Changing Visa Sponsors in the UK
Skilled Workers in the UK can change employers, but doing so requires the new employer to be a licensed sponsor, assign a new Certificate of Sponsorship, and — in most cases — the worker must submit a new visa application before starting the new role.
In This Article
- Can you change employers on a Skilled Worker visa?
- When do you need a new visa application?
- The step-by-step process
- Can you work for the new employer while the application is pending?
- What happens to your current visa?
- Gap between jobs — what is allowed?
- Risks and things to watch out for
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Frequently asked questions
- Related terms
Can You Change Employers on a Skilled Worker Visa?
Yes — being on a Skilled Worker visa does not lock you into one employer forever. Workers can change jobs, seek promotions at different companies, and move between industries. However, the Skilled Worker visa is employer-specific by design: your visa is tied to a particular CoS, which is tied to a specific employer and role.
This means that changing employer is not as simple as handing in your notice and starting a new job. The new employer must be a licensed sponsor and must take active steps to sponsor you before you can legally work for them.
When Do You Need a New Visa Application?
A new visa application is required when:
- You are moving to a new employer (different organisation)
- You are staying with the same employer but moving to a substantially different role (different SOC code or significantly different duties)
- Your visa is nearing expiry and your circumstances have changed
A new visa application may not be required if:
- You are being promoted within the same organisation in a similar role at the same or higher salary
- Your employer is undergoing a corporate restructure, merger, or TUPE transfer (special rules apply)
When in doubt, consult an immigration solicitor — working in a role not covered by your CoS is a visa breach.
The Step-by-Step Process
- Secure the new job offer — Ensure the new employer is on the Register of Licensed Sponsors (check on this site or the government register).
- New employer assigns a CoS — The new employer uses an Undefined CoS (since you're already in the UK) from their allocation.
- Submit a new visa application — Apply to extend or switch your Skilled Worker permission to stay, using the new CoS reference number.
- Wait for a decision — Do not start working for the new employer until the application is decided or the 3-month statutory period begins (see below).
- Notify your current employer — Your current employer should report your departure via the Sponsorship Management System.
Can You Work for the New Employer While the Application is Pending?
Generally, no — you cannot start working for the new employer until your new visa is granted. However, there is a nuance:
If you apply to switch from one Skilled Worker role to another Skilled Worker role, and you apply before your current leave expires, you can continue working for your current employer while the application is pending (under "3C leave" rules). You cannot start with the new employer during this period.
Some applicants use the advance switching approach: time the application so it is decided before notice is given to the current employer. This avoids any gap in authorised work.
What Happens to Your Current Visa?
Your current Skilled Worker visa is linked to your current employer's CoS. When:
- Your employer reports your departure on the SMS, or
- You submit a new visa application
...your current visa's sponsorship element effectively ends. You remain in the UK lawfully on 3C leave while a decision is pending, but you must work for the new employer only once the new visa is granted.
If you leave your current employer without having a new visa granted, you have a maximum grace period before overstaying begins.
Gap Between Jobs — What Is Allowed?
There is no officially codified gap period for Skilled Workers changing sponsors. However:
- Your current visa remains valid until it expires — you remain lawfully in the UK
- You cannot work during a gap if you have no valid permission to work (e.g., if your visa was curtailed when your old employer reported you as leaving)
- If you are between jobs and your visa is not curtailed, you may be in the UK lawfully but unauthorised to work — seek legal advice
The safest approach is to overlap: have the new CoS assigned and the new visa application submitted before you leave the old job.
Risks and Things to Watch Out For
- New employer loses its licence during the process — leaving you with no CoS and a pending application that will fail.
- Application is refused — You may have limited time remaining on your current visa or may need to leave the UK.
- Salary doesn't meet the going rate at the new employer — The new CoS will be invalid.
- Role doesn't meet RQF 6 — From July 2025, sub-degree level roles are no longer eligible; a career move into a lower-skilled role may end your sponsorship eligibility.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Starting work before the new visa is granted. This is illegal working and could result in deportation.
- Not checking the new employer is licensed. A job offer from an unlicensed employer is worthless for visa purposes.
- Leaving the current job too early. Give yourself a buffer, because UKVI aims to decide Skilled Worker applications made inside the UK within 8 weeks, and some take longer.
- Assuming TUPE automatically transfers the visa. TUPE transfers employment but not the CoS — a new CoS from the new entity is still needed.
Our page on UK visa processing times shows how often UKVI decided straightforward applications within its processing times, by route and by the service paid for.
Our page of Skilled Worker visa statistics shows how many Skilled Worker visas are granted each quarter to people already in the UK who switch or extend, as you do when you change sponsor, and to people applying from outside it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to tell my current employer I'm leaving before applying for a new visa?
No legal requirement exists to tell your current employer before submitting the new visa application. However, once you submit, UKVI may contact the current sponsor. Practically, most workers resign in the normal employment law manner once the new visa is granted.
Can I change to self-employment on a Skilled Worker visa?
No. The Skilled Worker route requires employment by a licensed sponsor. You cannot switch to freelancing or contracting without a proper employer-sponsor relationship. Alternative routes (e.g., Innovator Founder, Global Talent) exist for self-employment.
What if my new employer's sponsor licence is revoked after I start?
You would be given 60 days to find a new licensed employer and apply to switch sponsorship, or to leave the UK. Act quickly — this 60-day window is strict.
Can my new employer be in a completely different industry?
Yes, provided the role meets the skill and salary requirements for a Skilled Worker visa. There is no restriction on changing industry sectors when changing sponsors.
Related Terms
- Certificate of Sponsorship
- Defined CoS vs Undefined CoS
- Sponsor Licence
- Sponsor Licence Suspension & Revocation
Search for your next visa-sponsored role from thousands of UK licensed sponsors. Find your next job