How to Switch from Graduate Route to Skilled Worker Visa in the UK?

The Graduate Route, commonly known as the post-study work permit in the UK (PSW UK), is an excellent opportunity for international students to stay in the UK and look for a job even without having any job offer. It acts as a crucial stepping stone for switching from being a student to a working professional in the UK. This article presents a complete guide on switching from the Graduate Route to the Skilled Worker Visa in the UK. 

If you are looking to work and settle in the UK via the student route, then you will have to go through the Graduate Route in the UK. The Graduate Route is the vital link between a UK Student Visa and a UK Skilled Worker Visa that allows students to stay back in the UK for up to 2 years (3 years for PhD) after the completion of their studies. This duration gives students enough time to look for a job or start their own business, and then transition to the skilled worker route.

Getting a Skilled Worker Visa in the UK ensures higher job security and a direct path to permanent residence (Indefinite Leave to Remain) in the UK. This article presents a detailed guide on how to switch from a Graduate Route visa to a Skilled Worker Visa in the UK. 

Understanding the Two Key Visas

Let us understand both, the Graduate Route Visa and the Skilled Worker Visa for the UK in detail. 

1. The Graduate Route Visa

What is it? A post-study work visa or Graduate Route visa is a permit that allows graduates to work or look for work for 2 years (or 3 for PhD graduates) in the UK after the completion of their studies. Students do not need an employer’s sponsorship, and can work at any skill level during this time. Important point to note here is that the Graduate Route must be applied for before the expiration of the existing student visa.

Key Features: Graduate Route Visa holders have the flexibility to:

• Work either full-time or part-time, 
• Be self-employed or do freelance work, 
• Have no employer/company sponsorship or minimum salary restrictions, 
• Switch between jobs, and 
• Gives you time to find the right employer who can sponsor you for a Skilled Worker visa later.

Core Limitations: Here are the core limitations of the Graduate Visa UK:

• It's a temporary visa and does not, by itself, lead to settlement. 
• It cannot be renewed/extended. 
• You cannot bring new dependents, but if your dependents were with you under the Student visa, they can extend with you.
• Time spent on this visa does not count towards UK permanent residency (Indefinite Leave to Remain).

2. The Skilled Worker Visa

What is it? The Skilled Worker Visa in the UK replaced the Tier 2 (General) Visa. This visa allows individuals from outside the EEA and Switzerland with a specific job offer from a licensed UK employer to come to or remain in the UK for the purpose of work, under the sponsorship of an approved employer. The minimum period of validity of this visa is 5 years; beyond this period, it can be extended as per the work requirement, if you still remain eligible for it. However, some after 5 years of its completion, some individuals also apply for a PR in the UK.

Key Features: Here are some key features associated with the Skilled Worker Visa UK:

• Tied to a specific role and employer, requires meeting skill and salary thresholds. You must have a job offer from a UK employer holding a valid sponsorship licence.
• Works on a Points-Based System. You ideally need 70 points (50 mandatory points and 20 tradeable points) to qualify for applying for this visa.
• You must meet the minimum salary threshold in your job offer to apply for this visa, which is either £38,700 per year or the “going rate” of your job type, whichever is higher. However, for fresh industry joiners, such as students or recent graduates, there is a “new entrant’s discount” on this salary threshold. So, they must be earning just a minimum of £30,960 to apply for this visa. 

Primary Benefit: 

• It's a direct route to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after 5 years, offering long-term residency.
• You can bring your dependents - partner and children (of under 18 years of age).
• Granted initially for 5 years, this visa can be extended several times if you continue to have a job alongside remaining eligible for this visa.
• After completing 5 years on this visa, you can apply for permanent residency in the UK.
• Allows one to work in a wide range of skilled and medium-skilled occupations, including those on the shortage occupation list.

Strategies for Transitioning from the Graduate Route to the Skilled Worker Visa

To switch from a Graduate Route Visa to a Skilled Worker Visa in the UK, your primary goal must be to find an employer who is willing and able to sponsor you for a Skilled Worker visa. Once you have a job offer from a licensed sponsor, you can apply to switch from your Graduate Visa to a Skilled Worker Visa. You can do this at any point before your Graduate Visa expires. Here are some strategies that might come in handy to you in the process:

• Target the Right Employers: Know that not all UK employers can sponsor foreign workers. To be able to sponsor foreign workers, they must hold a Home Office sponsor licence. For this reason, search the official "Register of licensed sponsors: workers". This is a public list of all companies in the UK eligible to sponsor you.

