On 8 October 2026 new immigration rules will come into force that allow a Skilled Worker who is confirmed as a victim of modern slavery to have their work conditions relaxed so they no longer need to be sponsored by an abuser. The change is intended to help exploited workers report abuse without their sponsor using their visa status to control them.
What is the new Skilled Worker visa modern slavery protection?
The new Skilled Worker Visa Modern Slavery Protection will enable a worker sponsored under the Skilled Worker Visa route who is confirmed as a victim of modern slavery to leave an abusive sponsor without losing their permission to stay in the UK. The Skilled Worker may have their conditions amended so that any work is permitted, including self-employment and voluntary work, except work as a professional sportsperson, including as a sports coach. The new protection applies to a Skilled Worker who has been referred into the National Referral Mechanism and has received a positive Conclusive Grounds decision made during their most recent permission.
Under the standard Skilled Worker rules, a worker can only work for the sponsor named on their Certificate of Sponsorship, in the specific job recorded on it. The worker can only work for that sponsor in their main role. If the sponsorship ends, the worker normally has to find a new sponsor and apply again, or leave the UK. This new rule allows their work conditions to be amended so they are no longer restricted to the sponsored job.
However, a person cannot refer themselves directly into the National Referral Mechanism. The referral must be submitted online by a designated First Responder organisation. In England and Wales, these include police forces, certain Home Office teams, local authorities, the Fair Work Agency, the Salvation Army, Migrant Help, Kalayaan, Unseen and Barnardo’s. If the First Responder believes the person may be a victim of modern slavery, they can submit the referral. An adult must give informed consent, but a child does not.
Note: The rule states that the worker ‘may have’ the conditions amended, rather than that the conditions change automatically. As of September 2026, the Home Office has not published detailed guidance explaining whether this amendment happens automatically or whether the worker needs to make a separate request. Further guidance is expected around the time the rule takes effect.
What are the requirements for the modern slavery protection?
To qualify for the new modern slavery protection, the following requirements must be met:
- The worker must have been referred into the National Referral Mechanism (NRM): The NRM is the UK’s framework for identifying and supporting potential victims of modern slavery and human trafficking. The referral must be made by an authorised First Responder organisation.
- The worker must receive a positive Conclusive Grounds decision: a Conclusive Grounds decision is the second-stage decision in the National Referral Mechanism. A positive Conclusive Grounds decision means the decision-maker concludes that, on the balance of probabilities, the person is a victim of modern slavery. A positive Reasonable Grounds decision, which is the earlier first-stage decision, is not enough on its own.
- The decision must be made during their current Skilled Worker permission: the positive Conclusive Grounds decision must have been made during the worker’s most recent grant of Skilled Worker permission.
What happens to the Skilled Worker visa after a positive Conclusive Grounds decision?
If a person receives a positive Conclusive Grounds decision, they do not receive a new visa. Once the relevant work conditions have been amended under the new rule:
- Their existing Skilled Worker visa continues
- The expiry date of the existing Skilled Worker visa does not change, so the amended conditions only last for the remainder of the current permission
- They can work for another employer without relying on their existing sponsor, do self-employment, or carry out voluntary work
The only work not permitted under the amended conditions is work as a professional sportsperson, including as a sports coach. The no recourse to public funds condition still applies.
The rule says the worker ‘may have’ their conditions amended. Until the Home Office publishes procedural guidance confirming otherwise, it would be unsafe to assume that the positive Conclusive Grounds decision itself automatically activates unrestricted work rights.
Reference:
GOV.UK: Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 584, 3 September 2026
