Can a Skilled Worker Visa Holder Work Part-Time in the UK in 2025? sets the tone for a topic that many people are curious about, especially as conversations around work patterns and visa rules continue to evolve. This opening invites readers into the world of flexible working, shifting expectations, and the balance between professional goals and immigration requirements, all without diving into the technicalities just yet.
What the Skilled Worker Visa Really Requires?
To understand part-time work on a Skilled Worker visa, it’s essential first to look at the core requirements.
- You must have a certificate of sponsorship (CoS) from a licensed employer.
- Your role has to be on the list of eligible occupations.
- You must be paid a minimum salary, or “going rate,” depending on your job.
- Crucially, as of 22 July 2025, there is now a mandatory hourly pay floor of £17.13, and only the first 48 hours of weekly work count toward meeting visa salary thresholds.
These rules provide a framework, but how they apply to part-time work needs careful navigation.
Scenarios as Examples
Scenario 1: Reducing Hours in Your Main Role
If your visa is granted based on a full-time role, but you later move to part-time hours, can you keep your Skilled Worker visa?
- The salary requirement is based on annual pay, not just hours worked; if your part-time pay still meets the required rate and the hourly minimum, you may remain compliant.
- However, you cannot simply rely on unpaid overtime to meet visa salary thresholds: only the first 48 hours per week are considered for salary calculations.
- Importantly, your employer must remain a licensed sponsor and continue to issue a valid CoS, even if your hours change.
Thus, switching to part-time in your existing job is possible, but it must be done carefully so as not to breach the conditions of your visa.
Scenario 2: Taking a Second Part-Time Job
Many visa holders wonder if they can do more than one job, especially a part-time one alongside sponsored employment?
The Skilled Worker visa does allow additional work, but there are limits:
- You cannot exceed 20 hours per week in a second job without updating your visa.
- That second job must meet eligibility criteria: it should be in a “higher-skilled” role, on the Immigration Salary List, or be in the same sector and level as your main job.
- If you go over the 20-hour limit, you must apply to update your visa: your second employer needs to issue a new CoS, and you’ll need to show that the combined job roles are permitted for Skilled Worker visa holders.
- Voluntary work is also permitted (for reasonable expenses), and does not count toward these limits.
How Salary and Hourly Rules Work for Part-Time Roles?
Given the 2025 changes, salary and hourly requirements are central to whether part-time work is allowed under a Skilled Worker visa.
Here’s how they play out:
- Hourly Minimum
- The £17.13 per hour floor applies across the board from 22 July 2025, regardless of how many hours you work.
- This ensures that even part-time roles are paid at a rate that meets immigration compliance.
- Annual Salary Thresholds
- There are different “salary bands” (Options A, B, C, etc.) depending on the role.
- For example, under Option A (standard Skilled Worker roles) you need at least £41,700 per year and meet 100% of the going rate for your job.
- But pay must also be calculated in line with the 48-hour cap: if your contracted hours are higher, only the salary for 48 hours/week is considered.
- Lower Salary Routes
- In some cases, you may be paid less than the headline salary — for instance, if your role is on the Immigration Salary List, or you qualify as a “new entrant.”
- Even then, your pay must not fall below the hourly floor of £17.13.
Risks & Practical Considerations
If you’re thinking about part-time work on a Skilled Worker visa, there are some important risks and practical issues to be aware of:
- Visa Compliance risk: If you reduce your hours but your pay falls below the required rate (either hourly or annual), your visa status could be jeopardised.
- Employer cooperation matters: Your sponsor needs to support changes in hours or job structure. Not all employers will be willing or able to adjust contracts.
- Second-job admin: Taking a second role isn’t as simple as just doing extra work; your visa may need to be updated, with a new CoS and a new application.
- Limitations on types of second jobs: Not all part-time roles are eligible under the Skilled Worker visa — the job still has to be in an approved occupation code.
- Overtime does not always help: Because of the 48-hour limit on counted salary, relying on overtime to make up a low base salary may not work for visa compliance.
Examples: What Part-Time Might Look Like in Practice?
Here are some real-world examples (drawn from community discussion + policy) to illustrate how part-time work can work (or not) under a Skilled Worker visa.
- Scenario A – Cutting hours but keeping the same job
An office worker on a 37.5 hr/week contract negotiates with their employer to move to 30 hours/week. Their new pay still meets both the £17.13 hourly minimum and the role’s going rate. Because their salary is pro-rated accordingly, they remain eligible and compliant. - Scenario B – Adding a second job
A software engineer is sponsored full-time by a tech firm. They wish to take a second, part-time job on the weekends in a related skilled role that’s on the Immigration Salary List. Because they’re only doing this second job for 20 hours/week, and the roles meet eligibility criteria, they are allowed under the Skilled Worker visa — but they must update their visa if going beyond 20 hours. - Scenario C – Risky mix
Someone’s main job pays just enough to meet the going rate, but they think of reducing hours drastically (e.g. to 20/week) to free up time. Without renegotiating their pay to maintain the hourly rate or a pro-rated salary that meets visa rules, they risk falling below the required pay threshold and breaching visa conditions.
Strategic Advice for Applicants and Employers
Here are some tips for both workers and employers to navigate part-time working under the Skilled Worker visa:
For Employees
- Negotiate carefully: If you’re reducing hours, make sure your annual or hourly pay still meets visa requirements.
- Check your CoS: Always review your Certificate of Sponsorship to ensure it reflects your new hours or second job, if applicable.
- Seek legal help: Immigration solicitors or specialist advisers can help you understand how part-time changes could affect your visa.
- Document everything: Any change in your contract (hours, pay) should be clearly documented in writing.
- Stay within the 20-hour rule when working a second job, unless you’re ready to apply for a visa update.
For Employers (Sponsors)
- Design contracts carefully: Make sure part-time contracts are structured to meet both employment law and visa rules (e.g. hourly rate, salary).
- Provide accurate CoS: If hiring a part-time Skilled Worker, ensure the CoS reflects their working hours and the salary band.
- Communicate with HR & legal: Work closely with immigration teams to ensure changes in hours don’t breach visa conditions.
- Monitor overtime: Remember, only up to 48 hours/week count toward visa salary thresholds.
- Audit visa-holder roles: Especially with the 2025 rules, review all sponsored employees’ contracts to ensure compliance with hourly and salary floors.
Why This Matters Now?
The visa landscape in 2025 is more stringent than before:
- The salary floor and hourly rate introduced in July 2025 significantly impact part-time working possibilities.
- With the new rules in force, both employers and visa holders must be more cautious: part-time work is possible, but only if carefully managed under the immigration framework.
- For many workers, the Skilled Worker visa is not just about earning – it’s also a pathway to long-term residency. Any misstep with hours or pay could affect future visa applications or settlement.
Conclusion!
Ultimately, stepping into part-time work while holding a Skilled Worker visa is never just a box-ticking exercise — it’s a decision that deserves clarity, confidence, and the right guidance behind it. Whether you’re adjusting your hours, exploring a second role, or simply planning, it helps to stay connected to the conversations that genuinely support your journey. For clear explanations, helpful insights, and ongoing updates shaped for real workers and real employers, make sure you’re following SkilledWorkerMag — your trusted guide through every turn of the UK’s work-visa landscape.
