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The short answer
Yes, within limits. GOV.UK says you can work up to 20 hours a week in another job, or for your own business, while you keep doing your sponsored job, as long as the extra work is in a higher-skilled occupation, is on the Immigration Salary List, or is in the same sector and at the same level as your main job. Overtime in your sponsored job has no limit.
A second income is a common goal for Nigerians on work visas: family at home, rent, a deposit for a house. On a Skilled Worker visa, extra work is allowed but tightly framed, and getting it wrong can put your permission at risk. Here is what GOV.UK's second job page says, as at October 2026.
Overtime in your sponsored job
GOV.UK is plain on this: if you work overtime in the job you are sponsored for, you do not need to update your visa, and there is no limit on overtime hours. Extra shifts with your own employer in the same role are therefore the simplest way to earn more.
A second job: the 20-hour limit and three tests
You can work up to 20 hours a week in another job, provided you are still doing your sponsored job. The second job must meet one of these conditions:
- it has an eligible occupation code listed as 'higher skilled'
- it is on the Immigration Salary List
- it is in the same sector and at the same level as your main job
GOV.UK adds a narrower rule for medium-skilled work: extra work in a job coded 'medium skilled' is allowed only if your first Tier 2 or Skilled Worker certificate of sponsorship was issued before 22 July 2025 and you have held Skilled Worker visas continuously since.
Examples
| Situation | Likely position under the rules |
|---|---|
| Nurse with an NHS sponsor doing bank shifts at another trust | Same sector and level; up to 20 hours a week |
| Software developer doing evening coding for a second firm | Check the code is listed as higher skilled; up to 20 hours |
| Accountant working weekend shifts at a supermarket till | Unlikely to meet any of the three tests |
| Care worker doing extra shifts for the same employer | Overtime in the sponsored job; no visa update needed |
These are illustrations, not decisions. Check the occupation code of the second role against GOV.UK's lists before you sign.
More than 20 hours
If the second job will exceed 20 hours a week, GOV.UK says you must apply to update your visa so you are sponsored for both jobs. You need a new certificate of sponsorship from the second employer and a cover letter explaining that you want to change your current permission to stay.
Your own business counts too
The 20 hours can be another job or your own business; GOV.UK mentions registering as a sole trader. Business admin such as preparing invoices counts toward the 20 hours. Our separate guide on running a side business on a work visa covers that route in full.
Before you accept a second job
- Get the job title and duties in writing.
- Find the occupation code that matches the duties, not just the title.
- Check it against the higher-skilled list, the Immigration Salary List, or compare it with your sponsored job's sector and level.
- Work out the weekly hours, including any travel or admin you will be paid for.
- If it will exceed 20 hours, stop and plan the visa update before you start.
Employers in the second job may also ask for proof of your right to work. Your eVisa share code shows your conditions; they will see that you are a Skilled Worker and may ask how the role fits. Being able to show the code and the test it meets saves time on both sides.
Practical points
- Keep a weekly log of hours in the second job, so you can show you stayed under 20.
- Tell your sponsor if your contract requires it; some employers restrict outside work.
- Tax: your tax-free allowance is usually applied to one job, so the second is taxed differently. See our guide on tax codes.
- Volunteering is separate: GOV.UK's Skilled Worker page says any voluntary work must be unpaid and for a registered charity, voluntary organisation, associated fundraising body or statutory body.
- The rules for a Health and Care Worker visa sit on its own GOV.UK pages; check those if that is your visa.
Where Pryme fits
If a second job lets you send more home, a Pryme account keeps GBP and NGN with local details, and Send shows the rate and fee before you approve each transfer.
Immigration rules here are information, not advice. If you are unsure whether a role qualifies, ask a regulated immigration adviser before you start.
Questions people ask
How many hours can I work in a second job on a Skilled Worker visa?
Up to 20 hours a week, according to GOV.UK, if the job meets one of the three conditions and you keep doing your sponsored job.
Is overtime limited on a Skilled Worker visa?
No. GOV.UK says overtime in your sponsored job needs no visa update and has no hour limit.
Can I work in a supermarket as a second job?
Only if the role meets one of GOV.UK's conditions: higher skilled, on the Immigration Salary List, or same sector and level as your main job. Most shop-floor roles will not.
What if my second job is more than 20 hours?
You must apply to update your visa so you are sponsored for both jobs, with a new certificate of sponsorship from the second employer.
Sources
- Skilled Worker visa: Taking a second job (GOV.UK) · accessed Oct 2026
- Skilled Worker visa (GOV.UK) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.