When you maintain a Expert Employee Visa UK and plan to alter roles, you can’t ignore your visa. In all instances, you could replace your visa should you change your job or employer earlier than you begin the brand new position. This information explains when you could replace, when you don’t, how the method works, and what can go improper.
It’s essential to usually replace your Expert Employee visa when there’s a important change in your sponsored work. The Dwelling Workplace offers clear triggers for this.
You Should Replace Your Visa if:
- You progress to a brand new employer with a unique sponsor licence.
- You modify to a job with a unique occupation code that isn’t a part of a graduate coaching scheme.
- You progress from a job on the Immigration Wage Checklist (or former scarcity listing) to a job that isn’t on that listing.
- You add a second sponsored job that’s greater than 20 hours every week.
In every of those instances, you want:
When you fail to do that, you danger breaching your circumstances and damaging your immigration historical past.
You don’t all the time want a brand new utility. Typically your sponsor solely must report the change via the sponsor administration system. You often don’t have to replace your visa if:
- You stick with the identical employer, in the identical occupation code, and your core duties keep related.
- Your job title modifications however your occupation code and duties stay broadly the identical.
- Your wage will increase and nonetheless meets the required wage threshold and the going price.
- You progress to a brand new work location for a similar employer, and your position and wage stay compliant.
Nevertheless, your sponsor nonetheless has reporting duties. They need to replace your work location, wage, and different key particulars inside their sponsor system. In case your employer doesn’t report these modifications, each you and your sponsor could face compliance danger.
Use this as a place to begin, then take recommendation if something feels unclear.
| State of affairs | Replace visa? | Notes |
| Transfer to a brand new employer | Sure | New CoS and full Expert Employee utility wanted. |
| New position with totally different occupation code | Sure | Until a part of an outlined graduate coaching programme. |
| Transfer from Immigration Wage Checklist position to non-list position | Sure | Wage and position can be reassessed below present guidelines. |
| Similar employer, similar occupation code, greater wage | No (often) | Sponsor should nonetheless report the change. |
| Similar employer, similar code, minor title change | No (often) | Duties should keep broadly aligned with the unique position. |
| Second sponsored job over 20 hours per week | Sure | Want new CoS and variation of go away. |
| Similar employer, new workplace location solely | No (often) | Sponsor experiences new location. |
| Inside promotion to totally different occupation code | Sure | New utility required earlier than beginning the promoted position. |
This desk is simplified. The dwell Immigration Guidelines and steerage all the time take precedence on the time of resolution.
Whenever you replace your visa, the Dwelling Workplace reassesses your eligibility. They don’t merely copy your outdated approval.
1. Wage Thresholds and Going Price
Your new job should nonetheless meet:
- The final wage threshold in Appendix Expert Employee.
- The going price for the occupation code, after any permitted reductions.
Current modifications have raised many wage thresholds. For instance, the principle money flooring and a number of other tradeable factors bands elevated in July 2025. Due to this fact, you can’t depend on the wage that labored on your final grant. It’s essential to test the wage tables that apply if you apply to replace your visa.
2. Sponsor Licence and Occupation Code
Your new employer should:
- Maintain a legitimate Expert Employee sponsor licence.
- Provide a job in an eligible occupation code.
The occupation code should match the precise job duties. If the code is improper or too beneficiant, the appliance can fail.
3. Steady Residence and ILR
Altering employers doesn’t often reset your five-year clock for settlement. Nevertheless, you could:
- Keep below Expert Employee or one other qualifying route for the entire interval.
- Keep away from lengthy gaps between roles.
If a refusal breaks your permission, your ILR timeline could undergo.
It’s essential to replace your Expert Employee visa should you transfer to a brand new employer, change to a unique occupation code, transfer off the Immigration Wage Checklist, or take a second sponsored job over 20 hours per week. If any of those apply, it is best to plan your subsequent steps early. Don’t resign or settle for a begin date till you perceive the visa influence.
