Additional Work and Secondary Employment for Skilled Workers

Key takeaways:

• You can only do additional work while working for the sponsor of your skilled worker visa
• You cannot do more than 20 hours of additional work per week
• There are restrictions as to the type of work you can do
• There are no salary restrictions for additional work
• You can work as self-employed or for your own registered business
• You may need additional income to avoid delay with eligibility for indefinite leave to remain if your salary from sponsored employment is less than £50,270 per year

Supplementary work without COS

Skilled workers are allowed to take on additional work for up to 20 hours a week while working for their main employer (the sponsor) if one of the following conditions is met:

• The additional job is listed as “higher skilled” in the eligible occupation code; or
• The additional job is on the immigration salary list; or
• The additional job is in the same sector and at the same level as the main job

Skilled workers whose first certificate of sponsorship was issued before 22 July 2025 and who have continuously held a Skilled Worker visa can take additional jobs listed as “medium skilled” in the eligible occupation code.

Skilled workers can work as self employed and set up their own business, provided they don’t exceed the permitted 20 hours per week and the hours do not clash with the time they work for the sponsor.

The same restrictions apply in respect of permitted activities (the job must be in the eligible occupation code, or on the immigration salary list, or in the same sector and at the same level as sponsored employment). There is no salary restriction for additional work.

You may choose to set up your business as a limited company or register as a sole trader with HMRC. If your business is successful and creates job vacancies, you may be eligible to apply for a sponsor licence and sponsor other workers from overseas. You may also have the option of self-sponsorship if necessary.

Secondary employment with COS

If you intend to work for more than 20 hours in the additional job, you will need an additional certificate of sponsorship for the second employment.

In this case, the job has to be in accordance with the Skilled Worker requirements post 25 July 2025. The job has to be at RQF level 6 and the minimum salary requirement for the occupation will apply.

You will have to update your visa to reflect the second COS. Once your secondary employment is approved, the Home Office will issue a new decision letter, stating your primary and secondary employments and their respective validity dates. It is important that you keep the approval letter safe as it will supplement your digital eVisa account.

Additional work and ILR

Changes to ILR rules expected to be implemented in April 2026 will affect visa holders across most immigration routes, including the Skilled Worker route.

Although the introduction of the minimum pay threshold will not make a difference to Skilled Worker visa holders, all of whom are paid above the proposed minimum taxable income of £12,750 per year, the increase of the standard qualifying period for ILR from five years to 10 years will affect Skilled Workers whose annual income is below £50,270.

To meet the eligibility requirements for accelerated settlement, Skilled Workers may choose to boost their income through supplementary and secondary employment. It is very important that these occupations should be in full compliance with the immigration rules, or else unauthorised work may become the reason for refusal of an ILR application.

If you are in doubt, please book a short consultation with one of our lawyers who will be happy to help.