Switching Sponsors on a Skilled Worker Visa: UK Guide

The Process Step by Step

Switching sponsors on a Skilled Worker visa involves these steps:

1. Find a new job with an employer who holds a valid sponsor licence
2. The new employer assigns you a certificate of sponsorship (CoS) through their sponsor management system
3. Submit a new Skilled Worker visa application using the CoS reference number
4. Attend a biometrics appointment if required
5. Wait for a decision — GOV.UK says you should not start your new job until you have confirmation of your new permission, and you must not travel outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man until you get a decision
6. Start working for the new employer once the visa is approved

The official process is outlined on the GOV.UK Skilled Worker visa change of employer page. You can apply to update your visa up to 3 months before the start date of the new job.

Timing and Notice Periods

The timing can be tricky. You need to coordinate:

• Your notice period with your current employer
• The time it takes the new employer to assign a CoS
• The visa processing time
• Your start date with the new employer

In practice, many people give notice to their current employer and then apply for the new visa during the notice period. If the visa is not granted by the time your notice period ends, you are in a difficult position: you cannot work for the new employer yet, but you have left the old one.

To minimise risk, consider:

• Paying for priority processing to speed up the decision
• Negotiating a later start date with the new employer
• Staying with the current employer until the new visa is granted

Costs

Switching sponsors involves the following costs:

• Visa application fee: The standard Skilled Worker visa fee. Applying from inside the UK, that is £943 for permission of 3 years or less and £1,865 for more than 3 years. For a job on the Immigration Salary List it is £628 and £1,235
• Immigration health surcharge: £1,035 a year, payable for the duration of the new visa
• Certificate of sponsorship fee: £525, paid by the employer. Since 31 December 2024 a sponsor may not pass the certificate fee, the sponsor licence fee, or its administrative costs on to a Skilled Worker
• Immigration skills charge: Paid by the employer. £480 for the first 12 months and £240 for each further 6 months for a small or charitable sponsor; £1,320 and £660 for a medium or large sponsor
• Priority processing (optional): £500 for the priority service, or £1,000 for the super priority service

Check the latest fees on the GOV.UK visa fees page.

Impact on Settlement

Switching sponsors does not reset your qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain. Time spent with previous sponsors counts toward the five-year requirement. However:

• There must be no gaps in your leave — apply for the new visa before your current one expires
• You must still meet the salary threshold at the time of your settlement application
• Absences from the UK must remain within the allowed limits

See our changing jobs on a Skilled Worker visa guide for more detail on how job changes affect your settlement path.

What If Your Current Sponsor Revokes Your CoS

If you resign or are made redundant, your current employer must report this to the Home Office, which leads to your permission being curtailed (shortened). GOV.UK says your visa is then limited to 60 days, or however long you have left on it if that is less than 60 days. Within that time you can:

• Submit a new Skilled Worker visa application with a new sponsor
• Apply for a different visa category
• Leave the UK

See our guide on the 60-day rule for more on this situation.

Next Steps

If you are planning to change employers, start by confirming the new employer holds a sponsor licence. Discuss timing with both employers, budget for the costs, and consider priority processing to minimise the gap between jobs.

Related guides:

• Changing Jobs on a Skilled Worker Visa
• Certificate of Sponsorship Explained
• Skilled Worker Visa Guide
• Company Closure and the 60-Day Rule

Questions and answers