Skilled Worker rights in the UK can sometimes feel like a maze of permissions and conditions, yet when broken down, the essentials are easier to grasp. Holding this visa allows you to build a stable career, study alongside work, and even involve yourself in volunteering or family life, but it also comes with boundaries that must be respected. While the freedom to work in a sponsored role is central, restrictions on public funds, employer changes, and certain activities remind applicants that this status is both a privilege and a responsibility.
Recent updates in 2025 have brought sharper clarity to these rights, especially around eligible roles, overseas recruitment, and settlement routes. For many, these changes mark a turning point in how Skilled Worker visa work rights are understood and applied in practice, shaping the way international professionals contribute to the UK workforce while planning their longer-term future.
What’s New as of 2025?
As of July 22, 2025, the UK introduced several changes to the Skilled Worker visa regime. One of the most significant is the reduction in the list of jobs eligible for Skilled Worker sponsorship — several medium-skilled occupations (RQF level 3-5) were removed, particularly for roles where there is no demonstrated domestic shortage.
Another recent change is that overseas recruitment for social care roles has ended, though there remains a transitional period for those already in the UK or switching into care roles.
These changes affect what someone on a Skilled Worker visa can and cannot do, particularly in terms of job eligibility, rights for dependants, and routes to settlement. Understanding these rights is crucial. So, let’s go through them in detail.
What are “Skilled Worker visa work rights”?
Before diving into permissions and restrictions, it’s useful to define what we mean by Skilled Worker visa work rights. This refers to the legal permissions and limitations that someone on a Skilled Worker visa has in terms of:
- The kind of work they may do (which roles, how many hours, whether additional work is allowed);
- Studying, volunteering, bringing dependants;
- Access to public benefits or other rights (e.g., healthcare, housing, etc.);
- Rights in terms of settlement and changing employment.
All of these are governed by the UK Immigration Rules (published on GOV.UK) and relevant policy updates.
What You Can Do on a Skilled Worker Visa?
Here are the main rights people on a Skilled Worker visa typically have (as per current rules):
1. Work in an Eligible Job
- You may work in the job specified on your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) with a UK employer approved by the Home Office.
- You must be doing a job on the list of eligible occupations at or above the salary threshold required for that job.
- From 22 July 2025, roles that are below degree level (RQF level 3-5) are being more strictly regulated: many have been removed unless on a specific shortage list or with special permissions.
2. Study
- You are allowed to study while holding a Skilled Worker visa, as long as that study does not conflict with your full-time work and visa obligations.
3. Volunteering
- Volunteering is allowed under the Skilled Worker visa, subject to certain conditions. Specifically, the work must be unpaid and made through or for a charity, voluntary organisation, associated fundraising body, or a statutory body.
4. Bringing Dependants
- You may bring your partner and children (dependants) with you under the Skilled Worker visa, provided you meet the eligibility requirements. They will receive permission to stay and can work in most cases.
5. Travel
- You can travel abroad and return, as long as your visa remains valid and you continue to satisfy the visa conditions.
6. Settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain)
- Skilled Worker rights include the ability to apply for permanent residence (Indefinite Leave to Remain, ILR) after five years in the UK under the Skilled Worker route — provided you continue to meet eligibility criteria such as salary, your approved occupation, and sponsorship. However, under recent proposals published by the government in mid-2025, this residency requirement may increase to ten years for many applicants, with faster settlement still possible for those who make “points-based contributions” to the UK’s economy and society.
What You Cannot Do — Limitations and Restrictions
Holding a Skilled Worker visa gives many rights, but there are also clear restrictions. Here’s what you cannot do or be careful about:
1. Access to Public Funds
- You cannot apply for most public benefits or public funds (welfare benefits, unemployment support, etc.). The Skilled Worker visa imposes a No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) condition.
- You also generally cannot receive the State Pension if you are not eligible through contributions (though dependants/permanent residents may have different rules once settled).
