🎓 UK Careers Guide

Last updated: 31 Oct 2026 · Facts checked against official sources on 31 Oct 2026

General information, not legal advice. Rules change often – always confirm on gov.uk. For advice use an OISC-registered adviser or an SRA-regulated solicitor.

UK visas & rules for international students – 2026

Every route an international graduate commonly moves to, compared in one table. Click a route for its own page. All figures from gov.uk, checked 31 Oct 2026.

Comparison table

RouteSponsor needed?Salary thresholdFees + IHSLength of stayProcessingSwitch in UK?Route to ILR
Student (Master’s, PhD or further study)Yes – a licensed student sponsor (university) issues a CASNone. Show maintenance: £1,529/month (London) or £1,171/month (elsewhere) for up to 9 months; £1,570 / £1,203 for applications from 30 Nov 2026 (HC 584)£558 + IHS £776 per yearCourse length + extra time (12+ month course: up to 1 month before and 4 months after)Usually 3 weeks (outside UK), 8 weeks (inside UK)Yes from most visas; restrictions apply (see gov.uk)No direct route; time may count towards long-residence rules only in limited cases – check gov.uk
Graduate visaNoNone£937 + IHS £2,070 (2 yrs) / £1,552.50 (18 months) / £3,105 (PhD, 3 yrs)2 years if you apply on or before 31 Dec 2026; 18 months if you apply from 1 Jan 2027; PhD: 3 yearsUsually 8 weeksMust apply from inside the UK while on a Student visa, after successfully completing your courseDoes not lead to settlement; cannot be extended. Switch to e.g. Skilled Worker
Skilled WorkerYes – a licensed sponsor and a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)£41,700 or the occupation’s going rate, whichever is higher. New entrants: 70% of going rate, min £33,400 (max 4 years incl. Graduate time). PhD/ISL discounts applyOutside UK £819 (≤3 yrs) / £1,618 (>3 yrs); inside UK £943 / £1,865; ISL jobs £628 / £1,235. IHS £1,035 per yearUp to 5 years, then extendUsually 3 weeks (outside UK), 8 weeks (inside UK)Yes (Student visa holders must normally have completed the course, or 24 months of a PhD)After 5 years (ILR fee £3,226 per person)
Health and Care WorkerYes – NHS, NHS supplier or adult social care sponsorDepends on the job – NHS jobs use national pay-band going rates (Appendix Skilled Occupations Table 4)£324 (≤3 yrs) / £628 (>3 yrs), same inside or outside UK. No IHSUp to 5 years, then extendUsually 3 weeks (outside UK)Yes from most visasAfter 5 years (ILR fee £3,226)
Global TalentNo – needs endorsement (academia/research, arts & culture, digital technology) or an eligible prizeNone£766 total (£561 endorsement + £205 visa) + IHS £1,035 per yearUp to 5 years at a time; extend 1–5 years, no limitUsually 3 weeks (outside UK), 8 weeks (inside UK)Yes from most visas (not visit, short-term student, seasonal worker etc.)After 3 or 5 years depending on endorsement
High Potential Individual (HPI)NoNone (maintenance £1,270)£880 + Ecctis check £252 + IHS £2,070 (2 yrs) / £3,105 (PhD, 3 yrs)2 years (3 years for PhD)Usually 3 weeks (outside UK)Yes from most visas; not if you have already had a Graduate visa or HPI beforeDoes not lead to settlement
Scale-up WorkerYes – CoS from an approved scale-up sponsor (sponsored for the first 6 months only)£39,100 or the going rate, whichever is higher£937 + IHS £1,035 per year2 years; extend by 3 years at a timeUsually 3 weeks (outside UK), 8 weeks (inside UK)Yes (Student visa holders: course completed, or 24 months of PhD)After 5 years
Global Business Mobility: Senior or Specialist WorkerYes – existing employee of an overseas linked business; CoS from UK sponsorAt least £52,500 (and going rate)Outside UK £819 / £1,618; inside UK £943 / £1,865 + IHS £1,035 per yearShorter of CoS + 14 days or 5 years; max 5 years in any 6 (9 in 10 if paid £73,900+)Usually 3 weeks (outside UK)Yes from some visas – see gov.ukDoes not lead to settlement
Global Business Mobility: Graduate TraineeYes – existing employee; CoS from UK sponsorAt least £27,300£340 + IHSShorter of CoS + 14 days or 12 months; cannot extendUsually 3 weeks (outside UK)No – you cannot switch from inside the UKDoes not lead to settlement
Innovator FounderNo sponsor – needs endorsement from an approved endorsing bodyNone£1,357 (outside UK) / £1,693 (inside UK) + endorsement £1,000 (+£500 per check-in) + IHS £1,035 per year3 years; can extendUsually 3 weeks (outside UK), 8 weeks (inside UK)Yes (Student visa holders: course completed, or 24 months of PhD)After 3 years (if requirements met)
India Young Professionals SchemeNo – but you must be selected in a ballotNone; £2,530 savings£340 + IHS £1,552Up to 24 months; cannot extendUsually 3 weeksApply from outside the UK after ballot selectionDoes not lead to settlement
Temporary Work: Government Authorised Exchange & Seasonal WorkerYes – an approved exchange scheme / seasonal worker scheme operatorScheme-dependent£340. GAE: + IHS (usually £1,035 per year). Seasonal Worker: no IHS listedGAE: depends on the scheme and your job dates. Seasonal: up to 6 months (horticulture); poultry 2 Oct–31 DecUsually 3 weeksLimited – see gov.ukDoes not lead to settlement
Family: partner or spouseNo – based on your relationship with a British/settled personUsually combined income of £29,000 a year (£18,600 if extending with the same partner and first granted under earlier rules – check)£2,064 (outside UK) / £1,407 (inside UK) + IHSUp to 2 years 9 months, then extend (fiancé(e): 6 months)See gov.ukYes in many cases – check gov.ukUsually after 5 years on the partner route – check gov.uk
Settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain)n/aSkilled Worker ILR: must still meet the salary requirements£3,226 per person (priority +£500, super priority +£1,000)PermanentSee gov.uk; priority service (+£500) aims for 5 working daysApply from inside the UK, earliest 28 days before you reach the qualifying periodSkilled Worker/HCW/Scale-up: 5 years. Global Talent: 3 or 5 years. Innovator Founder: 3 years. Graduate, HPI, YPS, GBM, Temporary Work: do not count by themselves

