Do I have to return to Türkiye to change employer on a Skilled Worker visa? Which application do I make?

Who does this apply to?

• This is general information. It does not assess anyone's personal situation. It is for people working in the UK on a Skilled Worker visa who want to move to another employer. It is based on the GOV.UK Skilled Worker pages.

What does the official page say?

• GOV.UK says that to change job or employer you must apply to update your visa. You apply online.
• You need a certificate of sponsorship and a confirmed job offer for the new role.
• For applications made from inside the UK a decision usually comes within 8 weeks, and you may be able to pay for a faster decision.
• Whether you can start the new job before the decision is not covered on this page, so read the official "Update your visa" page for your own situation.

A situation asked about in the groups

• One person said the new employer told them "there are no in-country applications, go back to Türkiye and get a visa from there". With little time left before ILR, that looked risky. People in the group said this is not right and that employers can be changed from inside the UK. Some suggested writing to the employer and getting an adviser's view.
• The GOV.UK page does not make leaving the country a condition of changing employer. If what the employer says differs from what the official page says, rely on the official page and the current Immigration Rules.

Points to watch

• The employer must hold a valid sponsor licence and the job must fit the visa conditions.
• For people approaching ILR, timing, route and the count of continuous leave matter. Check details on the official page or with an adviser.
• Official pages change. This post is a general summary.

What can you do?

• Read Change job or employer and the Update your visa steps linked from it.
• Ask for it in writing: an adviser's view sent by email can be shared with the new employer.
• For personal immigration questions, find a registered adviser: GOV.UK: Find an immigration adviser. Money paid to an unregulated adviser cannot be recovered.