the fee or any costs linked to your application.
Skilled Worker visa: When you can be paid less (gov.uk). Checked 7 October 2026.
The passage relied on
you’re 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)
Your total stay in the UK cannot be more than 4 years if you apply for one of these reasons. This includes any time you’ve already spent in the UK on a Graduate visa.
Graduate visa: Overview (gov.uk). Checked 7 October 2026.
The passage relied on
2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026
18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027
Statement of Changes HC 1333 (gov.uk). Checked 7 October 2026.
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.
Statement of Changes HC 1333: explanatory memorandum (gov.uk). Checked 7 October 2026.
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.
Skilled Worker visa: Knowledge of English (gov.uk). Checked 7 October 2026.
The passage relied on
If you’re applying to switch from a different visa, you need level B2.
Statement of Changes HC 997 (gov.uk). Checked 7 October 2026.
The passage relied on
All other changes in this Statement shall take effect on 22 July 2025. In relation to those changes, (i) if an application has been made using a certificate of sponsorship issued by a sponsor to an applicant before 22 July 2025; or (ii) if an application which does not require a certificate of sponsorship has been made before 22 July 2025; such applications will be decided in accordance with the Immigration Rules in force on 21 July 2025.

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).