Can I work more than 40 hours a week in UK international students?
Visa restrictions on working
If you are studying full-time at degree level, during term-time you may not work more than 20 hours per week. If you work more than 20 hours in any one week you will be breaching your visa and this could prevent you from obtaining a new visa in the future or completing your studies.
You can: Work in the position for your sponsor as described in the Certificate of Sponsorship. Work on a second job under certain circumstances. If you are working on your job for only 20 hours in a week, you can work on a job that is similar to your main job and at the same level.
You can work full-time if you're on a scheduled break, such as winter and summer holidays, or a fall or spring reading week. You're free to work overtime or work 2 part-time jobs that add up to a higher than usual number of hours. You must be a full-time student both before and after the break to work full-time.
Can a Tier 2 / Skilled Worker visa holder do additional work? Yes, a Tier 2 / Skilled Worker visa holder can take on additional employment without the need to ask for permission from the Home Office. Any part-time job will also be considered secondary employment as it is supplementary to your main sponsored work.
You cannot work more than 48 hours a week on average - normally averaged over 17 weeks. This law is sometimes called the 'working time directive' or 'working time regulations'. You can choose to work more by opting out of the 48-hour week.
Legally, your employer can't make you work more than 48 hours a week, including overtime. If they want you to work more than that, your employer has to ask you to opt out of the 48-hour limit. Find out more about the maximum weekly working time limit.
It is not illegal to work two jobs at the same time, where the law in the UK does not prohibit people from taking secondary employment. This means that, absent any contractual provision within their contract of employment, an employee is entirely free to take a second job.
You'll usually need to be paid at least whichever is the highest out of the following: £25,600 per year. £10.10 per hour. the 'going rate' for the type of work you'll be doing.
You'll need to apply to update your Skilled Worker or Tier 2 (General) work visa if: you want to change your job and your new job is with a different employer. your job changes to a different occupation code, and you're not in a graduate training programme.
You cannot work more than 40 hours per week on a work permit.
Can a student work 48 hours in UK?
You can't work for more than an average of 48 hours a week (although you can agree with your employer to work longer hours with a written agreement that you've signed – you might hear this referred to as 'opting out of working time regulations').
A co-op work permit allows you to work full-time during academic terms if your work is required for your program and this work is approved by your program. You are typically enrolled in a co-op term, internship, or practicum course.

Accordingly, holding various work permits is not restricted anywhere in the law.
Requirements for Tier 2 Visa – General
You should have an offer for a skilled job in the UK. The job offer should be from a UK employer holding a valid Tier 2 Sponsor Licence from UKVI. You should be assigned with a valid certificate of sponsorship (CoS) number from your employer.
Yes, it's usually legal to have two jobs in the UK. But you should check your contract with your employer before taking on additional work. Many companies include a clause in their contract of employment about taking on extra work, especially if there could be a conflict of interest.
For adult employees, there is no legal limit to the number of hours that one can work per week, but the Fair Labor Standards Act dictates standards for overtime pay in both the private and public sector.
You can work more than 8 hours a day as long as the average over 17 weeks is no more than 8. Your employer can't ask you to opt out of this limit. You might have to work more than an average of 8 hours a night in some jobs, like the emergency services. Check which jobs might have to work more at night on GOV.UK.
23 and over | 21 to 22 | |
---|---|---|
April 2022 (current rate) | £9.50 | £9.18 |
April 2023 | £10.42 | £10.18 |
You only have to work overtime if your contract says so. Even if it does, by law, you cannot usually be forced to work more than an average of 48 hours per week. You can agree to work longer - but this agreement must be in writing and signed by you.
There is no specific number of hours that makes someone full or part-time, but a full-time worker will usually work 35 hours or more a week. Part-time workers should get the same treatment for: pay rates (including sick pay, maternity, paternity and adoption leave and pay) pension opportunities and benefits.
Can you get fired for refusing to work overtime UK?
Can You Get Fired for Refusing to Work Overtime? The answer depends on what your contract says about it. If your contract states that you must work overtime, then refusing to do so can lead to disciplinary action. If it does not, then your employer cannot force you to work extra hours.
Working two different jobs
If you work for more than one employer, the total amount of hours you work shouldn't exceed the 48 hour average limit. If you work two jobs you could either: consider signing an opt-out agreement with your employers if your total time worked is over 48 hours.
Your tax situation if you have more than one job
In 2022/23, the personal allowance is £12,570. The PAYE system is designed to treat one job as your main employment (against which your personal allowance will be given in full) and the other jobs as secondary (which are taxed at the basic rate of 20%).
