Skilled Worker visa
Taking on additional work
If you work overtime in the job you’re being sponsored for, you do not need to update your visa.
There’s no limit to how many hours of overtime you can do.
Working in another job or for your own business
You can work up to 20 hours a week in another job or for your own business as long as you’re still doing the job you’re being sponsored for.
The work you do must meet one of the following conditions:
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it has an eligible occupation code listed as ‘higher skilled’
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it is on the immigration salary list
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it is in the same sector and at the same level as your main job
You can only do additional work in a job with an eligible occupation code listed as ‘medium skilled’ if both of the following apply:
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you got your certificate of sponsorship for your first Tier 2 or Skilled Worker visa before 22 July 2025
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you have continually held one or more Skilled Worker visas since then
If you work more than 20 hours a week in another job
You’ll need to apply to update your visa so that you’re being sponsored to do both jobs.
You’ll need to:
- get a new certificate of sponsorship from your second employer
- include a letter with your application explaining that you want to change your current permission to stay
Running your own business
There are various ways to set up a business including registering as a sole trader.
Any business administration that you do, such as preparing invoices, counts as part of the 20 hours.
Voluntary work
You can do voluntary work while on the Skilled Worker visa. This must be unpaid (except for reasonable expenses such as travel) and for one of the following:
- a registered charity
- a voluntary organisation
- an associated fundraising body (an organisation that raises money for a charity or voluntary organisation)
- a statutory body (a government-appointed body, for example Historic England)