United Kingdom — Global Hub for Talent, Business & Study

The core employer-sponsored route. Time on this visa typically counts toward ILR after 5 years if salary and role remain eligible.

• Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) required
• English language + financial requirements
• Switching from inside the UK often allowed
• Dependants can join (rules apply)

For leaders or emerging leaders in tech, science, arts. Highly flexible work rights; accelerated ILR possible (often 3 years on “Talent”).

• Endorsement by approved body or eligible prize
• No employer sponsorship needed
• Self-employment and multiple roles allowed
• Counts toward ILR; absence rules apply

For founders building innovative, viable, scalable ventures. Endorsement + milestone checks; potential ILR after 3 years if criteria met.

• Endorsing body approval required
• Active, day-to-day founder involvement
• Progress reviews against business plan
• Dependants permitted

2 years (3 for PhD) of unsponsored work permission for recent grads of eligible universities; switch later to a route that leads to ILR.

• No sponsor needed; free to change jobs
• Does not itself count to ILR
• English + financial requirements
• Switch to Skilled Worker/GT/IF possible

Post-study work permission for UK graduates. Use it to secure a qualifying role, then switch to a route that accrues ILR time.

• Unsponsored; work in most roles
• No direct ILR accrual
• Switching inside the UK allowed
• Dependants limited (course-type rules apply)

For full-time study at licensed institutions. Work limits during term; dependants largely restricted to research postgrads.

• Progression to Graduate Route possible
• Later switches to work routes
• Healthcare via IHS
• Attendance & compliance monitored

For partners, spouses, and dependent children of British citizens or settled persons. Typically a 5-year route to ILR.

• Minimum income requirement applies
• Permission to work/study
• Extensions to meet 5-year threshold
• Leads to ILR; then citizenship eligible

Long-term status granting unrestricted stay and work. Usually follows 3–5 years on an eligible route plus Life in the UK and English.

• Absence limits (rolling 12-month checks)
• Route-specific salary/role criteria (SW)
• Civil/criminal compliance reviewed
• Citizenship possible after 12 months of ILR