Sponsorship Visa UK: Eligibility & Process Guide 2026

Section A: What is a UK Sponsorship Visa?

There is no UK immigration route officially called a “Sponsorship Visa”. The term is commonly used to describe a work visa where you need an employer to sponsor you for a job in the UK.

For most people looking for long-term sponsored employment, the main route is the Skilled Worker visa. To qualify, you need a confirmed job offer from a Home Office-approved employer, known as a sponsor. The job has to be eligible for the route and meet the relevant salary requirements. You also need to meet the other visa requirements that apply to you, including the English language requirement.

Other UK work visas also involve sponsorship. These include the Global Business Mobility routes for certain overseas workers coming to the UK on a work assignment and Temporary Work routes for specific types of short-term work. The right route depends on the work you will be doing and your circumstances.

Do you need sponsorship to work in the UK?

Not everyone coming to work in the UK needs employer sponsorship. Some people already have immigration status that allows them to work, while other work routes do not require a sponsoring employer. The Graduate and High Potential Individual routes, for example, are unsponsored. Global Talent also allows eligible individuals to qualify without employer sponsorship.

If you do need a sponsored work visa, you will normally need to secure the relevant job before you can apply. Under the Skilled Worker route, you need an offer from an approved employer and a Certificate of Sponsorship for the job.

If the employer is not already approved to sponsor Skilled Workers, it may be able to apply for a sponsor licence. You cannot apply for the Skilled Worker visa until the employer is approved and has assigned you the required Certificate of Sponsorship.

What does visa sponsorship mean for you?

Sponsorship means an approved employer has agreed to sponsor you for a specific job and assigns you a Certificate of Sponsorship for your visa application. The Certificate of Sponsorship, usually referred to as a CoS, is an electronic record rather than a paper certificate. It contains information about the job and gives you the reference number needed for your application.

A CoS is not a visa and does not give you permission to work in the UK on its own. You still have to apply for the appropriate work visa and show that you meet its requirements. For a Skilled Worker application, you have to use the CoS within three months of it being assigned.

Is a Skilled Worker visa the same as a sponsorship visa?

Not technically, because “Sponsorship Visa” is not the name of a UK visa category. In practice, people looking for a UK sponsorship visa will often be looking for the Skilled Worker route. It allows eligible workers to come to or remain in the UK to work for an approved employer and can provide a route to settlement.

Skilled Worker will not be the right route in every case. Before looking for sponsorship, you should establish whether you need an employer-sponsored visa and, if you do, which sponsored route fits the work you intend to undertake.

Section B: Are You Eligible for a UK Sponsorship Visa?

For most people seeking sponsored employment in the UK, eligibility will depend on the Skilled Worker rules. The assessment is not based on your qualifications or experience alone. The job you have been offered, how the role is classified and the salary all affect whether you can qualify.

You also have to meet requirements that apply personally to you. It is therefore possible to have an employer willing to sponsor you but still not qualify for the visa.

Does your job qualify for sponsorship?

Your job has to fall within an occupation that is eligible for Skilled Worker sponsorship. For most new applicants, this means the occupation has to be classed as higher skilled, at RQF level 6 or above. RQF level 6 is broadly graduate level, but you do not need a degree simply because your job falls at that level.

Some jobs below RQF level 6 can still qualify. Certain medium-skilled occupations at RQF levels 3 to 5 remain eligible where they are included on the Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage List. Separate transitional rules apply to some people who were already in the Skilled Worker route before the rules changed on 22 July 2025.

Eligibility depends on what you will actually be doing rather than your job title alone. Your employer will select the occupation code that best matches the role. If the duties do not fit the code being used, the Home Office can question whether the job qualifies for sponsorship.

How much do you need to earn?

For a standard Skilled Worker application, your salary will usually need to be at least £41,700 a year and meet the full going rate for your occupation, whichever is higher. The going rate varies according to the type of work you will be doing, so £41,700 should not be treated as a universal qualifying salary.

You may be able to qualify on a lower salary in specified circumstances. Different rules can apply, for example, if you are a new entrant to the labour market, have a relevant PhD, are being sponsored for certain health or education jobs or your occupation is on the Immigration Salary List. Each option has its own minimum salary and going-rate requirements.

Salary calculations can also depend on your working hours and which elements of your pay can be counted. If your proposed salary is close to the relevant threshold, the figure in your employment contract should not be assumed to qualify without checking how the Skilled Worker rules apply to it.

Do you need to speak English?