Mostly, the rates are exactly the same as you pay for primary employment. The basic rate (currently 20% on taxable income up to £50,270 as of 2021/22 & 2022/23) applies for a second job too, just like higher and additional thresholds. So when you ask 'do I pay more tax on a second job? ', the answer is no.
Can you get a mortgage on a tier 2 visa? Yes, it is possible to get a mortgage on a tier 2 visa subject to criteria and availability based on your individual situation. As you may expect the options open to you will likely be more limited however there are a good number of lenders that will consider this.
With a Skilled Worker visa you can: work in an eligible job. study. bring your partner and children with you as your 'dependants', if they're eligible.
- UK Ancestry Visa. You can apply for a visa if you meet the general eligibility criteria, and you can prove that one of your grandparents was born in the UK, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man. ...
- British National Overseas Visa. ...
- Investor Visa. ...
- Global Talent Visa.
Therefore losing your job will mean that technically you no longer meet the requirements of your original Skilled Worker visa and you must contact the Home Office to make a new application. You will not need to apply again if you stay in the same job role but it is taken off the Shortage Occupation list.
You can usually apply to extend a Skilled Worker visa or a Tier 2 (General) work visa if all of the following are true: you have the same job as when you were given your previous permission to enter or stay in the UK.
You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks once you either attend your appointment at the visa application centre or use the ID Check app, if you are applying for a visa to work or invest in the UK.
What is the maximum hour that work permit?
Normal hours of work
Contractual working hours are the hours that you and your employer have agreed to in the contract of service. Up to 48 hours a week, but capped at 88 hours in any continuous 2-week period.
Depending on the job, extension of all PTW other Project Nature Permit shall be up to 7 days. Maximum extension in case of project nature permit may be upto 30 days.
Weekly Overtime
If you are not exempt from FLSA overtime pay provisions and work more than 40 hours for the week, your employer must pay the excess hours at 1.5 times your regular hourly rate. If you meet these standards and are working over 60 hours a week, your employer should pay you overtime.
Students are now able to work and live in the UK for 3 years after completing a PhD. 2 years is the allowed period for Master's degree holders to live and work in the country. The PSW visa can be extended by the government for Master's holders from 2 to 4 years.
During term time you can work up to 20 hours (maximum) per week. During vacation periods you can work full-time. You can work full-time after your programme end date (as confirmed on your student record) until your Student visa expires, provided you have no further engagement or attendance requirement.
If you're studying in the UK as an international student, you're allowed to work for up to 20 hours maximum per week during term-time and full-time during holiday breaks. However, you do need to consider the restrictions in place you must stick to, in order to be allowed to work whilst studying.
A co-op work permit allows students to work full-time during regular school terms. A co-op work permit is different from authorization to work off-campus, and you may engage in both kinds of work if you meet the criteria for each. Learn how to apply for a co-op work permit.
All work pass holders must only work for their designated employer. They must not take on additional jobs or engage in activities to earn additional income in Singapore. This also applies to training pass holders doing on-the-job training.
You can work in any location across Canada. You don't need to apply to change your work permit. If you have a co-op work permit, your work must be required to complete your study program.
During term time you can work up to 20 hours (maximum) per week. During vacation periods you can work full-time. You can work full-time after your programme end date (as confirmed on your student record) until your Student visa expires, provided you have no further engagement or attendance requirement.
How much can international students work in UK?
Working during your studies
Students on full time degree-level courses holding a Student visa are permitted to work in the UK. The requirements and rules are as follows: Up to 20 hours per week during University term time. UKVI has defined a "week" as "a seven day period starting on a Monday and ending on a Sunday"
There is no specific number of hours that makes someone full or part-time, but a full-time worker will usually work 35 hours or more a week. Part-time workers should get the same treatment for: pay rates (including sick pay, maternity, paternity and adoption leave and pay) pension opportunities and benefits.
You can work full-time while waiting for a decision on your post-graduation work permit (PGWP) application if, at the time you submitted your application, all of the following applied to your situation: You had a valid study permit. You had completed your program of study.
You can work up to 20 hours a week in a job that's either: in the same occupation code and at the same level as your main job.
Students may work full-time during summer and other breaks (as long as the student will return to school after the break) Student may work full-time after completion of all coursework, if a thesis or dissertation is still required and student is making normal progress towards the degree.
If you have lived in the UK for 5 or more years, you should be able to apply for permanent residence in the UK.