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Quick reference guide: visa restrictions

Wondering if you can hire someone with a specific visa, and what restrictions apply to their employment? Use our quick reference guide to check.

Our visa reference guide

This visa reference guide is for employers. It identifies different types of visas or status and any associated restrictions on working in the UK. This is only an overview guide and should not be seen as legal advice.

As an employer you’re still legally obligated to ensure that the person you wish to hire has the right to work in the UK and that their employment is not restricted by their particular visa. 

This is intended as a quick guide only. Individual visa holders will always need to comply with the specific terms of their visa and the immigration rules.

  • No employment allowed unless stated 

Find full Visitor visa guidelines on GOV.UK opens in a new window  

  • Can work for an employer for a maximum of 20 hours per week, while also setting up their own business 

Find full Graduate Entrepreneur visa guidelines on GOV.UK opens in a new window  

  • Can usually take up employment or self-employment 
  • This visa is not linked to one specific employer 

Find full Global Talent visa guidelines on GOV.UK opens in a new window  

  • Can usually take up employment 
  • This visa is not linked to one specific employer 

Find full Graduate visa guidelines on GOV.UK opens in a new window  

  • Can usually take up employment 
  • This visa is not linked to one specific employer 

Find full High Potential Individual visa guidelines on GOV.UK opens in a new window  

  • You must be registered with the Home Office before sponsoring individuals to work 
  • The employee can only work for the employer who has sponsored their specific visa, except in certain circumstances 

Find full Skilled Worker visa guidelines on GOV.UK opens in a new window  

  • The UK part of your business must be registered with the Home Office before sponsoring individuals to work
  • The employee can only work for the UK business that has sponsored their specific visa, except in certain circumstances
  • From 1 January 2023, certain UK sponsors will be exempt from paying the Immigration Skills Charge for certain individuals to be sponsored under the GBM: Senior or Specialist Worker visa route, if the individual to be sponsored is an EU national or a Latvian non-citizen, assigned to the UK from an EU business for up to 36 months – which could be a significant cost saving for the sponsor

Find full Global Business Mobility visa guidelines on GOV.UK opens in a new window  

  • An employee must work in the job they were sponsored to do, or in another eligible role for the same employer for at least 6 months. If they want to work for another Scale Up sponsor employer during this period, they would need to apply to update their visa)
  • After the first 6 months, individuals can work in almost any role for any employer (whether that employer is a sponsor or not) or be self-employed
  • The worker must not work as a professional sports person

  • Weekly working time restricted by level of study 
    • Degree course: usually 20 hours during term time (full time during vacations) 
    • Further education college course: usually 10 hours during term time (full time during vacations)

Find full Student visa guidelines on GOV.UK opens in a new window  

  • Cannot work as a doctor or dentist in training or a professional sportsperson 

Find full Youth Mobility Scheme visa guidelines on GOV.UK opens in a new window  

  • Various restrictions apply 

Find full Temporary Worker visa guidelines on GOV.UK opens in a new window  

  • No restrictions during the validity period of the visa 

Find full UK Ancestry visa guidelines on GOV.UK opens in a new window  

With grants of indefinite leave to remain/discretionary leave/humanitarian protection: 

  • No restrictions during the validity period of the visa unless stated otherwise on individuals' specific visa 

  • No employment permitted unless stated otherwise on Application Registration Card (ARC) 
  • If an asylum seeker has applied for and been granted permission to work, in circumstances where their asylum application is outstanding for more than 12 months through no fault of their own, their right to work will be limited to occupations on the shortage occupation list

  • No restrictions during the validity period of the visa

Find out more about the EU Settlement Scheme on GOV.UK opens in a new window  

  • Holders of these permits can usually take up employment or be self-employed during the validity period of the permit
  • This visa is not linked to one specific employer 

Find full Frontier Worker permit guidelines on GOV.UK opens in a new window  

  • Can usually take up employment 
  • This visa is not linked to one specific employer 

Find full British National (Overseas) visa guidelines on GOV.UK opens in a new window  

  • The employee can only work full time for the overseas employer which they were admitted to the UK to represent 
  • They must not engage in business of their own

Find full Representative of an Overseas Business visa guidelines on GOV.UK opens in a new window  

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Got a question about hiring talent, immigration, visas, sponsorship, or something else? Get in touch with our helpful team and we’ll let you know about the support we can offer.