If you are making your first Skilled Worker application on or after 8 January 2026, you normally need to show English language ability to at least level B2 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Different provisions apply to certain existing Skilled Workers who were granted permission under the earlier B1 requirement.

There are different ways to meet the requirement. Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to rely on nationality, a qualifying academic degree taught in English, a previous successful UK immigration application where you already demonstrated the required level or an approved English language test.

Do you need money to support yourself?

You will usually need to show that you have at least £1,270 available to support yourself when you arrive in the UK. The money normally has to have been held for at least 28 consecutive days, with day 28 falling within 31 days before you apply.

You do not normally need to provide this evidence if you have already been in the UK with valid permission for at least 12 months by the date you apply. You may also be exempt from providing the funds yourself if your sponsor confirms on your Certificate of Sponsorship that it will meet the maintenance requirement.

Can you switch to a Skilled Worker visa from inside the UK?

Many people who already have UK immigration permission can switch into the Skilled Worker route without leaving the country. If you are currently on a Student visa, additional conditions apply relating to completion of your course, the proposed job start date or, for a full-time PhD, how long you have been studying.

You cannot switch from inside the UK if you are here as a Visitor, Short-term Student, Parent of a Child Student, Seasonal Worker or Domestic Worker in a Private Household. You also cannot switch if you are on immigration bail or have permission to stay outside the Immigration Rules. In these circumstances, you would generally need to leave the UK and apply from overseas.

Are there other reasons your application could be refused?

Meeting the job, salary and English language requirements does not automatically mean the visa will be granted. Your application also has to satisfy the suitability requirements that apply under the Immigration Rules.

Issues such as previous immigration breaches, criminal convictions, deception or false information can affect an application, depending on the circumstances. Your immigration history should therefore be checked before applying if there is anything that could raise a suitability issue.

If the Skilled Worker requirements can be met, the practical challenge is then securing an eligible job with an employer that is prepared to sponsor you.

Section C: How Do You Get Visa Sponsorship in the UK?

Getting visa sponsorship usually starts with finding a job that an employer is willing and able to sponsor. An employer having a sponsor licence does not mean that every vacancy is open to sponsored workers or that the employer will agree to sponsor every suitable candidate.

Your search therefore needs to focus on employers that can sponsor workers and vacancies where sponsorship is available. Once an employer offers you a suitable job and agrees to sponsor you, it can assign the Certificate of Sponsorship you need for your visa application.

How do you find employers that can sponsor workers?

The Home Office publishes a Register of Licensed Sponsors: Workers. You can use the register to check whether an organisation currently holds permission to sponsor workers and which broad sponsorship routes its licence covers.

The register is a useful starting point, but it is not a list of current vacancies. It also does not tell you whether an employer will sponsor a particular job or candidate. Some licensed employers restrict sponsorship to certain roles, locations or levels of seniority, while others may recruit without sponsorship where suitable candidates already have permission to work in the UK.

When searching for jobs, check the vacancy information for references to Skilled Worker sponsorship, visa sponsorship or restrictions on applicants who require sponsorship. If the position is unclear, ask the recruiter or employer before progressing too far through the recruitment process.

Can you apply to an employer that does not have a sponsor licence?

Yes, but the employer would need to obtain the appropriate sponsor licence before it could sponsor you. Whether it is prepared to apply is a commercial decision for the employer.

There is no obligation on an employer to apply for a sponsor licence simply because you need one. Obtaining a licence also takes time and involves cost and ongoing responsibilities for the business. If an employer is not already licensed, establish early whether it is genuinely prepared to pursue sponsorship before relying on the opportunity.

How should you approach jobs offering visa sponsorship?

A targeted search is usually more useful than applying to every organisation on the sponsor register. Look for vacancies where your skills and experience match the job closely and where the employer indicates that sponsorship is available or will be considered.

Be clear about your immigration position when the employer asks about your right to work or need for sponsorship. Needing sponsorship does not mean that you currently have permission to work in the UK, and having a sponsor willing to employ you does not give you permission to start work before the required immigration permission is in place.

If an employer agrees to sponsor you, confirm the proposed job title, salary, location and expected start date before the sponsorship is finalised. Differences between the job you understood you were accepting and the employment recorded for sponsorship can cause problems later.

Can you pay an employer for visa sponsorship?

Be cautious if an employer, recruiter or intermediary asks you to pay for a job offer or Certificate of Sponsorship. A CoS should only be assigned by an approved sponsor for a genuine job. Paying someone simply to obtain a CoS does not make an otherwise invalid arrangement compliant and can lead to refusal or cancellation where false information, deception or a sham role is involved.