• Pitch Yourself by Understanding Your Value Proposition: When you seek jobs in the UK, you need to convince your employer that the Graduate Visa is a massive benefit for them. You need to explain this to them during interviews.

  Here you can go with the "Try Before You Sponsor" Pitch, you can frame it like this: "I have the unrestricted right to work in the UK for the next two years on my Graduate Visa. This means you can hire me immediately with no immigration costs or administrative burden. It gives us a fantastic opportunity to see if we're a great fit before you would need to consider sponsorship for a longer-term visa."

• Focus on "Skilled" Roles during your Graduate Route Period: While you can work on any job during the Graduate Route Visa, your end goal is to get a Skilled Worker visa, which requires a job at RQF Level 3 or above (equivalent to A-levels). So, you must focus your job search on graduate schemes, junior professional roles, and jobs that require a degree.

• Network more and more and Be Proactive: 

  • Use LinkedIn, attend university careers fairs, and connect with your university alumni.

  • In interviews, be prepared to discuss your long-term career goals in the UK and your visa situation. Honesty and clarity are the key to visa success.

Before learning the application process for the Skilled Worker Visa, let us learn about the requirements for this visa. 

Eligibility Requirements for Skilled Worker Visa (as a Graduate Route Holder)

Here are the key requirements for getting a Skilled Worker Visa in the UK:

1. Job Offer from a Licensed Sponsor: Your employer must be able to sponsor you, which means being on the Home Office register.
2. Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS): Your employer will assign you a CoS. This is a unique reference number, not a physical document, which contains information about you and the job. You need this number for your visa application.
3. Minimum Skill Level: The job must be at RQF Level 3 or higher. Your employer will have identified the correct "occupation code" for your role.
4. English Language Requirement: You automatically meet this by having a UK degree.
5. Financial Requirement (Maintenance): You must prove you have enough funds to support yourself (£1,270). However, most large employers are 'A-rated' sponsors and will certify this on your CoS, meaning you do not need to provide bank statements.
6. Salary Requirements: This is the most complex part. You must be paid at least, whichever is higher of the following:
• £41,700 per year, or 
• the “going rate” of your job type

This is the general salary threshold. However, as a person switching from a Graduate Visa, you will almost certainly qualify as a "New Entrant", which means you can get the new entrant discount on the salary requirements of this visa. Hence, you can be paid somewhere between 70% to 90% of the ‘going rate’ for your job if you are getting a minimum salary of at least £33,400 per year. 

The New Entrant Discount:

To be eligible for you to get paid less and still apply for a Skilled Worker Visa, you must be fulfilling one of the following criteria:

• You must be under the age of 26, studying, recently graduated or on a professional training, on the date you apply.
• To be paid less, i.e. at least £33,400 per year, you must have a PhD in STEM subjects, relevant to your job. However, if you have a PhD in other subjects, then you must be getting paid at least £37,500.
• Have a postdoctoral position (commonly called a Post Doc) in science or another higher education field. 

Note that all the documents should be either in English or the Welsh language. If not, then you’ll be required to provide their official translations. 

Application Process for Skilled Worker Visa (Step-by-Step)

Part of switching to the Skilled Worker UK Visa process involves proving your identity. This process varies depending on the passport you hold and your country of origin. Based on this, you’ll be asked to proceed through either of the following methods:

• Scanning your identity documents via the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app or creating a sign into your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account.
• Have your biometric information taken (photo and fingerprints) at a UKVCAS service point.

The process to switch from a Graduate Route Visa to a Skilled Worker Visa is entirely online, and you must apply for it before the validity of your current Graduate Visa expires. Note that you can save your application midway and complete it anytime later as well. 

