Redundancy on a Skilled Worker Visa: What Happens Next
Losing your job while on a Skilled Worker visa is stressful, but you have options. This guide explains the 60-day grace period, how to find a new sponsor, and alternative visa routes available to you.
- Section
- Skilled Worker Visa
- Reading time
- 10 min
- Last checked
- 2 September 2026
- Source
- The published Immigration Rules and GOV.UK guidance, linked throughout this guide.
- Rowan does not
- Look at your own case, tell you which route to choose, or say what the Home Office will decide. This guide shows the published rules and where to read them.
In short
- You typically get 60 days after sponsorship ends to find a new sponsor.
- Your employer must report the end of employment to the Home Office.
- You can switch to another visa category if one is open to you.
- You have full employment rights including redundancy pay.
- Start job searching with licensed sponsors immediately.
If you are made redundant on a Skilled Worker visa, your sponsor reports this to the Home Office and your visa may be curtailed. You typically have 60 days to find a new sponsor, switch visa categories, or leave the UK. Acting quickly is essential.
What Happens When You Are Made Redundant
When your employment ends on a Skilled Worker visa, your employer must report this to the Home Office through the Sponsor Management System. The Home Office then typically curtails your visa, giving you 60 days from the date of curtailment or until your visa expiry, whichever comes first.
This is sometimes called the 60-day rule. It applies whether you were made redundant, dismissed, or resigned. The key factor is that your sponsorship has ended.
Your Employment Rights
As a worker in the UK, you have full redundancy rights:
- Statutory redundancy pay if you have 2+ years of continuous service
- Your contractual notice period (or pay in lieu of notice)
- Payment for accrued but untaken holiday
- Any enhanced redundancy terms in your contract
Ensure your employer pays everything owed to you. If they do not, seek advice from Acas (the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) or an employment solicitor.
Finding a New Sponsor
Your priority should be finding a new employer with a sponsor licence. Here is how:
- Check the register of licensed sponsors on GOV.UK to confirm potential employers hold a valid licence.
- Focus your job search on roles that match eligible occupation codes.
- Be upfront with potential employers about your visa situation and timeline.
- Consider recruitment agencies that specialise in sponsored roles.
When you find a new employer, they will need to assign you a new Certificate of Sponsorship and you will need to submit a new visa application before starting work.
Changing Jobs and the New Application
The process for changing jobs on a Skilled Worker visa requires a fresh application. You submit this from within the UK and, once submitted, you are protected by Section 3C leave (provided you applied before your current leave expired).
GOV.UK says you should not start working for the new employer until your new permission has been confirmed. Applying before your current leave expires keeps your status lawful while you wait.
Alternative Visa Options
If you cannot find a new Skilled Worker sponsor within the 60-day period, consider:
- Not the Graduate route: It can only be applied for from a Student visa, so it is not open to someone who already holds a Skilled Worker visa.
- Spouse or partner visa: If your partner is a British citizen or has ILR, you may be able to switch to a family visa.
- Global Talent visa: If you have exceptional talent or promise in your field, this route does not require sponsorship.
- Self-employment routes: Some visa categories allow self-employment, though the Skilled Worker visa does not.
Impact on ILR
A break in sponsorship can affect your path to ILR on the Skilled Worker route. The qualifying period for ILR requires 5 years of continuous lawful residence, and you must be sponsored, and paid the required salary, on the date your ILR application is decided. If you switch to a new sponsor, your qualifying period continues as long as you keep lawful status throughout.
A gap in work while you still hold permission does not break continuous residence. A period without permission does, and switching to a route that does not count towards settlement can reset your ILR timeline. Seek advice on how a job change affects your specific situation.
Practical Steps
- Confirm your last day of employment and ensure all final payments are made.
- Start job searching immediately, focusing on licensed sponsors.
- Keep records of your job search efforts (applications submitted, interviews attended).
- If you find a new sponsor, begin the visa application process as quickly as possible.
- If you cannot find a new sponsor, explore alternative visa routes.
- Seek legal advice from an immigration solicitor if you are unsure about your options.
Next Steps
Related guides:
Questions and answers
How long do I have to find a new sponsor after redundancy?
You typically have 60 days from the date your sponsorship is cancelled, or until your current visa expires, whichever is shorter. During this period, you should actively seek new employment with a licensed sponsor.
Can I work for anyone during the 60-day grace period?
Not for a new employer. Your permission is tied to the job on your Certificate of Sponsorship. To work for a new sponsor you need a new Certificate of Sponsorship and a new application, and GOV.UK says you should not start the new job until the new permission is confirmed. Applying before your current leave ends keeps your status lawful under Section 3C while you wait.
Does my employer have to report my redundancy to the Home Office?
Yes. Your sponsor is legally required to report the end of your employment to the Home Office through the Sponsor Management System. Failure to do so is a breach of their sponsor duties.
Can I switch to a different visa type instead of finding a new sponsor?
Yes. During your grace period, you can apply to switch to another visa category that is open to you, such as a partner visa or a Global Talent visa. The Graduate route is not available, because it can only be applied for from a Student visa. You must submit the new application before your current leave expires.
This guide is general information about published immigration rules. It is not advice about an individual application under s.82 Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, and Rowan is not regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority. Immigration rules change several times a year. For advice on a particular situation, contact an adviser authorised by the Immigration Advice Authority or an immigration solicitor. Always check GOV.UK for the authoritative current rules.