Made Redundant in the UK: Your Rights and Redundancy Pay

This guide is for internationals who have recently moved to the United Kingdom and have been told, or are worried, that their job is at risk of redundancy. After reading it, you will know what redundancy means, which rights the government lists for people being made redundant, and where to take questions about your own situation.

• What redundancy means
• How you must be selected
• Consultation and the option of another job
• Notice and statutory redundancy pay
• Time off to look for work and where to get advice
• FAQ

What redundancy means

The GOV.UK page Redundancy: your rights says that redundancy is a form of dismissal from your job. It happens when employers need to reduce their workforce. The focus is on the employer needing fewer people, not on a judgement about you as a person. Because redundancy is a dismissal, a redundancy carried out in the wrong way can become an unfair dismissal.

The same page lists what you might be eligible for if you are being made redundant:

• redundancy pay
• a notice period
• a consultation with your employer
• the option to move into a different job
• time off to find a new job

The word “might” matters. The overview page does not set out the conditions for each item, such as who qualifies, how pay is worked out or how long notice lasts. It also does not say whether any of these rules differ between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Where this guide cannot point to an official figure, it says so and does not guess.

How you must be selected

GOV.UK states that you must be selected for redundancy in a fair way. It gives two examples of fair grounds: your level of experience and your capability to do the job. Employees can ask their employer which criteria were used and how they were applied.

The page is just as clear about what is not allowed. You cannot be selected because of:

• your age
• your gender
• being disabled
• being pregnant

If you are selected for one of these reasons, GOV.UK says this could be classed as an unfair dismissal. The page does not say this is a complete list of unfair reasons. It also does not mention nationality, visa type or how recently someone arrived in the country. Questions about whether a particular selection was fair can go to one of the advice services named on the page, which are covered below.

Consultation and the option of another job

A consultation with your employer is one of the things you might be eligible for. Consultation gives employee and employer a chance to discuss the proposed redundancy. The overview page does not state when consultation must start, how long it must last, or whether different rules apply when many staff are affected. Acas can explain how consultation works.

Points that employees commonly raise during consultation include:

• why their role has been chosen
• which selection criteria were used and how they were scored
• whether any other jobs are available in the organisation
• what notice and redundancy pay would apply

GOV.UK also lists the option to move into a different job. For people on a sponsored work visa, changing jobs or losing a job can raise immigration questions that fall outside employment law. The page this guide is based on does not cover those rules, so they are not explained here. Specific immigration questions should go to an immigration adviser regulated by the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) or a solicitor regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).

Notice and statutory redundancy pay

GOV.UK lists both a notice period and redundancy pay among the things you might be eligible for. The overview page does not give the length of notice, the conditions for receiving statutory redundancy pay, how it is calculated, or any limit on the amount. Those details are not in the official source this guide is based on, so no figures are given here.

Two practical points follow from this. First, eligibility is not automatic. The page says you “might” be eligible, so whether you qualify depends on conditions set out elsewhere. Acas and Citizens Advice can explain who qualifies and how the amount is worked out. Second, your employment contract or staff handbook may have its own terms on notice and redundancy pay, and your employer can confirm which terms apply to you.

The page also says you have specific rights if your employer is insolvent. The overview page does not describe those rights. Anyone whose employer has gone out of business can find the separate GOV.UK guidance on insolvency, or ask an adviser how the rules apply.

Time off to look for work and where to get advice

The last item on the GOV.UK list is time off to find a new job. The overview page does not say how much time off is allowed, whether it is paid or who qualifies. Your employer, Acas or Citizens Advice can confirm the rules that apply.

For advice on redundancy, GOV.UK names two organisations:

• Acas (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service)
• Citizens Advice

The GOV.UK redundancy page does not deal with immigration. If your right to stay in the UK is linked to your job, take that part of the question to an adviser regulated by the OISC or a solicitor regulated by the SRA, as described above.

FAQ

Can I be selected for redundancy because I am new to the UK?

GOV.UK says selection must be fair and gives experience and capability as examples of fair grounds. It also says you cannot be selected because of age, gender, disability or pregnancy. The page does not mention nationality or how recently someone arrived. Acas or Citizens Advice can explain how the wider rules on unfair dismissal apply to a specific case.

How much statutory redundancy pay will I receive?

The GOV.UK overview page lists redundancy pay as something you might be eligible for. It does not give amounts, a way of calculating them or the conditions for qualifying. Acas and Citizens Advice can explain who qualifies and how the amount is calculated. Your contract may also include its own redundancy pay terms.

Will being made redundant affect my visa?

The redundancy page on GOV.UK does not cover immigration rules. If your permission to stay in the UK depends on your job, an immigration adviser regulated by the OISC or a solicitor regulated by the SRA can answer questions about your visa.

Am I allowed time off to look for a new job?

GOV.UK lists time off to find a new job as one of the things you might be eligible for when you are being made redundant. The overview page does not say how much time is allowed, whether it is paid or who qualifies. Your employer, Acas or Citizens Advice can confirm the details.

Official sources: gov.uk

Last verified: 6 November 2026 against the official pages linked above. Rules and fees change; the official page always wins.

This is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Immigration advice in the UK may only be given by advisers regulated by the OISC or by solicitors regulated by the SRA.