Six main routes cover nearly every move to London — Skilled Worker, Youth Mobility, Graduate, Global Talent, Family and Student. Here’s how each one actually works, what it costs, and how to pick the right one for you.
Each route has a core eligibility shape — who it’s for, how long it lasts, whether you can bring family, and what you can do on it. Read the card, click through when one lands.
For people with a job offer from a UK employer that holds a sponsor licence. The most common route into London for professionals.
Open work visa for 18–30 (35 for some nationalities). No sponsor needed — you can work for (almost) anyone or freelance.
For graduates of UK universities who want to stay on and work without a sponsor. Two years (three for PhDs). Not renewable.
Endorsement-based route for leaders & emerging leaders in tech, research, arts and culture. No job offer needed. Self-employment permitted.
For partners, spouses, children or parents of British citizens or settled residents. Full work rights included.
For those with an offer from a licensed UK course provider. Limited work rights during study, then a clear path to the Graduate route.
Figures are for main applicants as of October 2025. Dependant fees, IHS and exact salary thresholds vary — always check the route page for the full breakdown before you apply.
| Route | Typical length | Main fee (from) | IHS per year | Dependants | Path to settle | Job offer needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker | Up to 5 yrs | £769+ | £1,035 | Yes | Yes (5 yrs) | Yes |
| Youth Mobility | 2–3 yrs | £298 | £776 | No | No | No |
| Graduate | 2–3 yrs | £880 | £1,035 | In-UK only | No | No |
| Global Talent | Up to 5 yrs | £766 | £1,035 | Yes | Yes (3–5 yrs) | No |
| Family | 2.5 yrs | £1,938 | £1,035 | Yes | Yes (5 yrs) | No |
| Student | Course + 4 mo | £524 | £776 | Postgrad only | No | No |
Scroll sideways on mobile to see all columns. Fees update annually — see live fee tracker.
Every route follows the same four-phase shape. Knowing the phases keeps you calm and moving — because the answer to “what do I do next?” is always in the current phase.
1–4 weeks out
Match yourself to a route. Confirm age, qualifications, salary, sponsorship — before you spend a penny on an application.
2–6 weeks
Documents, online application, biometrics appointment, fees. Get this right and you’re 80% of the way there.
3–8 weeks
Decision lands. Set up your UKVI account, activate your eVisa, book travel. The boring-but-critical stretch.
Day one & after
Passing the UK border smoothly, then everything your visa unlocks: bank, NHS, NI number, right-to-work checks with your employer.
The definitive walk-through: a decision tree across the six main routes, every trade-off called out, real-world examples from movers who picked each path — and the hidden costs almost no one talks about.
Skilled WorkerSponsor search, CoS, salary thresholds, the whole lifecycle in one place.
Youth MobilityHow the ballot works, timing windows, and what happens if you miss it.
ChecklistEvery document, in the order you’ll actually need it at the VAC.
MoneyFees + IHS + translations + priority + partner + kids — the full total, routed.
AdvancedYouth Mobility → Skilled Worker, Graduate → Global Talent, and the gotchas.
Short, direct answers to the questions that come up most often in our community. For full-depth answers, each one links into a guide.
Most work visas decide in about 3 weeks from outside the UK, or 8 weeks from inside. Priority and Super Priority upgrades can compress this to 5 working days or next-day. Expect longer for complex cases or where additional documents are requested.
Yes. You can switch in-country once you have a job offer from a licensed sponsor at the right salary and skill level — no need to return home. Many movers use the last 6 months of Youth Mobility to line up sponsorship.
The IHS gives you NHS access. It’s charged per year of your visa and paid upfront with your application. Students and Youth Mobility applicants pay a discounted rate (£776/yr). Most other applicants pay £1,035/yr.
Skilled Worker, Global Talent and Family visas allow dependants with additional fees per person. Youth Mobility and Graduate do not, unless they already have their own UK visa status.
Yes. The UK has moved to digital eVisas. Your immigration status now lives in your UKVI account, not on a physical BRP. You prove status via a share code for employers, landlords and the border.
Yes. You need a Certificate of Sponsorship from a UK employer with an active sponsor licence — you can’t apply speculatively. Finding a sponsor is the bottleneck on this route, not the visa itself.
Up to 2 years, with a possible 1-year extension for some nationalities. Youth Mobility doesn’t lead to settlement on its own — but you can switch into another route before it expires.
Your visa starts on the intended entry date you chose on the application — not the day you land. If you arrive later than planned, that time still counts toward your visa’s validity, so plan carefully.
Tell us your age, nationality, work situation and timeline — we’ll map the routes you qualify for, flag the fastest path, and build a personalised checklist. No guesswork, no sponsored ranking.
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Three paths forward — pick whichever you need right now.
The full topic map — housing, jobs, banking and more.
Open the hub → 02Every article in the visa cluster, together in one place.
Browse guides → 03Answer a few quick questions and get your visa-route recommendation, tailored.
Start my plan →Also worth a look: Immigration lawyers directory · Setup · Community
