Sponsorship & global hiring reality
The sections below summarise common routes and employer patterns. Always confirm eligibility, salary floors, and programme codes on official government sites before you act.
How employer sponsorship usually works
Licensed employers assign a CoS reference you use in a Skilled Worker application.
Salary must meet the higher of the general threshold or the going rate for your Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code.
Mobility labels on Global Sponsor Hub show employer intent—the sponsor register confirms legal eligibility. Use both before you invest in relocation spend.
Dependants and settlement orientation
Partners and children under 18 can usually apply as dependants with work/study rights subject to current rules.
Long-term settlement paths exist for many cohorts but depend on continuous residence and salary history—treat any recruiter timeline as indicative until you read official guidance.
Regulated professions and credential checks
Nursing, teaching, social work, and many engineering disciplines may require UK regulator registration parallel to immigration approval.
See our regulated careers primer before you resign abroad.
How the UK Skilled Worker route works
Employers must hold a sponsor licence to hire non-UK/Irish workers under the Skilled Worker route. They issue a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) — a reference number you use in your visa application. The minimum salary is £38,700/year for most roles (as of April 2024), or the going rate for your occupation code if higher. Healthcare and shortage occupations often have lower thresholds — check your specific SOC code.
Filter by 'Visa Sponsorship' on the jobs page to see roles where employers have indicated they can sponsor. Verify this directly with the employer early in the process.
Checking if an employer is a licensed sponsor
The Home Office publishes a Register of Licensed Sponsors — a public list of every employer approved to sponsor workers. You can search it by company name before investing time in an application. Not every employer on the register is actively using their licence, so confirm with the hiring team.
On Global Sponsor Hub, mobility labels show employer intent. The register confirms legal eligibility. Use both.
Salary thresholds and what to watch for
The general Skilled Worker threshold is £38,700/year (2024). Some shortage occupations qualify at lower rates. Roles below threshold don't qualify — if an employer offers £30,000 and mentions sponsorship, ask them specifically which visa route applies.
The Immigration Health Surcharge (currently £1,035/year) applies on top of the visa fee and is payable by the applicant. Some employers cover this as part of their relocation package — it's worth negotiating.
Relocation context
United Kingdom: living snapshot
High-level orientation on cost pressures, practical upsides, and trade-offs—not immigration eligibility. Figures vary sharply by city and household; follow the links to compare your situation.
Cost of living orientation
London and the South East behave like global-tier housing markets; northern cities and parts of Wales or Scotland can be materially cheaper but still volatile on rent deposits and energy. Net pay depends on tax band, student loans, and commute choices—compare gross offers with local rent threads, not headline averages alone.
Research tools & indices
Practical positives
- Large English-language hiring pool across NHS, tech, finance, and engineering with visible sponsor-licence ecosystem.
- Strong consumer and professional services infrastructure once you are settled.
- Dependants can often work or study subject to current visa rules when included in applications.
- Public transport depth in major metros reduces car dependency for some households.
Trade-offs to plan for
- Salary thresholds and SOC going rates disqualify offers that look generous in other currencies.
- Immigration Health Surcharge and visa fees add upfront cost—negotiate coverage early.
- Rental competition and referencing requirements can delay move-in dates.
- Regulated professions may need UK registration timelines beyond visa issuance.
Illustrative summary only—not financial, tax, or migration advice. Check housing, childcare, taxes, healthcare, schooling, and visa rules against official guidance and local costs before you relocate.
Open roles to explore
Search employer-posted jobs with this destination pre-scoped, then refine by sponsorship, relocation, and sector filters.
Browse jobs in United KingdomWhat's next
Related guides and links
More on this site: related guides, official government pages to double-check rules and fees, and quick links to jobs and partners.
Guides that pair well with this page
- Nursing sponsorship hubSector-scoped postings and cues for sponsorship-heavy roles.Open guide
- Software engineering sponsorship hubSector-scoped postings and cues for sponsorship-heavy roles.Open guide
- International jobs & visa sponsorship (comparison hub)Compare corridors, quotas, family trade-offs—not one destination only.Open guide
- How relocation support appears on job listingsWhat relocation perks imply on top of visa sponsorship labels.Open guide
- Job-offer scams & red flags abroadFee traps, impersonation checks, urgency tactics—stay safe before wiring money.Open guide
- Verify employers, visas & offer lettersEntity checks, written routes, dependents, clawbacks—before you resign.Open guide
- Your first 90 days after you landArrival bureaucracy, IDs, commuting, probation cadence in the landing window.Open guide
- Relocating with partner & childrenDependants, passports, schooling waitlists, partner work timelines.Open guide
- Relocation finance & cash-flow checklistDouble rent, clawbacks, tax surprises—model runway past first payslip.Open guide
- Interview questions: visas, pay & benefitsNeutral prompts on probation, timelines, allowances, schooling and pets.Open guide
- Regulated careers & credential recognitionLicences versus permits—boards, bridging, realistic start dates.Open guide
- Browse all mobility guidesIndex of pillars and deep relocation spokes in one hub.Open guide
Official sources
Always verify with official sources
Visa rules and salary thresholds change. Confirm current requirements directly on government immigration portals before making any decisions.
| Source | Why open it |
|---|---|
| GOV.UK — Skilled Worker visa | Official government or regulator page—verify eligibility, fees, and forms there. |
| Home Office — Register of licensed sponsors | Official government or regulator page—verify eligibility, fees, and forms there. |
| GOV.UK — Immigration salary list | Official government or regulator page—verify eligibility, fees, and forms there. |
Official government or regulator page—verify eligibility, fees, and forms there.
Keep exploring
Everything in one place
Employer jobs stay on the hub. External roles open elsewhere but say so. Partners list in the directory. Guides sit next to search.
When to use a mobility partner
If you need regulated immigration advice, relocation execution, tax, or housing specialists, compare firms in the directory—contracts stay with the partner you choose.
Common questions
- Does every employer on Global Sponsor Hub sponsor visas?
No. Each listing shows what the employer has indicated they offer — look for the 'Visa Sponsorship' label. Always confirm directly with the employer and check the Home Office Register of Licensed Sponsors. Immigration rules change often. This page is general information only (not legal advice). Confirm requirements with an official source or qualified adviser.
- What is the minimum salary for a UK Skilled Worker visa?
£38,700/year for most roles as of April 2024, or the 'going rate' for your SOC occupation code, whichever is higher. Healthcare and shortage occupations often have lower thresholds. Check the current Home Office guidance as thresholds are reviewed periodically. Immigration rules change often. This page is general information only (not legal advice). Confirm requirements with an official source or qualified adviser.
- Can I bring my family on a Skilled Worker visa?
Yes — your partner and children under 18 can apply as dependants. They can work freely in the UK. The Immigration Health Surcharge applies to each family member. Immigration rules change often. This page is general information only (not legal advice). Confirm requirements with an official source or qualified adviser.