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.
Every UK route, grouped
Study
- Student (Master’s, PhD or further study)
- Child Student (age 4–17)
- Short-term Student (English language)
- Parent of a Child Student
Post-study work
- Graduate visa
- High Potential Individual (HPI)
- India Young Professionals Scheme
- Youth Mobility Scheme (other nationalities)
Sponsored work
- Skilled Worker
- Health and Care Worker
- Scale-up Worker
- Global Business Mobility: Senior or Specialist Worker
- Global Business Mobility: Graduate Trainee
- Global Business Mobility: UK Expansion Worker
- Global Business Mobility: Service Supplier
- Global Business Mobility: Secondment Worker
- Minister of Religion
- International Sportsperson
- Temporary Work: Government Authorised Exchange & Seasonal Worker
- Temporary Work: Seasonal Worker
- Temporary Work: Creative Worker
- Temporary Work: Charity Worker
- Temporary Work: Religious Worker
- Temporary Work: International Agreement
Talent / business
Family & dependants
Visit
- Standard Visitor (incl. family visiting for graduation)
- Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) – context
Settlement & citizenship
Status & documents
Comparison table
| Route | Sponsor needed? | Salary threshold | Fees + IHS | Length of stay | Processing | Switch in UK? | Route to ILR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student (Master’s, PhD or further study) | Yes – a licensed student sponsor (university) issues a CAS | None. 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 year | Course 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 visa | No | None | £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 years | Usually 8 weeks | Must apply from inside the UK while on a Student visa, after successfully completing your course | Does not lead to settlement; cannot be extended. Switch to e.g. Skilled Worker |
| Skilled Worker | Yes – 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 apply | Outside UK £819 (≤3 yrs) / £1,618 (>3 yrs); inside UK £943 / £1,865; ISL jobs £628 / £1,235. IHS £1,035 per year | Up to 5 years, then extend | Usually 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 Worker | Yes – NHS, NHS supplier or adult social care sponsor | At least £25,000 or the job’s lower going rate for most listed health and care occupation codes (e.g. nurses, care workers – going rates follow NHS pay bands); £31,300 or the lower going rate for other eligible codes. Discounts (70–90%) possible – see gov.uk | £324 (≤3 yrs) / £628 (>3 yrs), same inside or outside UK. No IHS | Up to 5 years, then extend | Usually 3 weeks (outside UK) | Yes from most visas | After 5 years (ILR fee £3,226) |
| Global Talent | No – needs endorsement (academia/research, arts & culture, digital technology) or an eligible prize | None | £766 total (£561 endorsement + £205 visa) + IHS £1,035 per year | Up to 5 years at a time; extend 1–5 years, no limit | Usually 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) | No | None (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 before | Does not lead to settlement |
| Scale-up Worker | Yes – 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 year | 2 years; extend by 3 years at a time | Usually 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 Worker | Yes – existing employee of an overseas linked business; CoS from UK sponsor | At least £52,500 (and going rate) | Outside UK £819 / £1,618; inside UK £943 / £1,865 + IHS £1,035 per year | Shorter 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.uk | Does not lead to settlement |
| Global Business Mobility: Graduate Trainee | Yes – existing employee; CoS from UK sponsor | At least £27,300 | £340 + IHS | Shorter of CoS + 14 days or 12 months; cannot extend | Usually 3 weeks (outside UK) | No – you cannot switch from inside the UK | Does not lead to settlement |
| Innovator Founder | No sponsor – needs endorsement from an approved endorsing body | None | £1,357 (outside UK) / £1,693 (inside UK) + endorsement £1,000 (+£500 per check-in) + IHS £1,035 per year | 3 years; can extend | Usually 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 Scheme | No – but you must be selected in a ballot | None; £2,530 savings | £340 + IHS £1,552 | Up to 24 months; cannot extend | Usually 3 weeks | Apply from outside the UK after ballot selection | Does not lead to settlement |
| Temporary Work: Government Authorised Exchange & Seasonal Worker | Yes – an approved exchange scheme / seasonal worker scheme operator | Scheme-dependent | £340. GAE: + IHS (usually £1,035 per year). Seasonal Worker: no IHS listed | GAE: depends on the scheme and your job dates. Seasonal: up to 6 months (horticulture); poultry 2 Oct–31 Dec | Usually 3 weeks | Limited – see gov.uk | Does not lead to settlement |
| Family: partner or spouse | No – based on your relationship with a British/settled person | Usually 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) + IHS | Up to 2 years 9 months, then extend (fiancé(e): 6 months) | See gov.uk | Yes in many cases – check gov.uk | Usually after 5 years on the partner route – check gov.uk |
| Settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain) | n/a | Skilled Worker ILR: must still meet the salary requirements | £3,226 per person (priority +£500, super priority +£1,000) | Permanent | See gov.uk; priority service (+£500) aims for 5 working days | Apply from inside the UK, earliest 28 days before you reach the qualifying period | Skilled 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 |
| Dependants: partner & children (all routes) | Depends on the main applicant’s route | Main applicant must qualify; dependant funds required (see below) | Same visa fee as the main applicant’s route per person + IHS (£776/yr Student dependants; £1,035/yr most others; HCW dependants exempt) | Usually the same end date as the main applicant | Same as main route | Yes, if the main applicant is switching/extending and they already hold permission as a dependant | Same timing as main applicant on settlement routes (Skilled Worker, HCW, Global Talent etc.) |
