Switching from Student Visa to Skilled Worker Visa in 2024

Last updated: 10 April 2024

You can switch from a Tier 4 Student Visa to a Skilled Worker Visa (formerly the Tier 2 Visa) from within the UK if you completed the course of your study, have a job offer from an employer with a sponsor licence, and meet all the skilled worker visa eligibility requirements (as explained below).

In 2024, there are some new rules if you want to switch your Student Visa to a Skilled Worker visa, including:

• You must have completed your course of your study. If you are studying for a full-time Ph.D., the employment start date should be no earlier than 24 months of your course.
• Effective from 4 April 2024, the minimum salary requirement for a Skilled Worker visa is £38,700 per year. However, new graduates may qualify for a Skilled Worker Visa with a lower salary (e.g. £30,960) if they are considered a new entrant or have a Ph.D. Further details on this exception are provided below.
• For 2024, the list of eligible occupations for the Skilled Worker visa has been updated based on the updated Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code system used by the Home Office. They will now use SOC 2020, not SOC 2010.

Requirements for switching Tier 4 student visa to Skilled Worker visa

To make the switch from a UK Student Visa to a Skilled Worker Visa, you must:

• Have completed the course of your study. If you are studying a full-time PhD, the employment start date should be no earlier than 24 months of your course.
• Have a job offer from an employer with a Skilled Worker sponsor licence
• Meet the minimum salary requirements: £38,700 per year from 4 April 2024. However, you can still switch to a Skilled Worker visa with a lower salary if you are a new entrant or have a PhD.
• Have a job must be on the eligible occupation list
• Meet the English language requirements
• Have sufficient funds to support yourself in the UK (you will not need to meet this requirement if you have been in the UK for 1 year or more on a Student Visa).

For more details on the general requirements, please see our Skilled Worker Visa page.

The switching from Tier 4 / Student Visa to Tier 2 / Skilled Worker visa salary requirements have been updated in 2024, hence it is important to understand the new criteria, as explained below.

Skilled Worker visa minimum salary requirements for new entrant 2024

From 4th April 2024, the salary requirement for the Skilled Worker Visa increased to £38,700. The going rates for roles are also being raised from the 25th percentile to the median. This means that from 4th April 2024, as a new entrant switching from a student visa to a Skilled Worker Visa, you will need a salary of £30,960 (or higher) or 70% of the ‘going rate’ for the type of work you’ll be doing (whichever is higher).

You are classed as a “new entrant” if you meet one of the following requirements:

• You are under the age of 26 on the date of application or
• You have been sponsored for a postdoctoral position in one of the following occupations:
  • 2111 Chemical scientist
  • 2112 Biological scientists and biochemist
  • 2113 Physical scientist
  • 2114 Social and humanities scientist
  • 2119 Natural and social science professional not elsewhere classified; or 2311 Higher education teaching professional, or

• You are working towards a recognised professional qualification in a UK-regulated profession. It is advisable to check the CPQ website to confirm whether your job is in a UK-regulated profession or
• You are towards full registration or chartered status with the relevant professional body for the job you are being sponsored for, or
• Your most recent immigration permission was under the Tier 4 (General) or the Student route – your visa must either be current or have expired less than 2 years before the date of application. You must also have been sponsored to study for a:
  • UK bachelor’s degree
  • UK master’s degree
  • UK PhD or other doctoral qualification
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Education, or
  • Professional Graduate Diploma of Education

Skilled Worker Visa salary requirements for PhD student visa holders 2024

You can also switch from a Student Visa to a Skilled Worker visa with a lower salary if you hold a PhD in a relevant subject or a STEM subject.

From 4th April 2024, if you have a PhD in a science, technology, engineering or maths (STEM) subject, you can be paid 80% of your job’s ‘going rate’, as long as this is at least £30,960 per year. If you have a PhD in a non-STEM subject, you will receive a discount on the Skilled Worker salary requirement of 90%. As such, you must receive a salary of at least 90% of your job’s usual ‘going rate’, as long as this is at least £34,830.

To check if you have a suitable PhD, we recommend reviewing the list of Skilled Occupations on the Home Office website and looking for those that are eligible for PhD points (SW).

How to switch from a Student visa to a Skilled Worker visa

To switch from a Student Visa to a Skilled Worker Visa from within the UK, you will need to complete the following steps:

1. Ensure you have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from your UK sponsor before you apply
2. Complete the application form to switch to a Skilled Worker Visa on the Home Office website
3. Pay any application fees required (please see below)
4. Provide proof of identity – either by making and attending a biometric appointment with your nearest UKVCAS service centre or by using the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ mobile phone app.
5. Upload any documents required to support your application

Depending on your circumstances, you may be asked to attend an interview with the Home Office before your Skilled Worker visa is granted.

Please note: you must apply before your current Student Visa expires; otherwise, you may be classed as an overstayer. Once you have applied, you can then remain in the UK for as long as it takes to receive a decision.

Tier 4 student visa to Skilled Worker visa fees

The fees payable to switch from a Student Visa to a Skilled Worker Visa are as follows:

• For a visa of up to three years: £719 per person

• For a visa of more than three years: £1,420 per person

If your role is on the shortage occupation list:

• For a visa of up to three years: £551 per person
• For a visa of more than three years: £1,084 per person

In addition to the application fee, you will also need to pay the immigration healthcare surcharge, which will allow you access to the National Health Service (NHS) £1,035 for each year.

How long can it take to switch to a Skilled Worker visa?

If using the standard service, applicants can expect a decision within 8 weeks. Alternatively, you can pay an additional fee for a faster decision, as follows:

• £500 for the priority service, which will provide a response within five working days, or
• £1000 for the super-priority service for a decision by the end of the next working day (or two working days if your UKVCAS appointment is on a weekend day).

Can you combine your time on a Tier 4 Student visa and a Skilled worker visa route for ILR?

Unfortunately, time spent in the UK on a Student Visa does not normally count towards ILR. The exception to this is if you have spent many years studying in the UK and you apply under the 10-year long residence route. In this case, it is possible to combine time spent on a student visa and a Skilled Worker visa to qualify for ILR.

How can Reiss Edwards help?

Reiss Edwards specialises in all areas of immigration law, including switching from a Student Visa to a Skilled Worker Visa. Our immigration lawyers can:

• Confirm your eligibility to switch from a Student Visa to a Skilled Worker Visa
• Advice on any other suitable visa routes available to you and your dependants
• Prepare and submit your Skilled Worker application on your behalf and of your family members
• Collate, check, and upload all documents required to support your application for a Skilled Worker Visa
• Handle any queries from the Home Office

For assistance with switching from a Student Visa to a Skilled Worker Visa, please speak to our immigration lawyers for a free telephone consultation on 020 3744 2797

References:

Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 590, 14 March 2024