How to Get a Part-Time Job in UK as a Nepali Student
Step 1: Arrive and Check Your eVisa
Your eVisa (your online immigration status in your UKVI account) confirms your right to work. Employers check it with a share code, so set up your UKVI account and link your passport before you fly. Check your work conditions say “Work limited to 20 hours per week” (or similar) for Term time.
Step 2: Apply for Your National Insurance Number
Apply for your National Insurance (NI) number online at gov.uk/apply-national-insurance-number as soon as you arrive. Takes approximately 4 weeks to arrive by post. You can start work before receiving it — give your employer your application confirmation reference. Working without an NI number is legal; your employer just uses a temporary code.
Step 3: Search for Jobs
Useful platforms for Nepali students finding UK jobs: Indeed.co.uk, Totaljobs.com, Reed.co.uk, and your university’s own careers portal. For NHS and care work, apply directly via the NHS Jobs website. For Amazon, apply at Amazon Jobs UK. Most roles pay the NMW or above and specify “student-friendly shifts.”
Step 4: Tax and National Insurance
When you start work, your employer will put you on PAYE (Pay As You Earn) and deduct income tax and National Insurance contributions automatically. Because most Nepali students earn near or below the £12,570 personal allowance, your tax bill is minimal. Submit a P87 form at the end of each UK tax year (5 April) to claim back any overpaid tax.
Graduate Route: Why UK Work Experience Matters Beyond Your Degree
Every week of UK work experience during your degree counts toward your employability on the Graduate Route Visa. Students who worked as NHS Healthcare Assistants, care workers, or in finance during their degree consistently get Skilled Worker Visa offers faster than those with no UK work history. HOA recommends targeting work that aligns with your intended Skilled Worker Visa career path.
UK Part-Time Work — Frequently Missed Advice for Nepali Students
Open a UK bank account on arrival. Most employers will not pay into a foreign account. Apply for a UK student bank account as soon as you arrive — HSBC, Barclays Student, Monzo, and Revolut all have student-friendly options that open without a credit history.
NHS and care work: consider this route even without nursing background. Healthcare Assistant (HCA) roles require no nursing degree and pay above NMW. More importantly, NHS employment can lead to a Skilled Worker job, where health roles use their own going rates based on NHS pay rather than the general £41,700. This is the most direct path from UK student to permanent UK residency for many Nepali graduates.
Track your hours across multiple jobs. If you work a 12-hour shift on Saturday plus 10 hours across two evenings, you are already at 22 hours. The 20-hour limit applies across all employers combined. UKVI enforces this through employer payroll data. There is no grace period.