Current sponsor rules also prevent employers from passing the Immigration Skills Charge to sponsored workers and restrict recovery of specified sponsor licence and CoS costs. These restrictions do not mean that every immigration-related cost has to be paid by the employer; your own visa application costs may still fall to you unless the employer agrees to cover them.

How can you check whether a sponsorship offer is genuine?

Check that the organisation appears on the current Home Office register under the relevant sponsorship route. You should also expect a genuine recruitment process, clear information about the employer and role and employment terms that match the job you have been offered.

Warning signs include being offered a CoS without a genuine recruitment process or job, being asked to pay substantial sums simply to obtain sponsorship, receiving unclear information about who will actually employ you or being told to provide false information in a visa application.

If you secure a genuine sponsored job, the next stage is the visa application itself. The Certificate of Sponsorship provides the link between the job you have secured and the application you make to the Home Office.

Section D: How Do You Apply for a UK Sponsorship Visa?

Once you have secured sponsorship, you make the visa application yourself. For most people using the Skilled Worker route, the application is completed online using the reference number provided on your Certificate of Sponsorship.

You can apply from overseas or, if you are eligible to switch, from within the UK. The Home Office will consider the information you provide alongside the details recorded by your sponsor.

When can you apply?

You can apply for a Skilled Worker visa up to three months before the start date shown on your Certificate of Sponsorship. You also need to apply within three months of the CoS being assigned to you.

Check the dates before submitting the application, particularly where your proposed start date has changed since the job was offered. If information on the CoS is incorrect, raise it with your sponsor before applying rather than assuming it can be corrected later.

What documents do you need?

You will need your CoS reference number, a valid passport or other document proving your identity and nationality and details of the sponsored job, including the job title, salary, occupation code and your employer’s sponsor licence number.

Depending on your circumstances, you may also need evidence that you meet the English language and financial requirements. Additional documents can be required in particular cases, including a criminal record certificate for certain jobs, a valid tuberculosis test certificate where required, evidence relating to dependants applying with you or an ATAS certificate for specified research roles.

Documents that are not in English or Welsh normally need to be accompanied by a certified translation. Check the evidence requirements that apply to your own application rather than relying on a standard document list.

How do you prove your identity?

As part of the application, you have to prove your identity. Depending on where and how you apply, you may be asked to use the UK Immigration: ID Check app or attend an appointment to provide your fingerprints and photograph.

The application process will tell you what you need to do. If an appointment is required, allow for this when planning your application because availability can affect the overall timetable.

How much does a Skilled Worker visa cost?

The visa application fee depends on where you apply, how long you will stay and whether your job is on the Immigration Salary List. For a standard Skilled Worker application made outside the UK, the current fee is £819 for permission of up to three years and £1,618 for more than three years. Applications made inside the UK currently cost £943 for up to three years and £1,865 for more than three years.

Most applicants also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, currently £1,035 for each year of permission. Lower visa fees apply to eligible Health and Care Worker applications and those applicants are exempt from the Immigration Health Surcharge.

Your own application costs are separate from any charges your employer has to pay as your sponsor. If the employer has agreed to meet some of your immigration costs, confirm what it will cover before you apply, particularly if the arrangement also includes dependants or faster processing.

How long does a sponsorship visa application take?

For Skilled Worker applications, you will usually receive a decision within three weeks if you apply from outside the UK and within eight weeks if you apply from inside the UK. The processing period generally runs from the point at which you have applied, proved your identity and provided the required documents.

A decision can take longer if the Home Office needs to verify documents, requests further information or asks you to attend an interview. Faster decision services may be available depending on where and how you apply.

A standard processing time should not be treated as a guaranteed decision date. Avoid making arrangements that depend on the visa being granted by a particular date until you have received the decision.

What happens when your visa is granted?

If your application is successful, your immigration status will normally be recorded as an eVisa that you can access through your UKVI account. Your decision will explain what you need to do to access and use your status.

Check the permission you have been granted and the conditions attached to it before starting work. Your sponsored status is linked to the employment for which permission was granted, so changes to your job or employer can have immigration consequences.

Section E: What Can You Do on a Sponsored Work Visa?

A sponsored work visa allows you to work in the job for which you have been granted permission, but it does not give you unrestricted access to the UK labour market. If you hold a Skilled Worker visa, you can have some flexibility to take additional work, study or change jobs, although the conditions attached to your visa continue to apply.