| Standard Visitor (incl. family visiting for graduation) | No | None – show you can fund the trip | £135 (up to 6 months). Long-term visit visas: £506 (2 yrs), £903 (5 yrs), £1,128 (10 yrs). Extension inside UK £1,172. No IHS | Up to 6 months per visit (long-term visas: each visit max 6 months) | Usually 3 weeks | No – you cannot switch to most visas from a Visitor visa | Does not lead to settlement |
| UK Ancestry | No | None – must be able to work and support yourself | £726 + IHS £1,035 per year | 5 years, then extend or settle | Usually 3 weeks (outside UK) | Must apply from outside the UK (or extend inside) | After 5 years (ILR £3,226) |
| Global Business Mobility: UK Expansion Worker | Yes – CoS from the overseas business setting up its first UK branch | At least £52,500 or the going rate, whichever is higher | £340 + IHS £1,035 per year | Up to 12 months; extend by 12 months; max 2 years | Usually 3 weeks | Limited – see gov.uk | Does not lead to settlement |
| Global Business Mobility: Service Supplier | Yes – CoS from UK sponsor under a trade agreement contract | No fixed threshold; qualifications/experience rules | £340 + IHS £1,035 per year | 6 or 12 months depending on the trade agreement | Usually 3 weeks | No | Does not lead to settlement |
| Global Business Mobility: Secondment Worker | Yes – UK sponsor with a contract worth at least £50 million with your overseas employer | None specified | £340 + IHS £1,035 per year | Up to 12 months; extend by 12 months; max 2 years | Usually 3 weeks | Limited | Does not lead to settlement |
| Temporary Work: Seasonal Worker | Yes – approved scheme operator | Scheme-set pay | £340 (no IHS for 6 months or less from outside the UK) | Up to 6 months (horticulture); poultry 2 Oct–31 Dec | Usually 3 weeks | No | Does not lead to settlement |
| Temporary Work: Creative Worker | Yes – licensed sponsor (CoS) | Must meet relevant code of practice/going rate where applicable | £340 + IHS £1,035 per year | Up to 12 months (CoS + 14 days); extend to max 12 months (24 for some) | Usually 3 weeks | Limited | Does not lead to settlement |
| Temporary Work: Charity Worker | Yes – licensed charity sponsor | Unpaid voluntary work only | £340 + IHS £1,035 per year | Up to 12 months | Usually 3 weeks | No | Does not lead to settlement |
| Temporary Work: Religious Worker | Yes – licensed religious sponsor | Scheme-dependent | £340 + IHS £1,035 per year | Up to 24 months | Usually 3 weeks | Limited | Does not lead to settlement |
| Temporary Work: International Agreement | Yes – sponsor (e.g. overseas government, international organisation, diplomatic household) | Contract-based | £340 + IHS £1,035 per year | Up to 2 years at a time (private servants in diplomatic households: up to 5 years) | Usually 3 weeks | Limited | Does not lead to settlement |
| Minister of Religion | Yes – licensed religious sponsor | Not a salary-threshold route | £819 (outside UK) / £943 (inside UK) per person + IHS £1,035 per year | Up to 3 years; extend up to 3 years | Usually 3 weeks | Yes from most routes | After 5 years |
| International Sportsperson | Yes – licensed sports sponsor plus governing body endorsement | Governing body requirements | £340 (up to 12 months); £819 outside / £943 inside UK (over 12 months) + IHS £1,035 per year | Up to 3 years; extend up to 3 years at a time | Usually 3 weeks | Yes from most routes | After 5 years (if granted for longer than 12 months) |
| Short-term Student (English language) | No – accredited English language course | None – show funds | £228. No IHS (unless applying inside the UK) | Course length + 30 days, max 11 months | Usually 3 weeks | No | Does not lead to settlement |
| Child Student (age 4–17) | Yes – licensed independent school (CAS) | None. Course + boarding fees for one year; if living with parent: £1,560/month (parent + child, up to 9 months) | £558 + IHS £776 per year | Under 16: up to 6 years + 4 months; 16–17: up to 3 years + 4 months | Usually 3 weeks | Yes from some routes | No |
| Parent of a Child Student | No | £1,560/month (up to 9 months) for parent and child, + £625/month for each additional child | £726 (outside UK) / £1,407 (extension) + IHS £1,035 per year | Until the child turns 12 or the child’s visa ends | Usually 3 weeks | Extend inside UK | Does not lead to settlement |
| British citizenship (naturalisation) | n/a | None | £1,839 (£1,709 application + £130 ceremony); child £1,000 | Permanent | Usually within 6 months | Apply in the UK after ILR | n/a – this is the step after ILR |
| eVisa, BRP replacement, share codes & right to work/rent | n/a | n/a | Free to create a UKVI account and view eVisa | n/a | Instant | n/a | n/a |
| Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) – context | No | n/a | £20 | Valid 2 years or until passport expires; visits up to 6 months | Usually within 3 working days | n/a | n/a |
| Asylum & human rights claims – signposting | n/a | n/a | No fee for asylum | n/a | Varies | n/a | Separate rules |
| Youth Mobility Scheme (other nationalities) | No (some countries need a ballot) | £2,530 savings | £340 + IHS £776 per year | Up to 2 years (3 for some nationalities) | Usually 3 weeks | No | Does not lead to settlement |
What changed in October 2026 (checked 31 Oct 2026)
- 8 Oct 2026 (in force): most of Statement of changes HC 584 (laid 3 Sep 2026). For Skilled Workers: people confirmed as victims of modern slavery (positive Conclusive Grounds decision) may work for any employer for the rest of their permission (new SW 18.3). No change to the £41,700 threshold, going rates or the eligible occupation lists.
