UK Skilled Worker Visa After Graduation: Overview

What the Skilled Worker visa is

The Skilled Worker visa is a UK immigration route that allows a person to come to or stay in the UK to do an eligible job with an approved employer. It is one of the routes some international students consider for working in the UK over the longer term after they finish their studies.

This page is a high-level overview to help you understand how the route is structured. It is general information only and not immigration advice — the authoritative eligibility, fees, and requirements are on the official UK government page, which you should check before relying on anything here.

A job offer from a licensed sponsor

The central feature of the Skilled Worker route is that you generally need a confirmed offer of an eligible job from a UK employer that holds a valid sponsor licence. That employer assigns you a "Certificate of Sponsorship" containing details of the role, and the job must meet the requirements the UK government sets for the route.

Because not every employer holds a sponsor licence, it can help to focus on organisations that are able to sponsor. The UK government publishes a register of licensed sponsors that you can check.

• You generally need an eligible job offer from a licensed UK sponsor
• The employer assigns a Certificate of Sponsorship for the role
• The job and salary must meet the UK government's requirements for the route
• A register of licensed sponsors is published on gov.uk

Salary and eligibility requirements

The Skilled Worker route has rules about the type of job (it must be on the list of eligible occupations), the salary the role must pay, and the English language ability you must demonstrate. The UK government sets and periodically updates these requirements, including the salary thresholds, and they can change.

This guide deliberately does not quote specific salary figures or thresholds, because they change and any figure here could quickly be out of date. Always verify the current salary rules, occupation lists, and other eligibility criteria on the official UK government source before acting.

How students often reach this route

Some graduates apply for a Skilled Worker visa after first using a post-study work route, while others move to it directly when they receive an eligible sponsored job offer. The way you switch routes, and whether you can apply from inside the UK, depend on your circumstances and the current rules.

Understanding the route early — and which employers can sponsor — can help you plan your job search. Your university careers service and international student support team can offer general information and point you to official resources.

Verify before you act

Immigration routes and their requirements are set by the UK government and are updated from time to time. Nothing on this page is a guarantee of a visa, a job, or an outcome — the decision on any application always rests with the authorities.

Before you make any decision, read the current rules on the official UK government page for the Skilled Worker visa. This is general information, not immigration advice; if your situation is complex, consider seeking qualified, regulated immigration advice.