If you are on a Skilled Worker (or Tier 2 ‘General’) work visa and you are changing your current job, you will need to apply to update your visa.
What would constitute a reason for updating your visa?
- If your new job is with a different employer
- If your job changes to a different occupation code, and you are not in a graduate training programme
- If you leave a job that is on the shortage occupation list for a job that is not on the list.
There are certain eligibility requirements for changing jobs:
- Your new job must be eligible for the Skilled Worker visa. This means that the occupation code for your job must be on the government’s list of eligible jobs
- The UK employer that you will be working for must be approved by the Home Office
- You must be paid at least the minimum salary for the type of work you will be doing. The minimum salary will either be £26,200 per year, or £10.75 per hour, or the ‘going rate’ for the type of work you will be doing (whichever is the highest out of the three options).
You can apply to update your visa up to 3 months before the start date of your new job. You are able to continue working in your current job whilst your application is being considered, although you must make sure that you apply before your current visa expires.
You should not start your new job until you have confirmation of your new permission. It is also important that you do not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision, as your application will be withdrawn if you do.
There are a few specific cases where you do not need to update your visa:
- Where you are staying in the same job, but your job is taken off the shortage occupation list
- If you will be doing a different job for your current employer, but within the same occupation code. You will only need to update your visa if this new job is in a different occupation code.
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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