Can I take on a summer job in the UK while on a student visa?

With the summer holidays fast approaching, many students and businesses will want to know what the rules are on student visa holders taking on vacation jobs. There are strict rules on students working in the UK, and failure to observe these can have serious consequences for both the visa holder and employer.

As a starting point, student visa holders generally cannot work in the UK unless they are studying a full-time course at degree level or above (which must be at a recognised higher education provider), and they will not be filling a full-time vacancy at the employing business.

During term times, eligible students are permitted to work up to a maximum of 20 hours per week. Outside of term times, eligible students can, however, work on a full-time basis (subject to employment law restrictions and the full-time vacancy restriction above).

If you are a UK business seeking to employ an eligible student, when on-boarding the candidate you will need to ask them to provide you with a letter from their university confirming their term dates.

How Gherson can assist

Gherson’s Immigration Team are highly experienced in advising on UK visa matters. If you have any questions arising from this blog, please do not hesitate to contact us for advice, send us an e-mail, or, alternatively, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn to stay-up-to-date.

The information in this blog is for general information purposes only and does not purport to be comprehensive or to provide legal advice. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the information and law is current as of the date of publication it should be stressed that, due to the passage of time, this does not necessarily reflect the present legal position. Gherson accepts no responsibility for loss which may arise from accessing or reliance on information contained in this blog. For formal advice on the current law please do not hesitate to contact Gherson. Legal advice is only provided pursuant to a written agreement, identified as such, and signed by the client and by or on behalf of Gherson.

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