Switching from a Graduate visa to a Skilled Worker job
The Graduate visa can’t be extended, but you can usually switch to a Skilled Worker visa from inside the UK. As a new entrant, the minimum is usually £33,400 or 70% of the going rate, whichever is higher.
How long the Graduate visa lasts
GOV.UK says a Graduate visa lasts 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026, and 18 months if you apply from 1 January 2027. PhD graduates get 3 years. It can’t be extended. To stay longer you need a different visa, and for most people that is Skilled Worker.
How the switch works
- A licensed sponsor offers you a job that meets the Skilled Worker rules.
- The employer assigns you a certificate of sponsorship. Your employer handles this; it uses the in-country type (an “undefined” certificate).
- You apply online to switch within 3 months of the certificate being assigned, and before your current visa expires.
- GOV.UK says you’ll usually get a decision within 8 weeks, and you must not travel outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you do.
The new-entrant salary
Coming from a Graduate visa, you can usually be paid as a new entrant: at least £33,400 a year and at least 70% of the job’s going rate, whichever is higher. Without it, the minimum is £41,700 or the full going rate, whichever is higher.
The rules allow the new-entrant rate in several cases (full list on GOV.UK). The ones most graduates meet:
- you are under 26 on the date you apply
- you are on a Graduate visa, or your Graduate visa ended less than 2 years ago and you’ve had no other visa since except a visit visa
- you are working towards a recognised UK professional qualification, registration or chartered status
There is a 4-year limit: a new-entrant visa can’t take your combined time as a Skilled Worker, on the Graduate visa and earlier on Tier 2 (the old name for the route) past 4 years (Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 12.3). For example, after 2 years on a Graduate visa a new-entrant Skilled Worker visa can be granted for up to 2 years. To extend after that, the job has to meet the standard rate, or another reduced option such as the PhD rate.
Which jobs qualify
The job has to be higher skilled (degree level, RQF 6 or above) unless it is on the Temporary Shortage List (certificates issued before 31 December 2026) or the Immigration Salary List, or in a few other cases. 121 occupation codes are higher skilled (our count from Appendix Skilled Occupations). The SOC code and going rate guide lists every code with its going rate and new-entrant rate.
Early-career adverts were the most likely to rule sponsorship out in our study of 202,073 adverts (3 October 2026 to 1 November 2026): 48% of internship and placement adverts and 24% of entry-level adverts, against 12% for mid to senior roles.
Costs
The employer pays for the certificate of sponsorship (£525) and usually the immigration skills charge. The exemption from that charge covers workers switching from a study visa, and the Graduate visa isn’t one, so the charge usually applies. You usually pay the visa fee and the immigration health surcharge, unless the employer offers to cover them.
What it means for your job search
It’s worth starting early. The employer needs time to decide and assign a certificate, a decision usually takes up to 8 weeks, and the switch has to be made before your Graduate visa ends. On SponsorJobs you can filter jobs by seniority, and most jobs show a Visa salary card with the new-entrant rate for the SOC code we think fits. It’s our reading of the advert; the code your employer uses is the one that counts.
Browse jobs at licensed sponsors · Jobs that say they sponsor · How to ask an employer about sponsorship
Common questions
Can I extend my Graduate visa?
No. GOV.UK says the Graduate visa can’t be extended. You may be able to switch to another visa, for example Skilled Worker.
What is the minimum salary when switching from a Graduate visa?
As a new entrant, usually at least £33,400 a year and at least 70% of the going rate for the job’s SOC code, whichever is higher.
How long can I be paid the new-entrant rate?
A new-entrant visa can’t take your combined time as a Skilled Worker, on the Graduate visa and on Tier 2 past 4 years.
Do I have to apply before my Graduate visa expires?
Yes. GOV.UK says you must apply online to switch before your current visa expires.