Here is the process to switch from a Graduate Visa UK to the Skilled Worker Visa after you have successfully secured a job sponsorship from a recognised employer in the UK:

1. Receive Your CoS: Your employer applies for it and assigns you a CoS. It contains details on the nature of your job, the key responsibilities that you’ll perform, your salary and the unique reference number that will be required for you at the time of visa application.
2. Apply Online: Complete the application to switch visas on the GOV.UK website from inside the UK.
3. Provide Documents: You will need your passport, BRP, CoS reference number, and proof of your UK degree.
4. Pay the Fees: These are significant.
• Application Fee: Varies by length of visa and job type (check official site, but typically £769-£1,751).
• Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): £1,035 per year for the full duration of your visa (e.g., £5,175 for a 5-year visa). Your employer may offer to cover some or all of these costs.
5. Biometrics: Similar to the Graduate Visa, you'll likely use the ID Check app.
6. Approval: Once approved, you will receive a new BRP valid for the duration of your visa (up to 5 years). Your Skilled Worker visa is your path to settlement (ILR) after 5 years of continuous residence.

Key Documents Required

Here is the document checklist to apply for the Skilled Worker Visa UK:

• Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) reference number
• A valid passport
• Job title and salary
• Job’s occupation code
• Name of your employer and their sponsor licence number (this can be referred to from your CoS)
• Proof of having enough funds to support yourself in the UK, unless your CoS shows that your employer can support you.
• Proof of relationship with your dependents, if they’re also applying with you. 
• TB certificate
• A criminal records certificate, required for certain jobs if you’re applying from outside of the UK. Jobs in fields of education, healthcare, social service and therapy often call for the need of this certificate. 
• If your employer asks you to get an ATAS certificate for your job that requires researching a sensitive subject at the PhD or above higher level, then you’ll have to get one.
• Your UK PhD certificate. If you have done your PhD from outside the UK, then you’ll have to provide your unique Ecctis reference number. 

Costs Involved

There are two components of the cost of a Skilled Worker Visa:

1. The Skilled Worker Visa fee
2. The Health Surcharge fee

The application fee for the UK Skilled Worker Visa ranges from £769 to £1,751, depending on your situation. It’s a plus to note that you’ll be asked to pay a lesser fee if your job is on the immigration salary list. In this case, the per-person fee to apply for the Skilled Worker Visa will be:

• £590 if they’re staying for up to 3 years
• £1,160 if they’re staying for more than 3 years

- Check the list of immigration salary list for Skilled Worker Visa on the official website.

The health surcharge that you’ll have to pay is usually £1,035 per year.

Skilled Worker Visa UK Application Processing Time

The decision on your application is generally released within 8 weeks of submitting the application. However, if for some reason, your application takes longer to process than usual, then you’ll be informed about the same. Here are the reasons which might create a delay in the decision:

• The documents you submit need to be verified
• You’re asked to appear for an interview. 
• Due to your own reasons, such as if you have a criminal conviction. 

Tips/Precautions for a Successful Transition

1. At any time during or after you apply for a Skilled Worker Visa until the time your request gets approved, you shouldn’t move outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man. If you do so, your application for the Skilled Worker Visa will be withdrawn.
2. After you make your switch to a Skilled Worker Visa, if your partner or children do not switch to this visa, then they will continue to remain on their previous visa with the previous validity period. Their previous visas’ validity will expire as scheduled. Hence, as per the requirement, they need to switch their visas as it is not switched automatically. 

What to do if you need to Make Changes to Your Application?

If you spot a mistake in your mistake or you just generally need to make a change in your application, then you can do so by contacting the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). You may ask them to cancel your application; however, you can expect a refund of your fee only if the UKVI has not yet started processing your application.

Can I Apply for a Skilled Worker Visa in the UK directly after the Student Visa?

To switch to a Skilled Worker Visa from a Student Visa, students must ensure:

1. Their course (or degree) is complete, or
2. They are pursuing a higher education course (bachelor’s or master’s degree) with a track record of compliance, plus the start date on their Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is no earlier than their course completion date; or 
3. They are pursuing a higher education degree from a recognised institution, with a track record of compliance and resulting in a PhD. The start date of CoS in such cases can begin after 24 months of the start date of the PhD program.

However, if students do not get a job offer from a Skilled Worker sponsor in the UK before the expiration of their student visa, they can opt for the Graduate Route. The Graduate Route, for which students must apply from within the UK, must be applied for before the validity of the student visa ends. This visa gives enough time to international students to look for a job and switch to a Skilled Worker Visa.

This was all about how you can switch from the Graduate Route to the Skilled Worker Visa in the UK. If you have any doubts, feel free to drop your queries in the comments below.