The graduate visa route came into existence in July 2021. If you went to the UK on a student visa you may be progressed to a graduate visa for 2 years after you complete the study. UK graduate
visa holders who hold a PhD or another doctoral qualification will have permission to stay in the UK for three years.

Under this visa category international students can stay and work in the UK for 2 or 3 years without being sponsored by a UK-based employer provided they have completed a qualifying course at graduate level or above. UK employers who don’t have sponsor licenses can hire applicants on graduate visas. However, if an applicant wants to continue living and working in the UK they need to switch to a UK skilled worker visa before their visa expires otherwise they will have to leave the UK. To be hired under a skilled worker visa the applicants must have a certificate of sponsorship from a UK-based company and meet other eligibility requirements. Applicants can apply within the UK to switch to a skilled worker visa.

Requirements to switch from graduate visa to skilled worker visa

You must meet the following criteria to switch to a skilled worker visa from a graduate visa:

• You must have completed the course you were sponsored to study.
• A skilled worker visa is a point-based visa where the applicant must accrue a total of 70 points to be granted leave to remain on this route.
• Your job start date must be after you finish your course.
• You must have studied for a PhD for at least 24 months.
• You must be offered a job eligible for a skilled worker visa from a UK-based employer with a sponsor license and you must be issued a certificate of sponsorship by them.
• You must meet the salary requirement.
• You must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language

Meeting salary requirement

If you are switching from a Graduate Visa, you may have a lower salary threshold of £30,960 or 70% of the "going rate" for your particular occupation code, as you can be considered a New Entrant. The new entrant salary can only be used for a period of 4 years. A table of ‘going rates' is available on the Home Office website. When you apply for ILR your salary must change to the normal salary for the relevant occupation code and you can no longer use the 70% advantage.
A lower salary threshold is also applicable for those with a PhD in a STEM subject (science, technology, engineering, or math) or those in a postdoctoral position in science or higher education.

How to apply?

If you want to switch to a UK skilled worker visa from a graduate visa from within the UK you need to apply online before your current visa expires. You need to attach supporting documents with the application.
You will have to pay an application fee ranging from £827 to £1,636 depending on your circumstances. You also need to pay the healthcare surcharge of £1,035 per year. You need your biometrics information (your fingerprints and photo) taken.

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