Yes. You can change employers providing they are a Home Office-approved sponsor. You will be issued a new Certificate of Sponsorship and have to make a new application under “Update your visa if you change job or employer” on the government website.
The Skilled Worker visa route is for individuals with an eligible job offer from a Home Office licenced sponsor to come and work in the United Kingdom. This route replaced the Tier 2 General route and is one of the most popular routes for migrating to the UK. The job offer must satisfy certain skills & salary requirements set out by the UK government.
The applicants who wish to enter the UK under a Skilled Worker Visa must satisfy the below requirements:
The applicants who wish to extend their visas must still have the same job as when they were given previous permission to enter or stay in the United Kingdom. They must also be employed in the same occupation code as when they were given previous permission to enter or stay in the United Kingdom and still be employed by the employer that issued their current certificate of sponsorship. The applicants will be able to switch employers, however the new employers must also be a skilled worker sponsor and new visa application will be required.
As per the new rules, skilled workers can take up to 20 hours per week of supplementary work in any occupation code eligible for the skilled worker route. More on supplementary work changes for skilled workers are here.
To apply for settlement under the Skilled Worker route applicants must have resided and worked in the UK for 5 years. Applicants must have spent no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12 months. On the decision date, the applicant’s employer must still be an approved sponsor. The applicant’s sponsor must also provide evidence that the applicant is still required to work for them and is paid a salary that meets the minimum requirements. If aged 18 to 64 when applying, they must pass the Knowledge of Life in the UK test. An applicant should always check their eligibility before they apply.
Our Immigration lawyers at City Legal have immense experience in assisting skilled workers and their employers across a wide range of industry and sectors in the UK. We are a multi award winning law firm and pride ourselves in being approachable, innovative and always going that extra mile to make sure our clients receive the individual attention they deserve. Our Immigration team maintains a high reputation and is committed to provide clear, transparent and reliable advice to our clients.
Yes. You can change employers providing they are a Home Office-approved sponsor. You will be issued a new Certificate of Sponsorship and have to make a new application under “Update your visa if you change job or employer” on the government website.
Yes. You can be exempt from the requirement if you are a national of: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahama, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Malta, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, USA.
If you are an EU national and hold EU Pre-Settled or Settled Status under EU settlement scheme, you don’t need a Skilled Worker Visa to work in the UK. If you do not hold either status, you will need a work visa for employment in the UK.
The Home Office has published a list of the Approved Sponsors’ Register. Use this link which is updated regularly.
The 12-month cooling-off period has now been removed under the skilled worker route and individuals can apply to enter anytime they wish.
