What Happens If You Lose Your Job on a Skilled Worker Visa UK?

Why Does Losing a Job on a Skilled Worker Visa Feel So Urgent?

For most workers in the UK, being laid off or dismissed is a financial and professional disruption. But for someone on a Skilled Worker visa, it has far deeper consequences. Your legal right to live and work in the UK is directly tied to your employment with a licensed sponsor. Losing that job could put your entire immigration status at risk.

This isn’t just about finding another job; it’s about whether you can stay in the UK at all. That adds an entirely different level of pressure. Many Skilled Worker visa holders have built entire lives here — homes, families, careers. Suddenly, all of it can feel uncertain due to a redundancy notice.

In recent years, sectors like tech, healthcare, and finance have seen restructuring and job losses. For foreign nationals working in those sectors, losing their job is more than a career setback — it’s a legal emergency.

What Is the UK’s 60-Day Rule for Skilled Worker Visa Holders?

The Skilled Worker visa includes a grace period clause — widely known as the 60-day rule. If your employment ends, your sponsor must inform the Home Office. Once notified, the Home Office typically curtails your visa, giving you 60 calendar days to take one of the following actions:

• Secure another job with a licensed sponsor and apply for a new visa
• Switch into a different immigration route
• Leave the UK voluntarily

If your visa is already due to expire in less than 60 days, then you will only have that remaining time — no extensions are offered.

It’s important to understand that this countdown starts from the date the Home Office issues the curtailment notice, which may not be the same as your last day of work. You may or may not receive a letter — but the time could already be ticking.

Also crucial: you cannot work legally after your employment ends, unless you successfully switch to another job and visa. Any form of employment — including freelance work — is prohibited during this period without a valid visa.

What Happens If You Lose Your Job on a Skilled Worker Visa UK?

Here’s what happens when you lose your job under this visa route.

1. Your Employer Notifies the Home Office

By law, your employer must report your employment termination to the Home Office within 10 working days. They must also withdraw their sponsorship of your visa.

2. Your Visa Is Curtailed

Once notified, the Home Office begins the curtailment process. You’ll be issued with a letter (sometimes sent by email) confirming that your visa will expire in 60 days, or sooner if your visa already has less than 60 days left.

3. You cannot Work Legally

As soon as your job ends, your legal right to work ceases. You cannot take on any new employment until a new Skilled Worker visa is granted. Even unpaid or freelance work during this period is not allowed and could jeopardise future visa applications.

4. You Must Act Within the 60-Day Window

If you don’t secure a new visa or leave the UK within that timeframe, you risk overstaying, which can result in a ban from returning to the UK for years and complications with future visa applications in any country.

What Are Your Visa Options After Losing Your Job?

The 60-day rule feels restrictive, but you do have choices. Here are the most viable routes, depending on your situation.

1. Transfer to a New Skilled Worker Sponsor

The most direct option is to find a new job with a licensed sponsor and apply for a new Skilled Worker visa. Your new employer must issue you a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), and the job must meet salary and skill thresholds defined by the Home Office.

Importantly, you must apply for the new visa before your 60-day grace period expires. A job offer alone is not enough; the visa application must be submitted.

2. Switch to a Different Visa Category

You may be eligible to switch to a different immigration route:

• Graduate Visa – If you completed a UK degree in the last 2 years, you can stay and work for up to 2 years without sponsorship.
• Spouse or Partner Visa – If you’re married to or in a civil partnership with a British citizen or someone with Indefinite Leave to Remain.
• Global Talent Visa – For individuals recognised as leaders or promising talent in academia, arts, or digital technology.
• Student Visa – If you plan to study a degree or postgraduate course in the UK.
• Innovator Founder Visa – For entrepreneurs with a viable and endorsed business idea.

Each route has its own criteria, timelines, and settlement implications. Professional immigration advice is recommended before making any application.

How Can You Find a New Sponsored Job Quickly?

Job hunting under visa pressure is a unique challenge. Employers must be willing and licensed to sponsor foreign workers, and they must also understand the process or be open to learning it.

Where to Look:

• GOV.UK Register of Licensed Sponsors – The official list of employers approved to sponsor Skilled Worker visas.
• LinkedIn Jobs – Use filters and keywords like “visa sponsorship” or “Skilled Worker sponsor”.
• Technojobs, CWJobs, Jobserve – Ideal for IT and engineering roles.
• NHS Jobs and Civil Service Careers – The NHS and many public bodies are experienced with visa sponsorship.
• University Career Sites – Especially useful for roles in academia or research.

Application Strategy:

• Highlight your visa status clearly in your cover letter and CV.
• Emphasise your UK work experience and readiness to start quickly.
• Consider including a brief explanation of the sponsorship process, especially for employers unfamiliar with it.
• Use your network — former colleagues, recruiters, alumni — and don’t hesitate to let people know you’re open to new roles.

Real case: A data analyst who lost her job due to company downsizing secured a new sponsored role within four weeks by directly approaching companies from the Home Office sponsor list and targeting industries like healthcare data where her skills were in demand.

What Happens to Your Family If You Lose Your Sponsored Job?

Your dependents — spouse and children — are legally connected to your visa. If your visa is curtailed, theirs will be too. That means their legal right to live, study, and access public services in the UK also comes to an end unless they qualify to stay through another route.

If you switch to another visa, such as the Graduate or Spouse visa, you can often include your dependants on your new application. However, if you overstay or fail to take action, the entire family could be asked to leave the UK.

For children in school, this situation can be particularly distressing. Schools are generally supportive during transitional periods, but immigration deadlines do not pause for education calendars.

How Can You Stay Mentally Strong During This Transition?

This period can feel like everything is falling apart. It’s not just your job — it’s your legal status, financial security, housing, children’s schooling, and long-term plans.

But it’s important to know that others have faced this, and many have come through it successfully.

Resources to Consider:

• NHS Talking Therapies – Offers free and confidential counselling for stress, anxiety, and depression.
• Citizens Advice – For guidance on housing, benefits, and employment rights.
• Migrant-focused Charities – Organisations like Settled, Migrant Help, and the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants offer legal and emotional support.
• Peer Support Forums – Reddit, Facebook groups, and online communities for migrants in the UK can offer shared advice and encouragement.

Take time to make a plan, talk to trusted people, and seek help early, legally and emotionally. The sooner you act, the more control you’ll feel.

Final Checklist: What to Do Immediately After Losing Your Job

• Confirm with your employer when they reported your job termination to the Home Office.
• Check for an official curtailment notice from the Home Office and calculate your 60-day deadline.
• Begin applying to roles with licensed sponsors.
• Review your eligibility for switching to another visa type.
• Consider how your dependents will be affected and plan accordingly.
• Seek legal advice if you’re unsure of your options.
• Stay mentally and emotionally supported through trusted channels.

Final Thoughts: This Is a Setback — Not the End of Your UK Story

Losing your job on a Skilled Worker visa can feel like your world is collapsing. But it’s not the end of your journey. It’s a critical chapter — one where smart decisions, fast action, and community support can lead you to a stronger place.

Many Skilled Worker visa holders have faced redundancy and not only stayed, but thrived. They found better jobs, shifted visa routes, or even used the opportunity to launch their businesses.

The most important thing is to stay informed, act early, and ask for help when needed. Your UK journey doesn’t have to end here.