Losing employment while on a Skilled Worker visa can be a distressing experience, but there are defined processes and limited options available. As of October 2025, skilled workers generally face a grace period of around 60 days (or until their visa’s original expiry, if sooner) once their sponsor notifies the Home Office. During that time, they may apply for a new Skilled Worker visa with a different employer, or explore alternative routes if eligible. However, failure to act within this period can result in visa curtailment and the risk of overstaying. Understanding your lost job UK visa options and planning is critical to safeguarding your immigration status.
Employment Termination and Visa Curtailment
When an individual on a Skilled Worker visa loses their job, whether through redundancy, dismissal, or voluntary resignation, their visa status is directly affected. Under UK immigration rules, the Skilled Worker visa is contingent on ongoing sponsorship by a licensed employer.
Once your employer ceases sponsorship, they are obliged to report the termination to the Home Office. Upon notification, the Home Office typically initiates a process called visa curtailment, formally shortening your leave. Multiple immigration advisers and legal sources report that this process generally gives you 60 days to make your next move — this is sometimes known as the “grace period.”
The precise duration depends on factors such as your existing visa expiry: if your visa was due to expire sooner than 60 days, the curtailment may end earlier. You should receive a formal letter or written notice from UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) confirming the curtailment and specifying how long you may remain in the UK.
What You Can and Cannot Do During the Grace Period?
What You Can Do:
- Seek New Employment with a Licensed Sponsor
During the curtailment period, you may look for a new role with an employer that holds a valid Skilled Worker sponsor licence. Any new job must meet the Skilled Worker visa eligibility criteria, including the required skill level and salary threshold. - Apply for a New Skilled Worker Visa
Once you have secured a job offer and received a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from your prospective employer, you can apply for a new Skilled Worker visa – even while your existing visa is curtailed. - Explore Alternative Visa Options
If obtaining a new sponsorship is not viable, you may consider switching to a different category of visa (depending on your circumstances), although not every route will be available.
What You Cannot Do (Unless Your New Application Is Approved):
- Begin working for your new sponsor before your new visa is granted. Several legal advisors explicitly recommend waiting for confirmation before starting a new role.
- Travel outside the UK while your visa is under curtailment unless you have a valid permit; doing so may lead to your visa application being considered withdrawn.
Alternative Visa Routes to Consider After Job Loss
If you’re unable to secure a new Skilled Worker sponsorship during the 60-day window, here are some lost job UK visa options you may investigate (depending on your situation and eligibility):
- Family Visa
If you have a spouse, partner, or other eligible family member settled in the UK, and you meet the relevant criteria, a family visa could be a route to remain. - Student or Graduate Visas
For some, returning to study or switching to a visa that was previously held (such as a Student visa or a Graduate visa) could be feasible, but this depends heavily on your current visa status, your qualifications, and timing. (Note: always check whether this is permissible in your specific case.) - Other Skilled Routes
Depending on your occupation, profile, or any exceptional talent, there may be more specialist visa routes available (though these come with their own conditions and require careful navigation).
Implications for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)
Losing your job and switching visas can have direct consequences for your path towards indefinite leave to remain (ILR). Many Skilled Worker visa holders rely on continuous employment and sponsorship to build the required residence for ILR.
According to legal commentary, a gap in your sponsorship during the curtailment period — unless properly managed- could disrupt your ILR eligibility. Even if you secure a new Skilled Worker visa, the timing and continuity of your leave can matter. Immigration advisers emphasise that you should aim to minimise any break, ideally by having your new visa application submitted within the curtailment window.
What to Do Immediately After Losing Your Job?
If you find yourself in this situation, taking prompt and structured action can be critical:
- Stay Calm, But Act Quickly
Recognise that you likely have a limited timeline. Do not assume you can delay indefinitely — your curtailment clock may already be ticking. - Contact Your Employer
Confirm that they have or will report to the Home Office promptly. This is their legal duty. - Secure a Job Offer From a Licensed Sponsor
If possible, reach out to potential employers who are licensed to sponsor Skilled Workers. Make sure the role meets visa eligibility conditions. - Obtain a New Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)
Before applying for a new visa, ensure your prospective employer has issued a valid CoS that meets UKVI criteria. - Prepare Your Visa Application
Gather required documentation — proof of employment offer, CoS, maintenance funds (if required), and identity documents — so you can apply efficiently when the time comes. - Explore Alternative Visa Paths
If you cannot find a sponsor in time, assess whether other visa routes are open to you, given your personal circumstances. - Seek Legal or Immigration Advice
This is often essential. Speak with a qualified immigration adviser or solicitor to help you understand your options clearly, especially if your situation is complicated or time-sensitive.
Common Risks and Challenges
While there are recognised options to manage a job loss on a Skilled Worker visa, several risks make the situation particularly precarious:
- Limited Time: The 60-day curtailment (or shorter) may not be sufficient to find a new sponsor and complete a visa application.
- Visa Application Risk: A visa application made under stress may lack strong evidence or sufficient time to prepare properly.
- ILR Disruption: A gap in employment or visa permission could disrupt your ILR timeline.
- Financial Strain: As a visa holder, you may not be eligible for all benefits, so income disruption could cause serious hardship.
- Travel Restrictions: Leaving the UK during curtailment risks invalidating pending applications.
- Overstaying: If visa conditions aren’t met within the grace period, you could unintentionally breach immigration rules.
Final Thoughts: Handling the Uncertainty!
Losing your job while on a Skilled Worker visa can feel like a moment where everything shifts at once, yet it does not have to signal the end of your plans or ambitions. It is a period that calls for composure, clarity and a willingness to move with purpose, whether that means exploring new professional avenues, repositioning yourself for opportunities that better align with your goals, or simply taking time to reassess the path ahead. This is a moment to rely on steady guidance, trusted insight and a clear understanding of the choices available to you as you navigate what comes next. At SkilledWorkerMag, we will continue to follow these developments closely, offering direction, perspective and considered commentary so you can stay informed and supported through every stage of your Skilled Worker journey.
