Politics

UK lifts visa employer restrictions for skilled workers confirmed as modern slavery victims

The Home Office will allow individuals on skilled worker visas to work for any employer if formally recognized as victims of exploitation.

Updated Sep 3, 2026 · 12:19 UTC1 reports

The short version

The UK government is ending the requirement tying skilled worker visas to a single sponsoring employer for individuals formally recognized as victims of modern slavery.
The adjustment applies to individuals who receive a positive conclusive grounds determination through the national referral mechanism.
Advocates welcomed the move but noted its practical reach depends on how easily vulnerable workers can access the referral system.

The UK Home Office announced that skilled worker visa holders formally recognized as modern slavery victims can work for any employer for the remainder of their visa term.[The Guardian]
Under the post-Brexit scheme established in 2021, skilled worker status was tied strictly to a sponsoring employer, leaving individuals without public funds access at risk of deportation if they left their position.[The Guardian]
To qualify for the untied visa status, individuals must obtain a positive conclusive grounds decision via the UK's national referral mechanism.[The Guardian]
More than 6,600 employer sponsorship licenses have been revoked under the current Labour administration, including over 4,400 in the 12 months leading up to June 2026.[The Guardian]
The number of skilled worker visas granted last year dropped to 111,000, a 76% decline from the peak in 2023, following the halt of new overseas applications for care worker visas after July 2025.[The Guardian]

It remains uncertain how many exploited workers will successfully navigate the national referral mechanism process to receive a conclusive grounds decision.[The Guardian]