If you are already in the UK on a different long-term visa, you may be eligible to ‘switch’ your immigration status to the Skilled Worker route without having to leave the country. This is a popular pathway for students, graduates, and those on other work visas who have secured a sponsored job offer. However, switching is a full new visa application with strict eligibility rules and a list of visa categories from which you are not permitted to switch.
Our team of expert immigration advisors specialises in in-country switching applications. We provide comprehensive guidance to ensure you are eligible to switch, that your new sponsored job meets all the requirements, and that your application is submitted correctly and on time, allowing for a seamless transition into your new UK career.
Who is Eligible to Switch to a Skilled Worker Visa?
To successfully switch to a Skilled Worker visa from within the UK, you must:
- Be in the UK on a visa that permits you to switch.
- Have a confirmed job offer and a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from a Home Office-approved employer.
- Meet all the standard eligibility requirements for the Skilled Worker route, including the job skill level, salary, and English language proficiency.
Specific Rules for Students Switching to a Skilled Worker Visa
If you are currently in the UK on a Student visa, you can switch, but you must meet an additional condition. You must have either:
- Completed the course for which you were sponsored.
- Been studying a PhD for at least 24 months.
Alternatively, your sponsored job’s start date must be after your course has officially finished. This rule prevents students from leaving their studies to take up full-time work prematurely.
Critical Restrictions: Who CANNOT Switch?
It is vital to understand that you cannot switch to a Skilled Worker visa if you are in the UK on a temporary or short-term basis. You are prohibited from switching if you currently hold:
- A Visit Visa (Standard Visitor Visa)
- A Short-term Student Visa
- A Parent of a Child Student Visa
- A Seasonal Worker Visa
- A Domestic Worker in a Private Household Visa
- Immigration Bail
- Any form of ‘leave outside the immigration rules’ (e.g., on compassionate grounds)
If you are in one of these categories, you must leave the UK and apply for your Skilled Worker visa from your home country.
The Application Process: How to Switch Your Visa In-Country
- When to Apply: You must submit your online application before your current visa expires.
- How to Apply: The entire application is completed online. You will need to verify your identity either digitally using the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app or by attending an in-person appointment at a UKVCAS service point to provide your biometric information.
- Fees and Costs: You will need to pay the full visa application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) for each year of your new visa.
- Decision Timeline: A standard decision on a switching application usually takes 8 weeks. You can often pay an additional fee for a faster Priority or Super Priority service.
Crucial Warning: Once you have submitted your application, you must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man until you receive a decision. If you do, your application will be automatically withdrawn.
Switching with Your Family
Your family’s visas are not automatically switched when yours is. Your partner and children must submit their own separate dependant applications. This can be done at the same time as your application or at any point before their current visas expire.
Important Dependant Restrictions: Be aware of the new rules that prevent dependants from joining or switching with Care Workers and, in the future, those in ‘medium skilled’ jobs.
Why Expert Guidance is Essential for a Switching Application
Switching visa categories is a major legal step. A refusal can not only cost you your job offer but can also leave you with no valid visa to remain in the UK. Our specialist immigration service ensures a smooth and successful transition.
- We conduct a full eligibility check to confirm that your current visa category is permitted to switch.
- We provide a comprehensive review of your new job offer to ensure it meets all the complex salary and occupation code requirements.
- We manage the entire online application process, preventing common errors and ensuring a timely submission before your current visa expires.
- We coordinate your family’s applications, ensuring your loved ones can remain with you in the UK.
Transition to your new UK career with confidence and legal certainty. Contact our expert Skilled Worker visa team today for a comprehensive consultation on your switching application.
About the Author:
Farzad Ghods is an international lawyer specialising in UK immigration law. He is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and the Immigration Advisors Authority (IAA) in the United Kingdom, and is also a member of the Iran Bar Association. He brings over fourteen years of professional legal experience to his practice.