Working in the UK: how visa sponsorship actually works

In the UK, an employer can only hire a non-UK/Irish worker through the Skilled Worker route if they hold a Home Office sponsor licence. Not every employer has one. When a listing says 'visa sponsorship available', always verify directly.

The employer assigns you a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) — a reference number you use in your visa application. Without this, you cannot apply. The visa is tied to that specific employer and role.

Filter by 'Visa Sponsorship' on the jobs page to see labelled roles. Confirm with the employer in writing during your interview process — before you resign from anything.

For most new Skilled Worker applications, you must usually be paid the higher of the general salary threshold and the going rate for your occupation code. From 22 July 2025, the standard general threshold under Option A is £41,700 per year (it was £38,700 before that uplift). Always confirm the figure that applies on the date your CoS is assigned — rules change.

Lower general thresholds can apply in defined cases (for example new entrants, relevant PhDs, Immigration Salary List roles, and some health or education / national-pay-scale occupations). Those are not automatic discounts — you must fit the published option and still meet the relevant going-rate rules.

Roles paying below the applicable threshold will not qualify. If an employer offers a low band and mentions sponsorship, ask which route and salary option they mean — and verify against current GOV.UK tables before you resign.