Compare visa routes.
The same points for each route, taken from the official gov.uk pages. Scroll sideways on a phone.
| Point | Student | Graduate | Skilled Worker | Innovator Founder | Scale-up Worker | Global Talent | High Potential Individual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Study the course on your CAS | Work, look for work or be self-employed after a UK degree | Work for a licensed sponsor in an eligible job | Set up a new, innovative, scalable business | Work for a qualifying scale-up company | Work if you are a recognised leader or emerging leader in an eligible field | Work if you graduated from a listed overseas university |
| Job offer needed | No | No | Yes, with a Certificate of Sponsorship | No, but the business idea needs endorsement | Yes | See gov.uk | No |
| Sponsor or endorsement | Sponsor (your university) | No sponsor | Licensed sponsor | Endorsing body | Sponsor that is a recognised scale-up | Endorsement in most cases | No sponsor |
| Can it be extended | See gov.uk | No | Yes | See gov.uk | See gov.uk | See gov.uk | No |
| Leads to settlement | No | Not on its own | After 5 years it may be possible, check current rules | See gov.uk | See gov.uk | See gov.uk | No |
| Self-employment | Generally not allowed, check your conditions | Yes | Check conditions | The point of the route | Check conditions | See gov.uk | Yes |
| Public funds | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Read next | Student timeline | Graduate guide | Skilled Worker guide | Innovator Founder guide | gov.uk page | gov.uk page | gov.uk page |
General information only, last checked 22 October 2026. Rules, fees and thresholds change, and this table does not say whether you qualify for anything. For your own case, use an IAA-registered adviser or a solicitor.
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