Skilled Worker Visa Change of Employment Guide

Can you change jobs or employers while on a Skilled Worker Visa?

It is possible to change jobs or employers on a UK Skilled Worker visa. You do this by applying to update your Skilled Worker visa, which is sometimes called a change of employment application.

You must apply to update your Skilled Worker visa if you:

• Change your employer
• Move into a role with a different occupation code, unless the change is part of an eligible graduate training programme, and
• Leave a job on the Immigration Salary List for one that is not on the list

You do not need to update your Skilled Worker visa if:

• You are still in the same sponsored job with the same employer
• You change roles within the same employer but your new role has the same occupation code
• You have a basic salary increase, or certain permitted salary reductions or periods of reduced or unpaid salary during authorised absences, provided the relevant Immigration Rules are met
• Your occupation is removed from the Immigration Salary List while you remain in the same job, and
• Your occupation code changes because you are moving as part of an eligible graduate training programme

Requirements for updating your Skilled Worker visa if you change job or employer

To apply to update your Skilled Worker visa, you will need to:

• Get a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for the new job, changed role, or additional job you are applying for
• Ensure the job is eligible for the Skilled Worker visa, including meeting the applicable occupation and skill-level requirements
• Meet the minimum salary and going rate requirements for the job, and
• Submit your application before your current Skilled Worker visa expires and before the start of the new job or changed role

Job eligibility requirement

Your new job must be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route. You can check whether your new job falls within an eligible occupation by checking the Appendix Skilled Occupations.

It is important to note that if your first Skilled Worker visa was granted on or after 22 July 2025, your new role must be at Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) Level 6 or above, which is degree level. The skills threshold relates to the occupation rather than any qualifications you personally hold.

If your first Skilled Worker visa was granted before 22 July 2025, transitional arrangements apply. You may be able to change to certain occupations below RQF Level 6 as long as you have held continuous Skilled Worker permission since before 22 July 2025 and meet the other requirements for updating a Skilled Worker visa.

Example – You were granted a Skilled Worker visa in March 2025 as a Chef (occupation code 5434, RQF Level 3). In September 2026, you want to change employer. As Chef remains an eligible occupation for those holding transitional permission, you can apply to change employer as a Chef (update your Skilled Worker visa) provided you meet the applicable salary requirements.

It is important to check the going rate for your role and understand which salary requirement applies to you before you apply.

Minimum salary requirement

Your new job must meet the applicable Skilled Worker salary requirements. In most cases, you must be paid at least the relevant minimum salary threshold or the going rate for your occupation, whichever is higher. Although the standard general salary threshold is £41,700 per year, you may qualify for a lower salary threshold depending on your circumstances, such as when you were first granted Skilled Worker permission, whether you have held continuous Skilled Worker permission since then, or whether you qualify for another discounted salary option. For example:

• If your first Skilled Worker visa was granted on or after 4 April 2024, the general salary threshold is £41,700 per year. Your salary must equal or exceed this figure or the going rate for your occupation code, whichever is higher. Certain lower thresholds may apply in specific circumstances, for example for new entrants or those with a relevant PhD.
• If your first Skilled Worker visa was granted before 4 April 2024, and you have held continuous Skilled Worker permission since then, transitional arrangements apply. You may be able to meet a lower minimum salary threshold of £31,300 per year, or the lower going rate for your occupation code, whichever is higher. These transitional arrangements are currently available for applications made before 4 April 2030.

For more information, see our detailed guide to Skilled Worker visa salary requirements. If you have any questions about the salary requirements when changing employer, please contact our immigration lawyers for advice.

How to update your Skilled Worker visa when you change job or employer

1. Get a new Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) – The employer sponsoring the new role must assign a new CoS before you apply. This may be a new employer, where you are changing sponsor, or your existing employer, where you are moving to a role that requires a visa update.
2. Apply to update your Skilled Worker visa before the new job starts – You must apply online using the new CoS reference number. You can apply up to 3 months before the start date on the CoS. You must submit your application before your current visa expires and before you start the new job.
3. Continue working for your current employer while you wait, where permitted – You can normally continue working for your current employer while the Home Office considers your application, provided you applied before your current visa expired. You must not start the new job until your application has been approved. Also note that travelling outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man while your application is pending will cause your application to be withdrawn. Do not travel abroad until you have received a decision, and
4. Wait for the decision before starting the new job – The Home Office usually decides in-country applications within 8 weeks, though processing times can vary. You should begin your new role only after receiving confirmation that your Skilled Worker visa has been updated.

What happens to your dependants when you change employer on a Skilled Worker visa?

Changing employer affects your own sponsorship and visa as the main Skilled Worker, but it does not automatically cancel or change your dependants’ existing visas. Your dependants can usually continue living in the UK lawfully until their current permission expires. They do not need to make a new application solely because you change employer or update your Skilled Worker visa. However, if they wish to continue staying in the UK after their current dependant permission expires, they must apply separately. They can apply at the same time as you or at any time before their own current permission expires.

What happens if you lose your sponsored job on a Skilled Worker visa?

If your sponsored employment ends, for example because of redundancy, your sponsor must normally report this to the Home Office. You will receive a visa curtailment letter explaining when your permission to remain in the UK will end. In most cases, the Home Office will shorten your permission to 60 days from the date your sponsorship ends. However, if your Skilled Worker visa is already due to expire in less than 60 days, it will normally expire on its original expiry date rather than being extended.

During those 60 days, you can look for a new eligible sponsored role and apply for a new Skilled Worker visa before your permission expires. If you do not receive new immigration permission before your curtailed visa expires, you must leave the UK. Remaining in the UK after that date would mean overstaying your visa.

The Home Office may also curtail the visas of any dependants granted permission in line with your Skilled Worker visa.

Reference:

UK.GOV: Update your visa if you change job or employer