Unrestricted right to work
When a UK job advert asks for an unrestricted right to work, it usually wants someone whose permission to work has no end date and no conditions, such as a British or Irish citizen or someone with settled status or indefinite leave to remain. The Graduate visa and most other visas give a right to work that runs out, so they usually do not meet it.
In this article
- What it means
- Who has an unrestricted right to work
- Why employers ask for it
- If you do not have it
- Frequently asked questions
- Related terms
What it means
"Unrestricted right to work" is not a legal term. Employers write it in adverts, and they use it in two senses:
- No time limit. Your permission to work does not run out. GOV.UK's guide for employers calls this a "continuous right to work", which an employer checks once. Permission that runs out is a "temporary right to work", and the employer has to check it again before it ends.
- No conditions. You can do any job for any employer. A Skilled Worker visa only lets you do the job you were sponsored for, and students can only take limited work, so neither is unrestricted in this sense.
An advert rarely says which one it means, so read the rest of it, or ask.
Who has an unrestricted right to work
| Your status | Does your permission run out? | Usually counts as unrestricted? |
|---|---|---|
| British or Irish citizen | No | Yes |
| Indefinite leave to remain, or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme | No | Yes |
| Refugee status | Yes, but GOV.UK says you have unrestricted access to the labour market | Often. Ask |
| Pre-settled status | It is limited leave, but employers check it only once | Often. Ask |
| Graduate visa | Yes, and it cannot be extended | Usually not |
| Student visa | Yes, and you can only take limited work | No |
| Skilled Worker visa | Yes, and you can only work in your sponsored job | No |
Why employers ask for it
An employer has to check a temporary right to work again before it runs out, and some would rather not. There is also sponsorship to think about: a Graduate visa cannot be extended, so a graduate who stays in the job will usually need sponsorship when it ends. Some adverts say plainly that they cannot consider Graduate visa holders for that reason.
If you do not have it
Do not tell an employer you have an unrestricted right to work if you do not. If you are on a Graduate visa, you do have the right to work for now, so say exactly that, and say when you would need sponsorship. Our guide to what it means when a job ad asks for the right to work covers when it is still worth applying.
On our jobs board, a job whose advert asks you to have the right to work in the UK already carries a note that quotes the advert, and its sponsorship likelihood is Possible at most. To leave these jobs out, tick "Hide jobs that need the right to work already" in the filters.
Frequently asked questions
Does a Graduate visa count as an unrestricted right to work?
Usually not. GOV.UK says a Graduate visa lets you work in most jobs, so you do have the right to work. But it lasts for a set time and cannot be extended, and an employer who asks for an unrestricted right to work usually wants someone whose permission does not run out. If you are not sure what the employer means, ask the recruiter.
Does a Skilled Worker visa count?
No. A Skilled Worker visa only lets you work in the job your employer sponsored, and GOV.UK says you cannot change jobs or employer unless you apply to update your visa.
Does pre-settled status count?
Often, yes. GOV.UK's guide for employers calls pre-settled status limited leave, but it also says an employer checks EU Settlement Scheme status once, before you start, with no repeat checks. Some employers still mean settled status only, so ask.
Does indefinite leave to remain count?
Yes. Indefinite leave to remain, and settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, give you permission to work with no time limit, so an employer only needs to check it once.
Related terms
- Right to Work Check
- Share Code
- Graduate Route Visa
- Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)
- EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- Security clearance
Find employers that can sponsor you when your visa runs out. Search visa-sponsored jobs