Full timeline of transfer from student visa to work visa to permanent residence: How many years will it take from enrollment to ILR under the 2026 new regulations?

For example: you come to the UK to study in September 2021, apply for Graduate visa after graduation in July 2023, and transfer to Skilled Worker in October 2024 - then your permanent residence countdown starts from October 2024 , and you can submit your permanent residence application as early as October 2029 (minus the 28-day early application window).

🎓 Phase 1: Student visa period (not included in permanent residence time)

time span : usually 1-3 years (undergraduate 3 years, taught master’s 1 year, doctorate 3-4 years)
Can be counted towards permanent residence : ❌ Not counted towards
key actions : complete studies, find a qualified employer, and prepare to transfer visas

Students must complete the course before they can transfer to the Skilled Worker visa, with the exception of doctoral students who can apply for transfer after completing 24 months of full-time study.

💼 Key to transfer: When can I submit my Skilled Worker application?

You can submit your application before graduation, but the work start date on the CoS (letter of sponsorship) must be after the course completion date reported by the university to Home Office. This three-month window begins on the date the university officially reports you have completed the course.

Practical suggestions : Most students will apply for a Graduate visa first as a buffer, giving themselves 2 years (3 years for a PhD) to find a job. Although the Graduate visa does not count towards the period of permanent residence, it allows you to legally stay in the UK to find a job without having to get an offer on the day of graduation.

💼 Second stage: Skilled Worker visa period (counted into permanent residence time)

time span : 5 years (can be renewed multiple times)
Can count towards permanent residence : ✅ All counts towards
key thresholds : salary, skill level, number of days abroad

💷 Salary threshold in 2026 (must be clear)

From July 2025, the standard salary threshold will be an annual salary of £41,700 or the going rate for the occupation (whichever is higher), with a minimum hourly salary of £17.13 (based on 48 hours per week).

New Entrant discount (good news for fresh graduates): If you are under 26 years old, or switching from Student/Graduate visa, or in the vocational training period, you can enjoy a lower threshold - annual salary of £33,400 or 70% of the going rate (whichever is higher).

⚠️ Fatal misunderstanding
New Entrant discount is limited to ! Usually only available for initial applications and first renewals. If you change employers or renew your contract after four years of employment, you must meet the standard threshold of £41,700. Negotiate a salary increase with your employer in advance so you don’t get stuck when renewing your contract.

📊 Skill level requirements (tightened from July 2025)

From July 2025, new applicants must be in occupations at RQF Level 6 (undergraduate qualification level). Previous RQF 3-5 (A-level to associate degree) positions are no longer eligible unless they are on the Temporary Shortage List (TSL) or Immigration Salary List (ISL). ISL will expire on December 31, 2026.

✈️ Rules for the number of days to leave the country (the easiest to get into trouble)

In any 12 consecutive months, the total number of days spent abroad shall not exceed 180 days. This is a rolling calculation of to , not based on natural years.

Actual Case : If you get Skilled in October 2024 Worker, returned to China for 2 months (60 days) in August 2025, returned to China for another month (30 days) in January 2026, and returned to China for another 3 months (90 days) in July 2026 - although each time I looked at it individually, it did not exceed 180 days, but in the 12 months from August 2025 to July 2026, I traveled abroad for a total of 180 days, which is just right!

actuarial tool : Use 永居计算器APP (https://justiscript.com/ilr) to automatically track each departure record and display the remaining days available for departure in real time to avoid accidental excess.

🔄 Renewal and job change

The Skilled Worker visa can last for up to 5 years at a time. It needs to be renewed when it expires or when you change jobs. As long as you continue to hold a valid Skilled Worker visa, the time will continue to be included in the countdown to permanent residence .

Note when changing jobs: the new employer must have a sponsor license and assign you a new CoS. If the new visa is not obtained before the old visa expires, a "break" will occur, which may affect the continuous residence requirements for permanent residence.