Your options depend on what you want to change. Some activities are allowed under your existing permission, while a significant change to your employment can require a new application before you start the new role.

Can you take a second job?

You can usually work up to 20 hours a week in an additional job or for your own business while continuing in the job you are sponsored for. The additional work has to meet the conditions allowed under the Skilled Worker rules and take place outside the working hours of your sponsored job.

You can usually work up to 20 hours a week in an additional job or for your own business while continuing in your sponsored job, provided the additional work meets the conditions permitted under the Skilled Worker rules and takes place outside the working hours of your sponsored job.
The types of additional work permitted depend on your occupation and, in some cases, when you first obtained Skilled Worker permission. Check that the proposed work qualifies before starting it.

If the additional job is more than 20 paid hours a week, you will normally need sponsorship for the second job and have to apply to update your visa. You should not assume that permission for your main sponsored job automatically covers unrestricted additional employment.

Can you change jobs with the same employer?

If you stay with the same employer but your new job falls under a different occupation code, you will normally need a new Certificate of Sponsorship and have to apply to update your visa. A change that remains within the same occupation code will not normally require a new visa application, although other changes to the sponsored role can still affect your immigration position.

Check the immigration position before accepting a promotion, transfer or substantial change in duties. A contractual change that appears straightforward from an employment perspective can affect the basis on which your immigration permission was granted.

Can you change employer?

Yes, but your existing Skilled Worker permission does not simply transfer to a new employer. If you want to move to another employer, the new job has to qualify and the new employer has to sponsor you. You then need to apply to update your visa.

You do not have to leave your existing job before applying to change employer. If your existing permission continues while the application is pending, you can normally continue working for your current sponsor under its existing conditions. You should not start the new sponsored job until your application to update your visa has been approved.

Can you study while on a sponsored work visa?

Skilled Worker permission allows you to study alongside your sponsored employment. You may need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate before studying certain sensitive subjects where the ATAS requirements apply.

Your studies should not prevent you from continuing to meet the conditions of your sponsored employment. If studying becomes your main reason for being in the UK, you may need to consider whether a different immigration route is more appropriate.

Can your partner and children join you?

Your partner and children may be able to apply as your dependants, but restrictions now apply to some Skilled Workers, including certain care workers, senior care workers and workers sponsored in medium-skilled occupations. Transitional provisions mean the position can depend on when your sponsorship began.

Each dependant makes a separate application and has to meet the relevant requirements. If granted, their permission will usually end on the same date as yours. You should not assume that sponsorship automatically gives every family member a right to come to the UK.

Can you extend a Skilled Worker visa?

You can usually apply to extend your Skilled Worker permission if you remain with the same sponsor, continue in the same occupation code and meet the requirements that apply when you extend. Transitional provisions can affect workers whose sponsorship began under earlier versions of the rules.

Apply before your existing permission expires. If you make an in-country extension application, you should not travel outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man while it is pending because the application will be treated as withdrawn.

Can a Skilled Worker visa lead to settlement?

Yes. Skilled Worker is currently a route to settlement. You may be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain after five years if you meet the residence, salary and other settlement requirements that apply at the time of your application.

Reaching five years does not automatically give you settlement. Your qualifying immigration history, absences, employment and salary position all need to meet the requirements in force when you apply.

The flexibility of a sponsored visa therefore has limits. Changing employer, moving into a different type of job or substantially increasing additional work can require further immigration action.

Section F: What Happens if Your Sponsorship Ends?

Your immigration position can change if your sponsored employment ends before your visa expires. This can happen if you resign, are dismissed or made redundant, your employer stops sponsoring you or the organisation loses its sponsor licence.

Your visa does not usually end automatically on your last day of work. Once the Home Office is notified that sponsorship has ended, it can cancel or shorten your remaining permission. You should not assume that the original visa expiry date, or a standard 60-day period, will determine how long you can remain.

Do you automatically get 60 days to find a new sponsor?

No. The commonly quoted 60-day period is not an automatic right in every case. The Home Office can take different action depending on why the sponsorship ended and whether there are concerns about your conduct or immigration history.

The deadline that matters is the date stated in any Home Office decision, not simply the date your employment ended. If you receive a cancellation notice, check the new expiry date carefully and take advice if you are unsure what options remain available.

Can you find another employer to sponsor you?

Yes. If you find another employer prepared to sponsor you in an eligible job, you can apply to update your Skilled Worker visa.

