How to Get Visa Sponsorship Jobs in UK?

Visa Sponsorship Jobs in UK: One might have this pre-conceived notion that working in the United Kingdom is an uphill task. Even if they do manage to secure a job in the UK, rejection for the UK visa will be a hard pill to swallow considering how close they were to realise their dreams. However, the reality is quite the contrary. Getting a work visa in the UK is not a pipedream. You just need to have a strong application, as well as a secure and well-paid job and all the documents in order. Moreover, there are some visa sponsorship jobs in UK, where you will not have to worry much about your visa fee or even the cumbersome procedure! Let’s explore what visa sponsorship jobs in UK are about.

Also Read: 10 Biggest Culture Shocks for International Students in UK

What is Visa Sponsorship for Work in the UK?

A UK visa or an employment visa is required when a company in the UK is hiring you. They are guaranteeing the UK visa authorities that you will be living in the country as a legal working resident. Another important point is that your employer will completely take responsibility for your stay in the country and will ensure that you receive equal pay as other UK employees. UK visa sponsorship is a set of documents sent to the UK visa authorities as well as citizens and immigration services by the hiring company.

UK Sponsorship for Under 18 

Here are the restrictions for sponsorship for students under 18. Also, please note that you cannot sponsor a foreign worker under 18 on:

• UK Skilled Worker visa
• Intra-company visa
• International Agreement Worker visa, if they’ll be working as a private servant in a diplomatic household or in the household of an employee of an international organisation
• Seasonal Worker visa

UK employers can only sponsor a foreign worker under 18 on:

• An International Sportsperson visa (must be 16 or over)
• A Creative Worker visa (no minimum age)
• A Government Authorised Exchange visa (no minimum age)

UK Sponsorship for Under 16

If an employer needs to get a child performance licence for taking part in:

• Films, plays, concerts or other public performances that the audience pays to see, or that take place on licensed premises
• Paid modelling assignments

The sponsoring employer must make sure that the person running the event applies at least 21 days before the event.

Types of Visa Sponsorship Jobs in UK

For working in the UK, there are different kinds of licenses or permits provided. Furthermore, the employer needs to allot a visa license based on these two categories:

Worker Licence

A worker licence will let UK employers sponsor people in different types of skilled employment. Hence, the skilled work can be for a short time, long-term or permanent depending on the worker’s visa. This license is split into: 

• Skilled Worker
• Intra-company visas
• Minister of Religion 
• International Sportsperson

Temporary Worker Licence

A temporary worker licence will let UK employers sponsor people on a temporary basis, including for volunteering as well as job-shadowing. Nevertheless, you can only get a temporary worker licence for specific types of employment and visas. The licence is split into:

• Creative Worker: Those who wish to work in the creative industry, for example as an entertainer or artist (up to 2 years).
• Charity Worker: For unpaid workers at a charity (up to 1 year).
• Religious Worker: For those working in a religious order or organisation (2 years).
• Government Authorised Exchange: Work experience (1 year), research projects or training, for example, practical medical or scientific training (2 years) to enable a short-term exchange of knowledge.
• International Agreement: Where the worker is coming to do a job which is covered by international law, for example, employees of overseas governments.
• Seasonal Worker: For those coming to the UK for up to 6 months to do farm work.

Also Read: What is a Student Visa and How to Apply?

Eligibility for Visa Sponsorship Jobs in UK

As per the official immigration website of the country, here are the crucial prerequisites you must qualify for to apply for a Tier-2 Visa for jobs in the UK with Visa Sponsorship:

• You must have received an employment opportunity from a licensed sponsor in the UK.
• Additionally, it is the responsibility of your sponsor to ensure that you fit all the criteria for the job they are hiring you for and you qualify for the requirements for a visa as well. Once this is ensured, your sponsor will provide you with a certificate of sponsorship which will need you to apply for a Tier-2 visa.

Documents Required for UK Visa Sponsorship

Here are the major documents you need to apply for a Tier-2 visa for sponsorship jobs in the UK:

• Certificate of Sponsorship provided by your employer
• Proof that you are getting paid an appropriate salary for your employment
• Proof of English proficiency as per the approved English language proficiency tests
• Proof that you have personal savings to finance your travels and other expenses when you arrive in the UK
• Tuberculosis test results if you are from any of these listed countries
• Criminal record certificate from any country where you stayed for 12 months or more in the last 10 years in case you aim to work with vulnerable people

Also Read: Sample Sponsorship Letter for Visa, Format, Student Visa

How to Apply for Visa Sponsorship Jobs in UK?

Visa sponsorship, in simple terms, means getting sponsored for your visa i.e. a company or any individual will take full or partial responsibility for your visa application. When it comes to a visa sponsorship for work, the company or your employer will take responsibility for your visa and expenses while you wait for it for a given period of time. 

