Petition · past parliament · Department for Education
Lift ban on self-employment for international students on a Student visa
Closed
60 signatures
What the petition asks
Please lift self-employment restrictions for Student visa holders. Considering the benefit of international students to higher education institutions’ finances, the UK should offer equal opportunities to all its students to foster an environment where overseas students get fair chances to thrive.
International students are 27.5% of the student population, pay higher tuition fees, and contribute £25.9 billion to the economy. Yet, Student visa holders aren’t allowed to be self-employed, limiting the student diversity in the UK being properly reflected in the young adult freelancer population and opening doors for employers to take advantage. As freelancing rises in popularity to build an early career, international students should be able to participate in the independent worker economy.
Timeline
| 10 Dec 2021 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 10 Jun 2022 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
60
Status
Closed
Department
Department for Education
Opened
10 Dec 2021
Closed
10 Jun 2022
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.