Student in the UK and haven't been paid?
First contact Work Rights Centre — confidential.
I'm a Student visa holder and my employer hasn't paid me. I need confidential advice about my options.
I'm a Student visa holder and my employer hasn't paid me. I need confidential advice about my options.
- BRP or eVisa share code
- Payslips or correspondence
- Number of hours per week (important!)
- Name of your university (sponsor)
- Course end date
- Your right to pay does not depend on the number of hours — you must be paid
- Work Rights Centre does not share your data with the Home Office
- The call is free and confidential
Если босс угрожает вам, держит ваш паспорт, не выпускает вас или ограничивает свободу — это экстренная ситуация.
Modern Slavery Helpline08000 121 700
More details — expand if needed
If you worked up to 20 hours per week during term-time
If you worked within the Student visa limit (20 hours per week during term-time, full-time during holidays) — your standard route is through ACAS Early Conciliation.
Minimum wage: £12.71/hour (21+). Deadline: 3 months minus 1 day.
Call ACAS 0300 123 1100 or Work Rights Centre — both options work.
⚠️ If you worked more than 20 hours per week
DO NOT go directly to ACAS or Employment Tribunal.
Working over the limit is a breach of your Student visa conditions. If you bring a claim to the Tribunal, your status may become known to the Home Office.
There is a safe route — an anonymous HMRC NMW tip-off about the employer. Work Rights Centre can explain how this works safely.
Important: the court decision in Okedina v Chikale [2019] EWCA Civ 1393 does not protect a worker who knew they were exceeding the hour limit on their BRP/visa.
Self-employment on a Student visa is not allowed
Working as self-employed (freelance, UTR, your own business) is not allowed on the Student Route. If you worked this way — speak to Work Rights Centre before taking any other action.
Contacts for students
- Work Rights Centre — 0300 4000 100 · workrightscentre.org
- UKCISA (student immigration questions) — 020 7788 9214 · ukcisa.org.uk
- Lawyers in London — our directory →
Sources
- gov.uk/student-visa — work conditions
- Appendix Student — Immigration Rules
- ukcisa.org.uk — student rights
- Okedina v Chikale [2019] EWCA Civ 1393