If an individual currently has permission to stay in the UK under any of the following immigration categories, they can apply for a Tier 2 General visa from inside the UK:
- Any Tier 1 category
- Any Tier 2 category
- Any Tier 4 category except further education students. The individual must either have:
- Completed their UK degree and received their final results; or
- If they are a PhD student, completed at least one year of a UK PhD.
- Tier 5 (Temporary worker – creative and sporting) – note, you cannot switch from Tier 5 (GAE) into Tier 2 (General).
- dependent partner of a Tier 4 migrant – note, whilst you can switch from this category it will be treated as a restricted CoS.
- Highly Skilled Migrant Programme
- innovator
- Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme
- International Graduates Scheme (or its predecessor, the Science and Engineering Graduate Scheme)
- Business and Commercial work permits (except multiple entry work permits)
- Sports and Entertainment work permits (except multiple entry work permits)
- Jewish agency employee
- Member of the operational ground staff of an overseas-owned airline
- minister of religion, missionary or member of a religious order
- overseas qualified nurse or midwife
- a person writing up a thesis
- postgraduate doctor or dentist
- a representative of an overseas business
- a representative of an overseas newspaper, news agency or broadcasting organisation
- student union sabbatical officer
