Skilled Workers and Supplementary employment
We receive several enquiries from Skilled Workers who are interested in working outside their sponsored role. This Factsheet addresses what is possible while you are also a Skilled Worker migrant, and also touches upon the concept of self-sponsorship.
What can you do in terms of supplementary employment whilst in the UK on a Skilled Worker visa?
The rules do allow you to take supplementary employment:
- For no more than 20 hours per week;
- Without compromising the job you are currently doing as a Skilled Worker in terms of time and working hours*;
- It needs to be in an eligible occupation code (as listed in Tables 1, 2 or 3 of Appendix Skilled Occupations).
While supplementary employment does not need to be with a Licensed Sponsor, nor does it need to be reported, if it does not meet the criteria, you will be in breach of your conditions of stay. In relation to right to work checks, you should advise your new employer that the work you are doing is supplementary to your sponsored role so they can make the correct checks. Please note that ‘supplementary employment’ is allowed and so you need to be working in a main role first for the second role to be supplementary.
*There are different rules for general practitioners in speciality training during the additional 4 months of leave after their COS end date.
Can you set up a business and then sponsor yourself?
This is not easy and only really an option when you have a genuine viable business. There are also complications such as the amount you would have to pay yourself as CEO of the company and filling the key personnel roles.
We have an excellent blog on our website which further explores this topic:
In terms of other work visas, are their restrictions on who can do Supplementary Employment?
Supplementary Employment is possible on a Skilled Worker visa, however it is not allowed in the following categories: Global Business Mobility (unless a transitional arrangement is in place); Charity Workers (unless it is voluntary work for another organisation in the same role as the current CoS); Seasonal Workers or those in the International Agreement category (with some specific exceptions).
What other options are there to consider?
Secondary employment, with a new COS from a new Sponsor, is an option for a sponsored Skilled worker and in any of the Worker routes, apart from Senior or Specialist Worker (Global Business Mobility). You need to be already working in your first role before applying for secondary employment. The secondary employment is in addition to the main employment.
With entrepreneurial aspirations, and a completely innovative, viable and scalable business idea, the Innovator Founder visa may be a possibility. For leaders and potential leaders in the arts, academia or research, or digital technology, there is the Global Talent visa.
If you have further queries in relation to any of the topics in this Factsheet, please do not hesitate to get in touch with a member of our Business Immigration Team. For a fixed fee of £180 plus VAT, we offer a tailored consultation during which we will explain the relevant Skilled Worker visa requirements in more detail and provide a verbal indication of any potential risk factors based on your circumstances. You can book directly using the button below at a time that suits you. Alternatively, you can send your query via the contact form, and our Client Care Manager will respond within 24 hours (Monday to Friday) to arrange the booking for you.
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Not quite ready to book an appointment yet or unsure if it’s the right step for you? No worries! We understand that making decisions regarding legal matters can be daunting.
Reach out to our Client Care Manager, Rikki, who will be more than happy to assist you and guide you in the right direction.
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