What changed in October 2026 (checked 31 Oct 2026)

Announced in Budget 2026 (28 Oct 2026) — proposed, NOT yet law. No Statement of Changes has been laid yet. Do not plan on these until gov.uk confirms:
  • Salary rules “from spring 2027”: occupation going rates cut from the median to the 25th percentile; general threshold re-based on 2026 wage data (no new figure given); annual updates; one single new-entrant discount; PhD discount removed.
  • HPI widened to graduates of the top 150 global institutions, with a larger cap. No new list has been published; the latest official list is still 2025.
  • Graduate visa kept at 2 years for graduates of “high-compliance universities with strong labour market outcomes”. No list of those universities published yet.
  • Up to 6 months to find a new job for the highest-skilled sponsored workers (2027).

Sources: HC 584, explanatory memorandum, Budget 2026.

Confirmed changes 2025–2026 (from gov.uk)

Graduate visa length by application date

When you applyBachelor’s/Master’sPhD
On or before 31 Dec 20262 years3 years
From 1 Jan 202718 months3 years

Student visa: extra time after your course

Course lengthBefore courseAfter course
12 months or more1 month4 months
6 to 12 months1 month2 months
Pre-sessional under 6 months1 month1 month
Other under 6 months7 days7 days

Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)

WhoPer year
Student / Youth Mobility / under 18£776
Most other routes£1,035
Health and Care WorkerExempt

Source: gov.uk IHS

Sources