Graduate Visa vs Skilled Worker Visa After a UK Degree

After a UK degree, the Graduate visa vs Skilled Worker visa choice is simple at first: the Graduate visa lets you stay and work in almost any job without a sponsor, for 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026 but only 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027, while the Skilled Worker visa needs a job offer from a licensed sponsor, usually paying at least £41,700 or £33,400 for new entrants. A common plan is to use the Graduate visa first, then switch to Skilled Worker once a sponsoring employer offers you an eligible job.

Last checked: 17 October 2026. Rupee amounts use the NRB selling rate, 17 Oct 2026 (GBP 1 = Rs 202.99).

Graduate visa vs Skilled Worker visa: side by side

The Graduate visa in 2026 and 2027

The GOV.UK Graduate visa page says the visa lasts:

• 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026;
• 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027;
• 3 years if you have a PhD or other doctoral qualification.

The cut-off is the date you apply, not the date you graduate. To apply, you must be in the UK on a Student visa, have studied an eligible course for the required minimum time, and your university must have reported to the Home Office that you completed it. You can apply once that report is made, without waiting for your graduation ceremony, and you must apply before your Student visa expires.

What you can do: work in most jobs, look for work, be self-employed, and do voluntary work. What you cannot do: claim most public funds, or work as a professional sportsperson. You cannot extend a Graduate visa, but you may be able to switch to another visa such as Skilled Worker.

How much the Graduate visa costs

Remember the surcharge rises from the student rate of £776 a year to £1,035 a year. Families in Nepal often budget only for the Student visa; our UK student visa cost guide covers that first stage, and this cost comes on top.

The Skilled Worker visa: what you need

• A job offer from an approved employer. GOV.UK says you need an offer from a licensed sponsor before you apply. You can check the official register of licensed sponsors.
• A certificate of sponsorship. Your employer issues it electronically, and you must apply within 3 months of receiving it.
• An eligible job. Higher-skilled occupation codes qualify. Medium-skilled codes qualify only if the job is on the immigration salary list or the temporary shortage list (with a narrow prison officer exception).
• The right salary. Usually the higher of £41,700 a year or the going rate for the occupation code.
• English at CEFR B2. GOV.UK accepts a degree-level qualification taught in English by a UK institution as proof, so your UK degree should cover this.
• Funds of £1,270 held for 28 days in a row, unless an exemption applies. GOV.UK says this can be waived if you have held a valid UK visa for at least 12 months, or if your employer covers your costs for the first month.

Salary rules for new entrants

The GOV.UK “when you can be paid less” page lets recent graduates be paid less than the standard rate. You can be paid 70% of the job’s going rate, with a minimum of £33,400 a year (about Rs 67.80 lakh), if one of these applies:

• you are under 26 on the date you apply;
• you are on a Student visa studying at bachelor’s level or above, or were in the last 2 years (with Student or visit as your most recent visa);
• you are on a Graduate visa, or were in the last 2 years (with Graduate or visit as your most recent visa);
• you are working towards a recognised professional qualification or chartered status.

The catch: your total stay in the UK on these reduced-salary terms cannot be more than 4 years, and that includes any time on a Graduate visa. After that, you need to meet the full salary rate.

Other reduced rates exist. A relevant STEM PhD allows 80% of the going rate (minimum £33,400), a non-STEM PhD 90% (minimum £37,500), and jobs on the immigration salary list need at least £33,400 plus the standard going rate.

How much the Skilled Worker visa costs

Which should you choose? Step by step

1. Check your timing. If your university will report your completion before 31 December 2026, applying for the Graduate visa by that date gets you 2 years instead of 18 months.
2. Do you already have a sponsored offer? If an employer with a licence offers you an eligible job at the right salary, you can consider applying for Skilled Worker directly. Check GOV.UK’s switching rules for your situation.
3. No offer yet? The Graduate visa gives you time to job hunt and build UK experience without a sponsor.
4. Watch the 4-year clock. If you will rely on the new-entrant salary, remember Graduate visa time counts towards the 4-year limit.
5. Check the job, not just the employer. The occupation code must be eligible and the salary must meet both £41,700 (or the new-entrant rate) and the going rate.
6. Budget for both. If you take the Graduate visa and later switch, you pay two application fees and two lots of health surcharge.

For Nepali students and families

• If you are choosing a course now, a master’s starting in 2026 will usually finish after 1 January 2027, so plan for an 18-month Graduate visa, not 2 years.
• Think about the salary in rupees. £41,700 is about Rs 84.65 lakh a year and £33,400 about Rs 67.80 lakh (NRB selling rate, 17 Oct 2026). That is a high bar for a first job in many fields, so research going rates for your target occupation early.
• Do not pay for a “sponsorship”. A genuine certificate of sponsorship comes from a licensed employer. Check the employer on the official register.
• Keep your Student visa record clean. You need to complete your course and be reported by your university to qualify for the Graduate visa.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Letting your Student visa expire before applying for the Graduate visa. You must apply before it ends.
• Assuming the Graduate visa can be extended. It cannot.
• Accepting a job without checking the occupation code is eligible for Skilled Worker.
• Forgetting the health surcharge, which is paid upfront for the full visa length.
• Assuming the new-entrant rate lasts forever. It is capped at 4 years in total, including Graduate time.

What to do next

If you are still choosing a country, compare post-study options in our destination comparison and the study in the UK from Nepal guide. Put your graduation, visa and job-search dates in a free study plan.

Frequently asked questions

Is the UK Graduate visa changing to 18 months?
Yes. GOV.UK says the Graduate visa lasts 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027. If you apply on or before 31 December 2026, it lasts 2 years. PhD holders get 3 years.

How much is the UK Graduate visa fee?
£937, about Rs 1.90 lakh at the NRB selling rate on 17 October 2026, plus the health surcharge of £1,035 a year.

What is the minimum salary for a UK Skilled Worker visa?
Usually £41,700 a year or the job’s going rate, whichever is higher. New entrants, including recent Student and Graduate visa holders, can be paid 70% of the going rate with a minimum of £33,400.

Can I switch from a Graduate visa to a Skilled Worker visa?
GOV.UK says you may be able to switch to another visa such as Skilled Worker. You will need a sponsored job offer and must meet the Skilled Worker rules.

Do I need IELTS for a Skilled Worker visa if I studied in the UK?
Usually not. GOV.UK accepts a degree-level qualification taught in English by a UK institution as proof of English.

Does Graduate visa time count towards the new-entrant 4-year limit?
Yes. GOV.UK says total stay on the reduced new-entrant terms cannot exceed 4 years, including time on a Graduate visa.

Related guides

• UK CAS and Credibility Interview: Guide for Nepali Students
• UK TB Test for Nepali Students: Clinics, Fees, Validity
• IELTS vs PTE for Nepali Students in 2026: Which to Take

Sources

• Graduate visa – GOV.UK
• Graduate visa: eligibility – GOV.UK
• Skilled Worker visa: your job and salary – GOV.UK
• Skilled Worker visa: when you can be paid less – GOV.UK
• Skilled Worker visa: how much it costs – GOV.UK
• Skilled Worker visa: knowledge of English – GOV.UK
• Immigration health surcharge: how much you pay – GOV.UK
• Foreign exchange rates – Nepal Rastra Bank (selling rate, 17 Oct 2026)

Last checked: 17 October 2026. This is general information, not immigration or financial advice. Check GOV.UK before you apply.