UK visa sponsorship basics
What is UK visa sponsorship?
Visa sponsorship means a UK employer that holds a valid sponsor licence from the Home Office offers you a job and issues a Certificate of Sponsorship, which lets you apply for a work visa such as the Skilled Worker visa. Without a licensed sponsor, most people from outside the UK, EU and EEA cannot legally work in the UK.
How do I know if an employer can sponsor a visa?
The Home Office publishes an official Register of licensed sponsors (workers). If a company is not on that register, it cannot sponsor you — no matter what a job advert says. Hirely checks every employer against this register, and you can learn how to check it yourself in our guide to checking an employer's sponsor status.
What is a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)?
A Certificate of Sponsorship is an electronic record — not a paper certificate — that a licensed sponsor assigns to you once they have offered you a job. It confirms the role, salary and dates, and you need its reference number to apply for your visa. We cover this in detail in Certificate of Sponsorship explained.
Eligibility & requirements
What is the minimum salary for a Skilled Worker visa?
For most new Skilled Worker applicants the general salary threshold is £41,700 per year, or the "going rate" for the specific job — whichever is higher. Some roles (certain health, care and education jobs, or new entrants) have different rules. See our salary threshold guide for the detail, and always confirm the current figure on GOV.UK.
Do I need a university degree to get sponsored?
Not always. The Skilled Worker route requires jobs at RQF level 6 (roughly degree-level skill), but this refers to the skill level of the job, not necessarily to you holding a degree. Many eligible occupations do not require a formal degree if you have the relevant skills and experience. The employer must still be a licensed sponsor and the role must meet the salary rules.
Do I need to prove my English?
Yes. Skilled Worker applicants must prove English at level B1 (intermediate) on the CEFR scale. You can meet this with an approved Secure English Language Test (SELT), a degree taught in English (verified by ECCTIS), or by being a national of a majority-English-speaking country. Some regulated professions, such as nursing and medicine, set their own, higher English requirements.
Which jobs and sectors are most likely to sponsor?
Sponsorship is common in healthcare, technology, engineering, education, hospitality and construction. Two of the largest sources are NHS and healthcare roles and technology jobs. What matters most is not the sector but whether the specific employer holds a sponsor licence for your route.
Is there a special visa for healthcare and care workers?
Yes. The Health and Care Worker visa is a branch of the Skilled Worker route for eligible roles such as nurses, doctors, allied health professionals and care workers. It has reduced fees and exempts holders from the Immigration Health Surcharge. Eligible professions usually also need registration with the relevant UK body (NMC, GMC or HCPC). Learn more in our NHS & healthcare sponsorship guide.
Can I bring my family on a Skilled Worker visa?
In most cases yes. Skilled Worker visa holders can usually bring dependants — a partner and children under 18 — who apply for their own visas. However, some routes and roles restrict dependants, so check the rules that apply to your specific visa on GOV.UK before making plans.
Costs, timelines & settlement
How much does a Skilled Worker visa cost?
Your costs typically include the visa application fee, the Immigration Health Surcharge (around £1,035 per year for most applicants, though this changes), and proof of savings unless your sponsor certifies your maintenance. Health and Care Worker visa applicants pay lower fees and are exempt from the surcharge. Because fees change, always check the current amounts on GOV.UK.
How long does the visa process take?
Once you have a job offer and a Certificate of Sponsorship, a decision on a Skilled Worker visa applied for from outside the UK usually takes around three weeks, though this varies by country and season. Finding a sponsoring employer and completing recruitment is often the longest part of the journey — not the visa decision itself.
Can a Skilled Worker visa lead to permanent residency?
Yes. Time on the Skilled Worker visa generally counts towards Indefinite Leave to Remain (settlement), which you can usually apply for after five continuous years in the UK, provided you keep meeting the requirements. Settlement rules can change, so confirm the current criteria on GOV.UK.
Have the sponsorship rules changed recently?
Yes — the UK has made several changes to salary thresholds and route requirements. We track the significant ones in our guide to recent sponsorship rule changes so you always apply with the current rules in mind.
Using Hirely
How does Hirely help me find sponsored jobs?
Hirely aggregates roles from employers who hold a valid UK sponsor licence, cross-checks each one against the official Home Office register, and matches roles to your experience, skills and education. You upload your CV once and see verified sponsor roles worth your time, with a transparent match score. You can read how we verify sponsors on our about page.
Is Hirely free to use?
Yes. You can create a profile, upload your CV and see a limited set of verified sponsor matches for free. Hirely Premium unlocks unlimited matches, AI fit scoring and advanced filters — see full pricing, and you can cancel anytime.
Are the sponsors on Hirely verified?
Yes. Every employer surfaced on Hirely is checked against the UK Home Office register of licensed sponsors, and we re-check as that register changes. We are also clear about the limits: sponsor status can change between checks, and holding a licence never guarantees a specific job offer.
Does Hirely apply for jobs or visas on my behalf?
No. Hirely helps you discover and match with verified sponsor roles, but you apply to employers yourself and make your own visa application to the Home Office. Hirely is not an immigration adviser and does not provide legal advice — for regulated immigration advice, use an OISC-registered adviser or solicitor. Avoiding common pitfalls is easier with our guide to application mistakes.
Still have questions?
The fastest way to see which UK sponsors match your experience is to create a free profile and upload your CV.