Imagine you finish a UK master's in September, your post-study visa is running, and a company offers you a job and says, "We'll sponsor you." That sentence is not yet a visa. Between the offer and your first sponsored payslip there are several checks, and most of the avoidable delays happen because people skip them.
This checklist covers the move from a post-study route to a Skilled Worker visa. The official facts below come from the GOV.UK Skilled Worker visa page. Rules on the Graduate visa itself are changing, so read the last section before you plan any dates.
What the Skilled Worker visa requires
According to GOV.UK, to qualify you must meet four conditions:
- You work for a UK employer approved by the Home Office.
- You hold a certificate of sponsorship (CoS) from that employer, with information about the role you've been offered.
- Your job is on the list of eligible occupations.
- You're paid a minimum salary. How much depends on the type of work and the date you got your CoS.
You must also have a confirmed job offer before you apply, and you must be able to speak, read, write and understand English. You'll usually need to prove that when you apply.
Notice that three of these four points depend on the employer and the job, not on you. That's why the first checks are about the company.
Step 1: Confirm the employer is approved
Not every UK company can sponsor. Before you accept anything, ask the recruiter or HR contact two direct questions: "Do you hold a sponsor licence?" and "Will you assign a certificate of sponsorship for this role?" A serious employer answers plainly.
Be careful if someone asks you to pay for a "sponsorship" or a CoS. Treat that as a red flag, not a shortcut. Your visa depends on a genuine job with a genuine approved employer. If an agent is involved, read our guide on checking that a UK immigration adviser is properly regulated.
Step 2: Check the job, not just the title
The job must be on the eligible occupations list, and the salary must meet the minimum for that kind of work. A title like "Marketing Executive" doesn't settle anything. The duties and the occupation code attached to the role do.
Ask your employer for:
- the occupation code they plan to use,
- the annual salary stated on the CoS,
- the job start date.
Then compare the code and salary against the current GOV.UK guidance on your specific job. GOV.UK states that the exact eligibility depends on your job, so don't rely on a friend's experience in a different field.
Step 3: Get the certificate of sponsorship details right
Your CoS carries the role information and the start date. That date matters because GOV.UK says you can apply up to 3 months before the day you're due to start work, and the start date is the one listed on your certificate.
When your employer sends the CoS details, check them against your passport:
- full name spelled exactly as in your passport,
- date of birth,
- job title, salary and start date matching your offer letter.
Name differences between passport, NIN records and degree certificates cause real trouble in applications. If yours don't match, fix it early using our guide on fixing a name mismatch across passport, NIN and degree.
Step 4: Prepare your documents and English evidence
GOV.UK says that as part of your application you'll need to prove your identity and provide your documents. You may need an appointment for this, and you'll find out if you do when you start the application. Build in extra time for that.
Gather these before you start the online form:
- Valid passport, plus any current visa or BRP details.
- CoS reference number from your employer.
- Evidence of your knowledge of English, in whatever form the current application asks for.
- Proof of personal savings, if the application requires it for you (see below).
- Degree certificate and transcript, in case the employer or application asks for them.
Step 5: Understand the costs before you commit
GOV.UK says you, your partner or children will each need to pay the application fee, pay the healthcare surcharge for each year of your stay, and prove you have enough personal savings. The page points to a separate "how much money you'll need" tool, and I'm deliberately not quoting figures because they change. Use that official calculator and write down the total for everyone on the application.
On savings: the money must be yours, held in your own name. Never accept a loan from a lender or a "temporary" deposit from someone to make your balance look bigger. That is misrepresentation and can lead to a refusal and problems with future applications. If you're short, the honest options are to ask your employer whether they'll cover some costs, or to delay your start date and save.
Ask the employer early who pays what. Some employers pay the fee and surcharge, some don't, and some want repayment if you leave soon. Get the answer in writing.
One more note: if you're a doctor or nurse, or work in health or adult social care, GOV.UK says you should check whether you can apply for the Health and Care Worker visa instead. It's cheaper to apply for and has no annual health surcharge.
Step 6: Apply from inside the UK and wait properly
You must apply online. GOV.UK has separate routes depending on whether you're outside the UK, inside the UK extending, or inside the UK switching from a different visa. Switching from a post-study visa falls in the last group, so select that route.
After you apply, prove your identity and provide your documents, you'll usually get a decision within 8 weeks if you're inside the UK (3 weeks if outside). You may be able to pay for a faster decision, and you'll be told if that's available when you apply.
Don't start the sponsored job before your new permission is granted, unless your current visa clearly allows you to work in that role. If you're unsure, ask a regulated adviser or check GOV.UK. Starting work too soon is a common and costly mistake.
A hypothetical timeline
This example is invented to show how the dates interact. Say Ada's current post-study permission ends on 30 June. Her employer offers a start date of 1 May.
- Early February: Ada confirms the company holds a sponsor licence and the role is eligible.
- Around 1 February: the earliest she could apply, since the window opens 3 months before the 1 May start date.
- Mid-February: employer issues the CoS and Ada checks every detail.
- February to April: she applies online, books any identity appointment, and waits up to 8 weeks for a decision.
She has a buffer because her current permission runs past the start date. If it ended on 15 April, the same 8-week wait would be a real risk, and she'd need to apply at the first opportunity and speak to an adviser about timing. Always count backwards from the date your current permission ends.
Step 7: Know what your new visa allows
GOV.UK says that with a Skilled Worker visa you can work in the eligible job, study, bring a partner and children as dependants if you meet the requirements, travel abroad and return, and do unpaid voluntary work for certain organisations. You cannot claim most public funds or the State Pension, and you can't change jobs or employer unless you apply to update your visa.
The visa can last up to 5 years before you extend. The page says that after 5 years you may be able to apply to settle permanently. Some news headlines, including The Nation's "UK doubles waiting period to 10 years for most migrants," suggest the settlement wait is changing. I can't confirm the details from those headlines, so check the current GOV.UK settlement guidance before you plan long-term.
For a wider overview of the visa, see our step-by-step Skilled Worker visa guide.
Check the Graduate visa dates first
A headline from Brand Spur says Nigerians face an 18-month work permit from 2027 under new rules. I only have the headline, so I can't tell you who it covers or how it works. Our post on the UK Graduate visa change on 1 January 2027 is the place to start, and the official GOV.UK Graduate visa page is the place to confirm your own end date.
Whatever your visa length, start looking for sponsoring employers early. A job search that begins in the last two months of your permission leaves little room for the CoS, the application and the wait.
Common mistakes
- Treating a verbal "we'll sponsor you" as a guarantee. Ask for the written offer and the CoS.
- Not checking that the job and salary meet the rules for that occupation.
- Applying before the 3-month window opens.
- Using borrowed money to show savings.
- Paying a stranger for a "guaranteed" sponsored job.
- Letting your current permission run out while waiting for a decision.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply before I have a job offer?
No. GOV.UK says you must have a confirmed job offer before you apply.
Can my family come with me?
Your partner and children may be able to apply as dependants if they meet the requirements. Each person pays the fee and surcharge and must show savings, according to GOV.UK.
What if I want to change employer later?
You can't change jobs or employer unless you apply to update your visa.
Your next step: today, email your prospective employer the three questions in this checklist (sponsor licence, occupation code and salary, CoS start date), then open the GOV.UK money calculator and write down your total cost.
Sources
Details checked against the official sources above on 4 November 2026. Things change, so confirm on the official site before you act.
This is general information, not immigration or legal advice. Rules change often, so confirm on the official government website or with a licensed adviser, and avoid agents who promise guaranteed visas.