- 29 Oct 2026 (in force): Minister of Religion and Religious Worker changes from HC 584.
- 30 Nov 2026 (laid, not yet in force): Student maintenance rises from £1,529 to £1,570/month (London) and £1,171 to £1,203/month (elsewhere), up to 9 months.
- Reminder: Skilled Worker English level has been B2 for new applicants since 8 Jan 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)
- 22 July 2025: Skilled Worker general threshold rose to £41,700; new-entrant floor £33,400; jobs below RQF 6 (medium-skilled) only eligible if on the Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage List. 100+ occupations became ineligible for new sponsorship (Home Office statistics commentary).
- Graduate visa: applications from 1 January 2027 get 18 months instead of 2 years (PhD stays 3 years).
- Immigration Salary List: most entries have a removal date of 31 Dec 2026.
- HPI: current lists (2023–2025) contain no Indian universities.
- Latest rules updates: see the Statement of changes collection (latest: HC 584, 3 Sep 2026; no newer statement as of 31 Oct 2026).
Graduate visa length by application date
| When you apply | Bachelor’s/Master’s | PhD |
|---|---|---|
| On or before 31 Dec 2026 | 2 years | 3 years |
| From 1 Jan 2027 | 18 months | 3 years |
Student visa: extra time after your course
| Course length | Before course | After course |
|---|---|---|
| 12 months or more | 1 month | 4 months |
| 6 to 12 months | 1 month | 2 months |
| Pre-sessional under 6 months | 1 month | 1 month |
| Other under 6 months | 7 days | 7 days |
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)
| Who | Per year |
|---|---|
| Student / Youth Mobility / under 18 | £776 |
| Most other routes | £1,035 |
| Health and Care Worker | Exempt |
Source: gov.uk IHS
Sources
- Student visa — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Student visa – money — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Student visa – family members — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Immigration Rules Appendix Student — checked 31 Oct 2026
- IHS amounts — checked 31 Oct 2026
- UKCISA – student work — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Graduate visa — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Graduate visa – costs — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Skilled Worker visa — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Your job — checked 31 Oct 2026
- When you can be paid less — checked 31 Oct 2026
- How much it costs — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Switch to this visa — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Eligible occupations — checked 31 Oct 2026
- ILR for Skilled Worker — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Health and Care Worker visa — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Costs — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Global Talent visa — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Switch to Global Talent — checked 31 Oct 2026
- HPI visa — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Global universities list 2025 — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Switch to HPI — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Scale-up Worker visa — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Your job (salary) — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Switch — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Senior or Specialist Worker visa — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Costs — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Graduate Trainee visa — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Innovator Founder visa — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Switch — checked 31 Oct 2026
- India Young Professionals Scheme visa — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Eligibility — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Government Authorised Exchange visa — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Seasonal Worker visa — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Family visa – partner or spouse — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Family visa costs — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Proof of income — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Settle in the UK — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Statements of changes — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Skilled Worker – partner and children — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Graduate visa – family members — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Standard Visitor — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Visa fees — checked 31 Oct 2026
- UK Ancestry visa — checked 31 Oct 2026
- UK Expansion Worker visa — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Service Supplier visa — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Secondment Worker visa — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Creative Worker visa — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Charity Worker visa — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Religious Worker visa — checked 31 Oct 2026
- International Agreement visa — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Minister of Religion visa — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Statement of changes HC 584 — checked 31 Oct 2026
- International Sportsperson visa — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Short-term study visa — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Child Student visa — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Parent of a Child Student visa — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Apply for citizenship with ILR — checked 31 Oct 2026
- British citizenship — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Life in the UK test — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Indian dual citizenship/OCI (MHA) — checked 31 Oct 2026
- eVisa — checked 31 Oct 2026
- View and prove your status — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Prove right to work — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Prove right to rent — checked 31 Oct 2026
- ETA — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Claim asylum in the UK — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Find an immigration adviser — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Youth Mobility Scheme — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Statement of changes HC 584 — checked 31 Oct 2026
- HC 584 explanatory memorandum — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Budget 2026 — checked 31 Oct 2026
- IHS — checked 31 Oct 2026
- Immigration statistics – work — checked 31 Oct 2026