Crisis Guide
Lost Your Skilled Worker Job in the UK — What to Do
You have 60 calendar days from the end of your sponsored employment to find a new licensed sponsor or switch to another visa route, otherwise you must leave the UK.
Key fact
60 calendar days grace period from the date sponsorship ends
Step-by-step
- 1Day 0: Check the date sponsorship officially ended (last day of work). The 60-day clock starts here.
- 2Days 1–7: Update CV, tell every UK sponsor in your network you’re open. Use SponsorshipJobs sponsor licence checker to filter your existing applications.
- 3Days 7–30: Apply heavily to active-sponsor employers. Same SOC code = quickest CoS issuance.
- 4Days 30–60: If no offer, plan switch to Visit / dependant / spouse / Graduate Visa as fallback.
- 5Day 50+: Book biometric appointment for new application.
- 6Day 60: New CoS-backed application must be submitted before this date or you must leave the UK.
Common pitfalls
- !Your dependants’ visa is tied to yours — same 60-day clock applies.
- !Working for the next employer before the new visa is granted is illegal even with a CoS in hand.
- !Curtailment letters from the Home Office sometimes shorten the 60 days — read your post carefully.