🏡 The third stage: Apply for permanent residence ILR

time node :
after Skilled Worker reaches 5 years early application window :
can be submitted as early as 28 days before the expiry of 5 years. core conditions :

• Have held a Skilled Worker visa for five years and your employer confirms that you are still needed
• Pass Life in the UK Test (required for ages 18-64)
• There is no need to prove English proficiency again (because it was already proved when applying for Skilled Worker)
• The number of days out of the country complies with the 180-day rule

💰 Fees and processing time (2026 data)

According to recent reports, the permanent residence application fee has increased to £3,226 (specifically, please refer to the latest announcement from GOV.UK). Expedited service Priority £500 (results will be available within 5 working days), Super Priority £1,000 (results will be available the next day for weekday submissions, and 2 working days for weekend submissions).

⏱️ Complete timeline example disassembly

Scenario A: One-year master's degree + Graduate visa buffer

• September 2022: Enrollment (Student visa)
• July 2023: Graduation, apply for Graduate visa
• October 2024: Find a job, transfer to Skilled Worker ⏰ permanent residence countdown starting point
• September 2029: 28 days before the expiry of 5 years, submit the ILR application
• Total time : about 7 years (2022.9→2029.9)

Scenario B: Three years of undergraduate degree + direct transfer to work permit

• September 2020: Undergraduate Admission
• July 2023: Graduation, immediately get an employer offer and transfer to Skilled Worker ⏰ countdown to permanent residence starting point
• June 2028: Submit ILR 28 days before the 5th anniversary
• Total time : about 8 years (2020.9→2028.6)

Scenario C: Fast track for doctoral students

• October 2021: PhD admissions
• October 2023: Complete 24 months of full-time study, and switch to Skilled Worker while studying for a Ph.D. (if the employer agrees) ⏰ Countdown to permanent residence starting point
• September 2028: Submit ILR 28 days before the 5th anniversary
• Total time : about 7 years (2021.10→2028.9)

⚠️ 5 pitfalls where the car is most likely to overturn

1. Mistakenly thinking that student time counts towards permanent residence
Only Skilled Worker and a few specific visa periods are counted. Student, Graduate, and visit visa time are not included.

2. The number of days out of the country is calculated based on the natural year
Wrong! It is any 12 consecutive months. Every time you leave the country, it is necessary to calculate whether the total number of days in the 12 months before and after exceeds 180 days.

3. Visa suspension during job change
You must obtain a new CoS and submit an application before the old visa expires, otherwise your continuous residence will be interrupted. If it is really too late, you may consider applying for an extension or other transitional visa.

4. New Entrant discount is used until the 5th year
Discounts usually only apply to initial applications and first renewals, with the standard threshold of £41,700 potentially required for second renewals or when changing employers.

5. Ignore 2026 English requirement changes
Starting from January 8, 2026, new applicants for the Skilled Worker visa must meet the B2 English level (higher than the previous B1). Although you do not need to take the test again when applying for permanent residence, you should be careful when switching to a work permit.

💡 Written at the end: Time can be calculated accurately, but planning must be done early

From the time of student signing to permanent residence, the fastest time is 6-7 years, and the slow time is 8-10 years. Everyone’s path is different, but the core logic is the same: Skilled Worker for 5 years + leaving the country within the limit + passing Life in the UK Test = permanent residence in .

If you are still studying, it is recommended to know the salary level of the target industry and the list of sponsor license employers in advance; if you have already obtained a work permit, remember to use 永居计算器APP to track the number of days you have left abroad in real time to avoid discovering that you exceed the limit when you are applying.

What stage are you in now? How many days until permanent residence? welcomes you to share your timeline or any stuck points you encountered in the comment area, and we can discuss it together.

📌 Disclaimer
This article is for reference only. British immigration policies continue to change. Please consult a licensed immigration lawyer for specific questions. If you need professional legal advice, you can contact our licensed lawyers on WeChat uklvshi or email [email protected].

🔗 Data source
• GOV.UK Skilled Worker visa: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa
• GOV.UK Indefinite Leave to Remain (Skilled Worker): https://www.gov.uk/indefinite-leave-to-remain-tier-2-t2-skilled-worker-visa
• Immigration Rules Appendix Continuous Residence: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-continuous-residence