If you want to make the new Skilled Worker application from inside the UK, you should apply before your existing permission expires. You can apply up to three months before the start date of the new job, but you should not start working for the new sponsor until the Home Office has approved the application.

Time can become important where your original employment has already ended. Finding an employer willing to sponsor you is only part of the position; the new sponsorship and immigration application also have to be put in place before your permission expires.

What happens if your employer loses its sponsor licence?

If your employer loses its sponsor licence, your immigration position can be affected even if you have done nothing wrong. Where the licence is revoked, the Home Office can shorten your permission because the basis on which you were sponsored no longer exists.

If you were not involved in the reasons for the sponsor losing its licence, the Home Office will normally shorten your permission to 60 days, or to the remaining period of your visa if that is shorter. You can use that period to seek a new sponsor, make another immigration application where you qualify or prepare to leave the UK.

A sponsor licence suspension does not automatically cancel your visa. The position can change if the Home Office later revokes the licence, so you should monitor any communication from your employer and the Home Office while the suspension is being resolved.

What happens to your partner and children?

If your own sponsored permission is shortened or cancelled, the immigration position of family members who hold permission as your dependants may also be affected. The Home Office can take corresponding action against dependant permission.

If you secure new sponsored permission, your partner and children may need to make their own applications to extend or update their status. Their existing visas do not automatically change simply because you obtain new permission.

What if you cannot find another sponsor?

You may have other immigration options depending on your circumstances, but you should not assume that another work route will be available. Any alternative application has to meet the requirements of that route and, where you are applying from inside the UK, has to be one you are permitted to switch into.

If you do not make a valid application before your permission expires and have no other lawful basis to remain, you will generally need to leave the UK. Remaining after your permission ends can affect your immigration status and future applications.

It’s important to act once sponsorship is ending rather than wait for the original visa expiry date. Establish how long your current permission remains valid, identify whether another sponsor or immigration route is realistic and make any required application within that period.

Summary

A UK sponsorship visa is not a single visa category, but most people use the term when referring to sponsored work routes such as Skilled Worker. To qualify, you need a suitable sponsored job, an employer willing and able to sponsor you and to meet the visa requirements that apply to your case. The process then moves from securing sponsorship to making the visa application and complying with the conditions of your permission. Your immigration position can also change if your job or sponsorship ends, so timing and planning remain important throughout.

Need Assistance?

DavidsonMorris advises workers on UK sponsored work visas, including eligibility, sponsorship issues, Skilled Worker applications and changes in employment or immigration status. If you are considering a sponsored role, preparing an application or need advice about your existing permission, speak to our UK immigration lawyers about your options and next steps.

UK Sponsorship Visa FAQs

Is there a UK visa called a Sponsorship Visa?

No. “Sponsorship Visa” is an informal term commonly used for UK work visas that require employer sponsorship, particularly the Skilled Worker visa.

How do I get visa sponsorship in the UK?

You need to secure an eligible job with an employer that is willing and able to sponsor you. The employer then assigns the Certificate of Sponsorship needed for your visa application.

How do I find companies that offer visa sponsorship?

You can check the Home Office Register of Licensed Sponsors and look for employers advertising suitable vacancies. Being on the register does not mean an employer will sponsor every role or applicant.

Can I get UK visa sponsorship without a job offer?

Not under the Skilled Worker route. You need a qualifying job offer and Certificate of Sponsorship before you can apply.

Can any UK company sponsor me?

No. The employer needs the appropriate Home Office sponsor permission and has to be willing to sponsor the particular job.

What salary do I need for a sponsorship visa?

Under the standard Skilled Worker rules, you will usually need at least £41,700 and the full going rate for your occupation, whichever is higher. Different salary rules can apply in specified cases.

Can I pay for UK visa sponsorship?

Be cautious about paying for sponsorship itself. Employers cannot pass certain sponsorship costs to workers, and paying for a CoS does not make a sham or otherwise invalid job arrangement compliant.

Can I change employer after getting a sponsored visa?

Yes, but a Skilled Worker normally needs sponsorship for the new job and has to apply to update their visa before starting work for the new sponsor.

Can a sponsorship visa lead to permanent residence?

The Skilled Worker route can currently lead to indefinite leave to remain, usually after five qualifying years, provided you meet the settlement requirements in force when you apply.

What happens if I lose my sponsored job?

Your visa does not normally end on your last working day, but the Home Office can shorten your permission. Do not assume that you will automatically have 60 days to find another sponsor.

Glossary

Additional Resources