Compare UK Visa Routes

The UK points-based system does not have a single "best" visa — it has routes built around different reasons for being here, and you have to fit one of them rather than choose the one you like most. What separates them is who sponsors you, how long you can stay, whether the time counts towards settlement, and what you are allowed to do while you are here. This table sets the four most common routes side by side so you can see which one your circumstances actually match, and what it commits you to.

Tip: scroll the table sideways to see all columns →

Feature	Skilled Worker	Family Visa	Student Visa	Graduate Route
Sponsor required	Yes (employer)	Yes (UK-based partner/parent)	Yes (education provider)
Salary threshold	£41,700 (general)	MIR applies	N/A	N/A
Maximum initial stay	5 years	2.5 years (then extend)	Course length	2 years (3 for PhD)
Can lead to settlement	Yes (after 5 years)	Yes (after 5 years)
Can work	Yes (for sponsor + supplementary)	Yes (unrestricted)	Limited (20 hrs/week term time)	Yes (unrestricted)
IHS surcharge	£1,035/year	£1,035/year	£776/year	£776/year
Dependants permitted	Yes — partner and children under 18	Yes — dependent children may be included	Yes (postgraduate courses; not undergraduate generally)	Yes — dependants who came on Student visa
Time to settlement (ILR)	5 years continuous residence on route	5 years continuous leave as a partner	Not a direct route to ILR	Not a direct route to ILR

Immigration rules change frequently. Always check the latest guidance on GOV.UK before applying.

Matching your circumstances to a route

Work backwards from what you have, not from what you want. Two of these routes need a UK sponsor before you can apply at all: Skilled Worker needs a licensed employer with a certificate of sponsorship, and the Student route needs a licensed education provider. The Family route needs a qualifying relationship with someone already settled or on a qualifying visa here. The Graduate route needs nothing but a UK degree you have just completed — which is why it is the only one on this table you cannot plan for from abroad.

You have a job offer meeting the salary threshold. Skilled Worker is the strongest option: it is renewable and the years count towards settlement.
Your partner or parent is British or settled. The Family route gives unrestricted work rights, which no other route on this table does at entry.
You are finishing a UK degree. Graduate buys you time to find sponsored work, but the clock does not stop and the time never counts towards settlement.

The expensive mistake people make is treating time in the UK as interchangeable. Years on a Student or Graduate visa build no entitlement to indefinite leave to remain — only the qualifying routes do — so someone who spends five years studying and working here can be no closer to settlement than on the day they arrived. If settlement matters to you, move onto a qualifying route as early as you can rather than extending a temporary one.

Budget for the Immigration Health Surcharge as well as the fee. Charged per year and per person, it is often the largest single cost of a family application.

Frequently asked questions

Can I switch from one of these routes to another without leaving the UK?

Usually yes. Switching in-country is normal from Student to Skilled Worker once you have a sponsored job offer, and from Graduate to Skilled Worker at any point. Switching into the Family route from another visa is also common where the relationship is genuine and the requirements are met. The main restrictions are on visitor visas, which generally cannot be switched from inside the UK. Apply before your current leave expires — if it runs out first, you lose the right to switch and may have to leave.

What happens if I lose my job on a Skilled Worker visa?

Your sponsor must report it to the Home Office, and your leave is normally curtailed to a short grace period rather than ending immediately. In that window you can find a new licensed sponsor and apply to change employer, switch to another route you qualify for, or make arrangements to leave. Start looking straight away and keep the letter confirming your last working day. Time spent between sponsors can create a gap that affects your continuous residence when you eventually apply for settlement.

Can my family come with me on these routes?

Dependants are permitted on most of these routes, as the table sets out, but the rules differ sharply and have tightened in recent years — undergraduate students in particular generally cannot bring dependants. Each dependant pays their own application fee and their own Immigration Health Surcharge for the full length of leave, which can easily double or triple the cost of an application. Work out the total for the whole family before committing, and check the current position on GOV.UK because this area changes often.

Does time spent outside the UK break my route to settlement?

It can. Qualifying routes require continuous residence, and there are limits on how many days you can spend abroad in each twelve-month period across the qualifying years. Ordinary holidays and work trips are fine; long absences to care for a relative or an extended overseas posting may not be. Keep a running record of every departure and return date from the day you arrive — reconstructing five years of travel from old passports and boarding passes at application time is far harder than logging it as you go.

Related guides

Skilled Worker Visa Overview

The Skilled Worker visa is the main route for people from outside the UK to work in the country. It replaced the Tier 2 (General) visa in December 2020 as part of the post-Brexit points-based immigration system. To be eligible, you generally need a job offer from a UK employer with a valid Skilled Worker sponsor licence, and your role and salary must meet the required thresholds.

9 min

Family Visa: Overview

The UK's family immigration rules allow certain close family members of British citizens and those with settled or pre-settled status in the UK to apply to join them. The most common route is the spouse and partner visa, but other routes exist for children, parents, and other dependent relatives. Family visa rules changed significantly in April 2024, with a substantial increase to the minimum income requirement.

7 min

Student Visa Basics

The UK Student Visa (previously called the Tier 4 student visa) allows people aged 16 and over to study in the UK at a licensed Student sponsor institution. It replaced the Tier 4 (General) visa in October 2020. To apply, you must have an unconditional offer from a licenced UK Student sponsor and meet financial, English language, and other requirements.

7 min

Graduate Route After Study

The Graduate Route allows international students who have completed a degree or other qualifying qualification in the UK to stay for up to two years after graduation (or three years for doctoral graduates) to work, look for work, or do other activities. It was launched in July 2021 and has been used by hundreds of thousands of graduates.

6 min

Disclaimer

The information on this page was correct at the time of writing. Amounts, thresholds, and rules may change. Always check the latest official guidance.