The method is just like a regular Expert Employee utility. Nevertheless, timing and planning matter extra since you are already within the UK.
Step 1: Test if a New Utility is Required
First, affirm whether or not your change triggers a brand new visa utility.
- Evaluate your present and proposed occupation codes.
- Test if the position stays on the Immigration Wage Checklist.
- Assessment your new wage towards the present threshold and going price.
If there may be any doubt, search skilled recommendation.
Step 2: Verify Your New Employer Can Sponsor You
Your new employer should:
- Maintain a dwell Expert Employee sponsor licence.
- Perceive sponsor duties and reporting guidelines.
If they don’t maintain a licence, they need to apply first. That course of can take weeks or months, so issue this into your timing.
Step 3: Obtain a New Certificates of Sponsorship
As soon as the employer is prepared, they are going to:
- Assign a brand new CoS on your position.
- Verify wage, hours, work places, and occupation code on the CoS.
It’s best to test the CoS particulars fastidiously earlier than you apply. Errors on the CoS may cause refusal or delays.
Step 4: Apply On-line to Replace Your Visa
You apply utilizing the web Expert Employee type as an in-country applicant.
Sometimes, you’ll:
- Full the shape together with your new CoS particulars.
- Pay the appliance charge and Immigration Well being Surcharge.
- Add supporting paperwork via the portal.
- Ebook and attend a UKVCAS biometric appointment, until the system reuses your biometrics.
It’s essential to not journey exterior the Frequent Journey Space whereas the appliance is pending.
Step 5: Await a Resolution and Handle Your Begin Date
Customary in-country Expert Employee functions typically take as much as eight weeks. You might have the choice to:
- Buy precedence processing for a quicker resolution.
- Typically buy tremendous precedence for a subsequent working day resolution.
You’ll be able to often hold working on your present sponsor whilst you wait. Nevertheless, you could not begin work with the brand new employer till you obtain approval. Beginning early counts as an immigration breach and might hurt each you and the sponsor.
Doc lists fluctuate, however it is best to count on to offer:
- Your present passport.
- Your BRP or digital standing particulars.
- The brand new Certificates of Sponsorship quantity.
- Proof of wage, corresponding to a proposal letter or contract.
- Proof of English, if the system requires it once more in your case.
- Proof that you may assist your self, if requested.
As well as, it’s possible you’ll want additional paperwork if:
- Your job makes use of tradeable factors based mostly on {qualifications} or new entrant standing.
- You depend on Immigration Wage Checklist concessions.
Typical timelines
- Customary in-country replace: typically as much as eight weeks.
- Precedence service: goal resolution inside 5 working days, the place out there.
- Tremendous precedence: goal resolution by the following working day, the place supplied.
Processing instances can fluctuate. Dwelling Workplace backlogs and safety checks generally trigger delays.
Typical Prices
For a lot of Expert Employee candidates, altering employer includes:
- A visa charge for every applicant, which varies by size.
- The Immigration Well being Surcharge for annually of the brand new grant.
- The employer’s Immigration Abilities Cost and CoS charge.
You also needs to finances for:
- Precedence or tremendous precedence charges, should you want pace.
- Skilled charges should you use a solicitor.
As a result of authorities charges have risen sharply since 2023, all the time test the newest quantities earlier than you apply.
Altering jobs whereas on a Expert Employee visa can really feel easy. Nevertheless, a number of errors seem time and again.
1. Beginning Work Earlier than Your New Visa is Granted
Some employers ask you to begin when you submit your utility. That may be a severe mistake. It’s essential to look forward to approval earlier than you do any work for the brand new sponsor.
2. Incorrect or Stretched Occupation Codes
Typically employers decide a code as a result of it matches the wage, not the true position. The Dwelling Workplace compares your duties with the code description. If the code and duties don’t align, the appliance can fail.
3. Wage Under the Present Guidelines
Your wage should meet:
- The present wage threshold for Expert Employee.
