The supplementary employment rules
20 hours
Maximum per week in the second job
Outside hours
Not during the sponsored job’s contracted hours
Keep the main job
The sponsored job must continue
Eligible occupation
ISL, same profession and level, or RQF 6+
What sponsors should do
As a sponsor, you should know about any second job so you can be sure the worker is still doing the role you sponsored, at the salary and hours on their certificate of sponsorship. Record the second job against the worker’s file in writing, and look at it again at every compliance review.
Not sure if the second job’s occupation is eligible? Check the occupation code.
Frequently asked questions
What is supplementary employment?
Supplementary employment is a second job that a Skilled Worker or Health and Care Worker can do alongside their sponsored job without a new visa. It must be up to 20 hours a week, outside the sponsored job’s hours, and in an eligible occupation.
Which jobs count as supplementary employment?
The second job must be in an occupation on the Immigration Salary List, in the same profession and at the same professional level as the sponsored job, or in an eligible occupation at RQF level 6 or above. Workers protected by the pre-22 July 2025 rules can also work in some RQF 3–5 occupations.
Does the second employer need a sponsor licence?
No. The second employer does not need to be a licensed sponsor or assign a certificate of sponsorship, but it must carry out a right to work check before the job starts.
Can a sponsored worker do voluntary work?
Yes. Voluntary work is allowed alongside the sponsored job, as long as it is genuinely voluntary with no payment other than reasonable expenses.
What happens if the worker exceeds 20 hours a week?
Working more than 20 hours a week in supplementary employment breaches the worker’s visa conditions, which can lead to their permission being cancelled and a civil penalty for the employer.
Official sources
- Immigration Rules: Appendix Skilled Worker
- Immigration Rules: Appendix Skilled Occupations
- Immigration Rules: Appendix Immigration Salary List
Rules and fees checked September 2026. Immigration rules change often — this tool gives general information, not legal or immigration advice. For advice on an individual case, speak to a regulated immigration adviser or one of the firms listed here.