Changing your job or moving to a new employer is a positive step in your UK career, but as a Skilled Worker visa holder, this change requires a formal ‘update’ to your immigration status. This is not a simple administrative change; it is a full new visa application that must be approved before you can legally start your new role.
Navigating this ‘change of employment’ application is crucial to remaining compliant with UK immigration law. Our team of specialist immigration advisors provides an expert, end-to-end service for visa update applications. We ensure your new job meets all the necessary requirements and manage the application process seamlessly, allowing you to transition into your new role with confidence and complete legal standing.
When Do You Need to Apply to Update Your Visa?
You are legally required to submit a new application to update your visa if you are making a significant change to your sponsored employment. This includes if:
- You are moving to a new employer.
- Your job role is changing so significantly that it now falls under a different 4-digit occupation code, even if you are staying with your current employer.
- You are moving from a job that was on the Immigration Salary List (ISL) to a new role that is not on the list.
You do not need to apply if you are promoted or change your job title within the same occupation code with your current employer.
The Application Process: A Full New Visa Application
It is essential to understand that an ‘update’ is not a minor amendment. It is a completely new Skilled Worker visa application.
- New Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS): Your new employer (or your current employer for a new role) must assign you a brand new CoS.
- Meet All Eligibility Requirements: Your new job must meet all the Skilled Worker eligibility rules at the time of your new application. This includes the skill level, the occupation code, and, crucially, the minimum salary requirements.
- Favourable Salary Rules May Apply: If you were first sponsored before 4 April 2024, you will likely benefit from the lower, transitional salary rules, which can make it easier to qualify. Our experts will assess your history to confirm this.
- Supporting Documents: If you have been in the UK for more than one year, you are usually exempt from providing financial maintenance and English language evidence again. However, all other aspects of the application must be proven.
Taking on a Second Job: The ‘Supplementary Employment’ Rules
The Skilled Worker visa allows for some flexibility in taking on additional work, but the rules are strict.
- When you do NOT need to apply: You can take on a second job without updating your visa if it is either in the same occupation code and at the same level as your main sponsored job, or if it is on the Immigration Salary List, AND you will be working no more than 20 hours per week in this second job.
- When you MUST apply: If you plan to work more than 20 hours per week in a second job, you must apply to update your visa. Your second employer will need to become your sponsor and assign you a CoS, and the second job must also meet all the Skilled Worker eligibility requirements. Your new visa will then grant you permission to work in both roles.
Application Timing and Key Rules to Remember
- When to Apply: You can submit your update application up to 3 months before the start date of your new job.
- Do Not Start Your New Job Early: You must wait until you have received a decision and your new visa has been granted before you can legally start working in your new role.
- Continuing Your Current Job: You can continue working in your current sponsored role while your new application is being considered.
- Decision Timeline: A standard decision on an update application usually takes 8 weeks. Priority services are often available for a faster outcome.
Crucial Warning: You must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man while your application is being processed. Doing so will automatically withdraw your application.
Why Specialist Guidance is Essential for a Change of Employment
A change of employment application carries the same risks as a first-time application. A refusal can leave you without a job and without a valid visa. Our expert immigration service ensures a smooth and successful transition.
- We conduct a full eligibility check on your new job offer against the current, complex salary and occupation code rules.
- We liaise with your new employer to ensure the new Certificate of Sponsorship is assigned correctly.
- We manage the entire online application process, ensuring accuracy and preventing common errors.
- We provide strategic advice on timing, helping you manage your notice period and new start date effectively.
Take the next step in your UK career with confidence. Contact our expert Skilled Worker visa team today for a comprehensive consultation on your change of employment application.
About the Author:
Farzad Ghods is an international lawyer specialising in UK immigration law. He is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and the Immigration Advisors Authority (IAA) in the United Kingdom, and is also a member of the Iran Bar Association. He brings over fourteen years of professional legal experience to his practice.