“UK jobs with visa sponsorship” is one of the most-searched phrases in UK immigration — and since July 2025 the honest answer has narrowed considerably. Here is where sponsorship is realistically available in 2026.
The rule that changed everything
On 22 July 2025 the skills threshold for the Skilled Worker route rose from RQF 3 (A-level) to RQF 6 (degree level). That single change removed 112 occupations from eligibility across every sector.
On the current tables, of 412 occupation codes: 121 are Higher Skilled and fully eligible, 175 are Medium Skilled with limited routes in, and 104 are ineligible entirely. Check yours in the occupations and codes table.
Sectors where sponsorship is common
| Sector | Typical sponsored roles |
|---|---|
| Health & medicine | Doctors, nurses, radiographers, pharmacists, biomedical scientists |
| Engineering | Mechanical, civil, electrical, design and production engineers |
| IT & software | Software developers, IT project and specialist managers, data and cyber roles |
| Academia & research | Lecturers, researchers, postdoctoral positions |
| Finance & professional services | Accountants, actuaries, analysts, solicitors |
| Skilled trades at professional level | Some specialist and supervisory roles via the shortage lists |
Roles that generally no longer qualify
- Care workers and senior care workers (SOC 6135, 6136) — closed to new overseas applicants since 22 July 2025. In-country switching runs until 22 July 2028.
- Entry-level hospitality — waiting staff, bar staff, kitchen assistants.
- Warehouse and logistics operatives, most driving roles, and general labouring.
- Retail assistants and most customer service roles.
- Healthcare support roles removed in the reforms, including dental nurses (6133), ambulance staff excluding paramedics (6132), and health associate professionals (3219).
The management exception
A kitchen assistant cannot be sponsored; a restaurant manager (SOC 1222) may be. A shop assistant cannot; a retail manager may. But the job must genuinely be that role — real budget responsibility, real staff management — and pay the going rate. Relabelling an entry-level job as “manager” to fit an eligible code is misrepresentation and is exactly what compliance visits look for.
The two lists that keep some jobs open
Certain below-degree occupations remain sponsorable through:
- The Immigration Salary List (ISL) — being phased out but in place until December 2026. Includes care managers (1232), laboratory technicians with 3+ years' experience (3111), pharmaceutical technicians (3212) and nursing auxiliaries (6131).
- The interim Temporary Shortage List (TSL) — time-limited to the end of 2026, covering occupations key to industrial strategy and infrastructure.
Both come with a significant catch: workers sponsored in RQF 3–5 roles on these lists generally cannot bring dependants.
How to check whether a specific job qualifies
- Identify the honest occupation code from your actual duties — see SOC codes explained.
- Check its eligibility category in the codes table.
- Compare the offered salary against the going rate and the general threshold.
- Verify the employer holds a licence for the Skilled Worker route on the sponsor list.
Where to look for the jobs themselves
We publish the sponsor register, not vacancies — but the register is the best filter there is. Build a target list of licensed employers in your field and city from the sponsors by city pages, then check their own careers pages and the main job boards. Newly licensed employers on the recently added page are often hiring internationally right now.
For the full method, read how to find a UK visa sponsor.