UK Visa Sponsorship — 20 Questions Answered
Quick answer: the general Skilled Worker salary threshold in 2026 is £41,700 (or going rate), the Health and Care Worker visa minimum is £25,000, and the Home Office register lists 115,000+ licensed sponsors. Below, twenty real questions, answered in plain English with the 2026 rules.
Sponsor basics
How do I know if a UK employer will sponsor my Skilled Worker visa?
Check if they appear on the Home Office Register of Licensed Sponsors (Workers). Licensed sponsors are legally permitted to issue a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), but being on the register does not guarantee active recruitment. SponsorshipJobs only shows employers with a live sponsor licence and at least one recent sponsored hire.
Check a UK sponsor licence →What is the difference between a sponsor licence and a Certificate of Sponsorship?
A sponsor licence is permission granted to a UK employer by the Home Office to sponsor workers. A Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is a unique reference number the employer issues to a specific worker for a specific role. One licence can issue thousands of CoS.
Is every company on the sponsor register actively hiring from overseas?
No. The register lists every organisation with an active licence, but many do not issue a CoS in any given year. Focus on sponsors with recent visible hiring activity and published salary bands above £41,700.
Process
How long does it take for a UK employer to sponsor a visa after a job offer?
Typically 1–4 weeks from offer to CoS issue, then 3–8 weeks for the visa decision once you submit the application. Priority service can reduce the Home Office step to 5 working days for an additional fee. Health and Care Worker visas are generally faster.
Can I get a UK work visa without a job offer in 2026?
No Skilled Worker visa can be issued without a CoS from a licensed sponsor. But the Global Talent, High Potential Individual (HPI), Innovator Founder, Scale-up and Graduate visas do not require a sponsor CoS. Each has its own eligibility criteria.
See all UK visa routes →Can I switch employers on a Skilled Worker visa in 2026?
Yes. You need a new CoS from a new licensed sponsor, and you submit a change-of-employment application. You do not have to leave the UK. You can work for the new employer only from the date the new visa is granted, unless you are on supplementary employment allowed by rules.
Salary & threshold
What is the minimum salary for a Skilled Worker visa in 2026?
The general threshold is £41,700 (raised from £38,700 on 9 April 2025), or the occupation going rate, whichever is higher. Health and Care Worker visas remain at £25,000. Immigration Salary List roles get a 20% discount.
Check your role against the threshold →What is the Immigration Salary List?
A list of occupations that receive a 20% discount on the general salary threshold because they are deemed in national shortage. It replaced the older Shortage Occupation List in 2024 and is updated by the Migration Advisory Committee.
Full 2026 Immigration Salary List →Does the £41,700 threshold apply to NHS clinical roles?
No. NHS clinical roles are sponsored via the Health and Care Worker visa, which has its own going rates and a minimum of £25,000. Registered nurses typically start at NHS Band 5 (~£29,970) which exceeds that minimum.
Graduate Visa
Is the UK Graduate Visa ending in 2026?
The Graduate Visa continues in 2026, but the White Paper proposed reducing its length from 2 years to 18 months. The change has not yet been legislated at time of writing — check the latest GOV.UK guidance. Graduate Visa holders can still switch to Skilled Worker in-country if they find a sponsor.
Graduate Visa changes 2026 →Which UK companies sponsor Graduate Visa holders for Skilled Worker?
The highest-volume sponsors of this switch are the Big Four (Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG), Accenture, major tech firms (Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft), NHS trusts, investment banks (Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, HSBC, Barclays) and Russell Group universities.
Full list of employers that sponsor graduates →Do I need to leave the UK to switch from Graduate Visa to Skilled Worker?
No. This is an in-country switch. You continue working on your Graduate Visa until the new Skilled Worker visa is granted.
Health & Care Worker
Which UK care homes still sponsor visas in 2026?
After the 2024 regulatory tightening, many small care agencies lost their licences. Verified large sponsors remain: Barchester Healthcare, HC-One, Care UK, Bupa Care Homes, Four Seasons Health Care, and most NHS trusts with care-home contracts. Always verify the specific sponsor licence before accepting a role.
Care worker visa jobs →What is the difference between Skilled Worker and Health and Care Worker visas?
Health and Care Worker is a faster, cheaper sub-route of Skilled Worker for eligible health and care roles. It has a lower £25,000 salary minimum, exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge, and priority processing. You still need a CoS from a licensed sponsor.
Crisis
My UK sponsor lost their licence — what do I do?
You have 60 calendar days to find a new licensed sponsor who will issue you a fresh CoS, or you must leave the UK. Start applying immediately. The Home Office writes to you with the specific deadline.
Full sponsor-licence-revoked guide →What happens if I lose my job on a Skilled Worker visa?
You have 60 calendar days from the end of your sponsored employment to find a new sponsor or switch to another visa route. If you cannot, you must leave the UK. Dependants on your visa are tied to the same 60-day window.
Tech & Global Talent
Which UK tech companies sponsor Skilled Worker visas?
Google UK, Meta London, Amazon UK, Microsoft UK, Apple UK, Bloomberg, Stripe, Revolut, Monzo, Octopus Energy, Darktrace, Deliveroo and hundreds of scale-ups. Most pay well above the £41,700 threshold; many are eligible to sponsor via the faster Skilled Worker route or Global Talent visa.
UK tech visa sponsorship jobs →What is the Global Talent visa and who qualifies?
The Global Talent visa is for recognised or emerging leaders in digital technology, science, engineering, humanities, arts or architecture. It does not require employer sponsorship but does require endorsement from a UK endorsing body (e.g., Tech Nation's successor for digital tech).
Cost
How much does UK visa sponsorship cost the employer?
Sponsor licence fee (£536 small or £1,476 medium/large), CoS (£239 per worker), Immigration Skills Charge (£364/year small, £1,000/year medium/large), plus optional priority services. An employer sponsoring a senior role on a 3-year CoS typically pays £3,500–£6,000 per hire.
How much does the Skilled Worker visa cost the applicant?
Application fee £769–£1,516 (depending on duration and whether applying from inside or outside the UK), Immigration Health Surcharge £1,035/year, plus biometrics and priority fees. A 3-year application from outside the UK typically totals around £4,500 including IHS.
Can’t find your question?
Browse our full UK visa guide library or check a specific employer.