2. Changing Employer or Job without Permission
- If you want to change jobs or change employers, you must apply to update your visa or get a new Certificate of Sponsorship, except in limited situations.
- Also, the new policies (from 2025) tighten what occupations are eligible and the salary thresholds, so switching to a job that no longer qualifies could complicate things.
3. Certain Occupations No Longer Eligible
- As of 22 July 2025, several medium-skilled (non-degree) roles were removed from the eligibility list unless they are on a Temporary Shortage List or are roles with specific exceptions.
- Overseas recruitment for social care roles has ended, meaning those roles cannot recruit from outside the UK under the Skilled Worker unless in transitional or specific switching arrangements.
4. Settlement Delays under New Proposals
- The government’s White Paper proposes making the standard qualifying time for settlement 10 years instead of 5, for many visa holders, unless they meet certain criteria of “points-based” contributions.
- These proposals are still being consulted on, so not all are in effect yet, but they are relevant for anyone planning long-term.
5. English Language and Salary Requirements
- Future policy changes will increase English language requirements.
- Salary thresholds have risen. There are higher “going rates” for certain occupations and updated thresholds that must be met both at entry and for extensions. Failing to meet these requirements may mean your visa application or renewal is refused.
What Changed Recently? (2025 Clarifications)
Here are recent clarifications and changes that affect rights under the Skilled Worker visa:
- Eligible Occupations List Reduced: On 22 July 2025, approximately 100 roles were removed from the Skilled Worker eligible occupations list. Only roles on specific shortage lists or those meeting degree-level (RQF 6) criteria are now clearly in.
- Social Care Overseas Recruitment Closed: The UK has ended new overseas recruitment for social care roles. However, those already in the UK or transitioning from other visa types may still have options.
- Salary Threshold Raises: The salary required to qualify for many jobs under the Skilled Worker visa has increased. This applies to entry, but also to renewing, switching, or extending visas.
- Settlement Duration Under Review: Proposals are in place to make the period before indefinite leave longer for many visa holders, depending on contributions and role.
Practical Tips: How to Maintain Your Rights & Avoid Issues?
To ensure you stay compliant and can make full use of your skilled worker visa work rights, consider the following:
- Check your job is still eligible — especially if you are thinking of switching roles or changing employers. Occupation lists change, and what was eligible one year might no longer be.
- Keep up with salary/ “going rate” requirements — ensure you get paid at or above the rate required for your job. Pay below the threshold risks visa issues.
- Understand what counts as volunteering — make sure any volunteering is unpaid and with eligible organisations, so it doesn’t conflict with your visa.
- Monitor proposals — the White Paper indicates settlement rules may become stricter. If you plan to settle, know what changes are coming and plan accordingly (e.g., stay in qualifying employment, maintain salary thresholds, demonstrate contributions).
- Use trusted sources — always consult GOV.UK directly (Skilled Worker visa pages), and possibly immigration advice services, especially if you have a complex case (dependants, switching roles, etc).
Final words!
Skilled Worker visa work rights provide a balanced framework of opportunities and responsibilities. On the one hand, you can work in your sponsored role, pursue further study, take part in volunteering, support your family by bringing dependants, travel in and out of the UK, and, in time, work towards settlement if you meet the requirements. On the other hand, the rules draw clear lines: there is no entitlement to public funds, salary thresholds and eligible job lists shift, and settlement pathways continue to evolve with new government guidance.
For anyone holding or applying for this visa, it’s not just about what the Home Office says you can do today — it’s also about keeping pace with the ongoing changes, ensuring you protect your status and your future. The best approach is to stay informed, follow the latest updates, and treat your visa not simply as permission to live and work, but as a roadmap for building long-term stability.
To keep ahead of the updates, insights, and practical advice, follow Skilled Worker Mag — your guide to navigating the rules with clarity, confidence, and a focus on your career in the UK.