- The up to date going price for the occupation.
Current rule modifications elevated a number of wage bands in 2025. So a wage that after labored could now fall quick.
4. Gaps that Have an effect on Settlement
When you resign early and a refusal or delay follows, it’s possible you’ll lose lawful standing. That may:
- Break your steady residence.
- Pressure you to depart the UK and reapply from overseas.
Cautious sequencing of resignation, utility, and begin dates reduces this danger.
5. Sponsor Compliance Issues
In case your new sponsor has poor compliance, your visa could also be in danger. If the Dwelling Workplace revokes their licence, your permission will be shortened. You’ll then have to discover a new sponsor or go away the UK.
Your dependents don’t routinely change standing if you change jobs or employer.
Key factors:
- Their visas stay legitimate till their present expiry date.
- They will often keep within the UK whereas your utility is processed.
- They might want to increase or fluctuate their visas so their finish date matches your new grant.
In lots of instances, dependents apply similtaneously you. Nevertheless, they will additionally apply later, earlier than their very own visas finish. In case you are near settlement, your dependents ought to test how the timing impacts their very own ILR plans.
Instance 1: New employer, greater wage
A software program engineer strikes from one tech firm to a different. The brand new job makes use of the identical occupation code however provides the next wage.
- The brand new employer has a sponsor licence.
- Wage meets the up to date threshold and going price.
- She applies to replace her visa earlier than her begin date.
She should look forward to approval earlier than beginning with the brand new employer.
Instance 2: Inside promotion into a unique occupation code
A care house employee strikes right into a administration position in the identical group. The brand new position makes use of a unique occupation code and the next wage.
- The employer assigns a brand new CoS with the administration code.
- The employee applies to replace their Expert Employee visa.
They can not begin the administration position till the brand new visa is granted.
Instance 3: Facet Job for Greater than 20 Hours
An engineer desires a second sponsored position for 25 hours per week.
- He already works full time in a sponsored position.
- The second position additionally qualifies below Expert Employee.
He should apply to replace his visa so as to add the second job.
Do I All the time Want a New Visa if I Change Job?
No. You want a brand new utility solely when your change meets sure triggers, corresponding to a brand new employer or a unique occupation code.
Can I Change Employer on a Expert Employee Visa UK?
Sure, you’ll be able to change employers. Nevertheless, you want a brand new CoS and a brand new Expert Employee utility that the Dwelling Workplace approves earlier than you begin.
Can I Work for My New Employer Whereas the Utility is Pending?
No. You’ll be able to often work on your present sponsor throughout processing, together with any discover interval. It’s essential to not begin with the brand new sponsor till your up to date visa is granted.
What if My New Wage is Decrease than Earlier than?
A decrease wage may cause issues. Your new pay should nonetheless meet the present Expert Employee threshold and the going price on your occupation code. If it doesn’t, the appliance is prone to fail.
Will Altering Employers Have an effect on My ILR Eligibility?
Altering employers doesn’t often reset your five-year clock. Nevertheless, any break in permission, or a transfer to a non-qualifying route, can disrupt your ILR plan. It’s best to plan fastidiously if you’re near the five-year level.
Altering jobs ought to be a constructive step in your profession. Nevertheless, a poorly deliberate transfer can danger your immigration standing. A specialist UK immigration agency can:
- Test whether or not it’s good to replace your visa should you change your job or employer.
- Verify that the brand new occupation code and wage meet the Expert Employee Visa UK guidelines.
- Plan the timing of your utility, discover interval, and begin date.
- Put together and submit a powerful utility with clear supporting proof.
- Advise on dependent visas and long-term ILR technique.
In case you are contemplating a transfer, it’s smart to take recommendation earlier than you resign or settle for a brand new contract. That manner you defend each your profession and your long-term proper to dwell and work within the UK.
Attain out to us at contact@ayjsolicitors.com or name us on +44 20 7404 7933. You may as well e book a name instantly with our specialists.