Here are a few steps that you need to take in order to get a job in the UK with visa sponsorship:

• You need to apply for a Tier 2 visa. A Tier 2 visa is a type of visa given to an immigrant with a job offer.
• You need to get a licensed sponsor in order to live and work in the UK, the licensed sponsor could be an international company that is offering you a job. You need to apply for a job or internship and then get accepted by that company only then you are eligible for a sponsored visa.
• You should have a certain set of qualifications in order to get a visa, once you are deemed to be qualified you will receive a certificate of sponsorship which will be an important document that proves that you have been hired and sponsored by the given company. 
• The company or the sponsor needs to provide you with an appropriate amount of salary that meets the standards and policies of the UK government. 
• You will be required to go through the basic process of background checking, medical examination, etc which is a required process for a visa application.

Certificates of Sponsorship

If you are by any chance seeking jobs in the UK with visa sponsorship, then you must be assigned a certificate of sponsorship. A certificate of sponsorship is a certificate that is given to each foreign employee coming from outside the UK. It’s an electronic record, not a physical document. Each certificate has its own number which a worker can use to apply for a visa.

Note: When an employer assigns the certificate of sponsorship to a foreign worker, they must use it to apply for their visa within 3 months. They must not apply for their visa more than 3 months before the start date of the job listed on the certificate.

Types of Sponsorship Certificates and Costs

There are basically 2 types of certificates of sponsorship available that are explained below:

Types of Sponsorship Certificates	Description
Defined certificates	These are for those from outside the UK who are applying for a Skilled Worker visa. In most cases, applications are approved within one working day. However, if UKVI needs to conduct further checks on the information in your application, it may take longer.
Undefined certificates	These are for skilled workers applying from inside the UK, and applicants on all other visas.

The sponsorship certificates are free for citizens of the following mentioned countries: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, and Turkey. For citizens belonging to other countries apart from the aforementioned countries, they have to pay for each certificate: 

Type of certificate	Cost
Worker	£199 (INR 18,085)
Temporary workers	£21 (INR 1,908)

Also Read: Everything about the UK Post Study Work Visa

Tips for Finding Visa Sponsorship Jobs in UK

• Before applying anywhere, you need to research the visa authority of a country as well as its citizens and immigration services. It is very important to know all the visa-related details before applying for a specific job. 
• Search for good employers and companies that can value your potential and enhance your skills. 
• Check your eligibility with the company you’ll be working for. Also, make sure that the company is offering visa sponsorship and is taking care of the guidelines and measures. This is one of the most important elements of finding visa sponsorship jobs in UK.

Also Read: Best Countries to Work and Study Abroad

Career Profiles for Visa Sponsorship Jobs in UK

There are plenty of opportunities for Indian students willing to work in the UK. Following are some job roles that can lead you to find good visa sponsorship jobs in the UK:

Software Engineering

The IT industry is booming worldwide. Hence, multinational companies are in constant search of professionals with software engineering backgrounds to enhance and develop new software technologies. Therefore, students looking for visa sponsorship jobs in the UK can explore a career in software engineering to work in the UK and get global experience.

Also Read: Career Objectives for Software Engineers

Graphic Designing

There is a great demand for graphic designers in all business sectors across the globe. Additionally, there are plenty of opportunities in the UK related to graphic design. Students looking for visa sponsorship jobs in UK can therefore explore a career in graphic design in the country and get global exposure in this field. 

Product Design

The UK is a hub for creative pursuits and exploring a career in product design will bring you the opportunity to work with the world’s top international companies. Moreover, it is one of the prominent careers that can help you find visa sponsorship jobs in the UK. However, recently, the UK government has announced a new addition to work visa guidelines for international candidates. Under this new rule, students from all across the globe (including India) can work or look for opportunities at any skill level. This can also be helpful for students looking for job opportunities with minimum or no work experience.

Engineering Sector

Engineering is a vast field and has ample job opportunities in every country and the same applies to the UK, engineers in various fields are in demand, and international infrastructure companies hire applicants from various countries in order to keep a diverse work environment and to hire employees with the best qualifications.

Education or Teaching

For those with a degree in Teaching and Education, there are various jobs in the UK with visa sponsorship especially at universities, schools, and related academic institutes. From lecturership and school teachers and admission officers, there are several job opportunities available.

Research and Studentship

If you aim to build a career in research, you can work with research institutes and universities in the UK on different projects. These research opportunities are commonly available in research in Science and Technology but you can also discover prospects in theoretical and sociological research as well.

Visa Sponsorship for Creative Jobs

Employees can also get visa sponsorship for creative jobs. They include: 

• Ballet dancers and other dancers
• Film and TV performers
• Theatre and opera performers
• Film and TV workers
• Models

Current Job Profiles Included on Shortage Occupations List

As per the government of the UK, these are the job profiles that are included on the Shortage Occupations list along with their occupation code. 

Occupation code	Job types included on the shortage occupations list
1181	Health services and public health managers and directors – all jobs
1242	Residential, day and domiciliary care managers and proprietors – all jobs
2111	Chemical scientists – only jobs in the nuclear industry
2112	Biological scientists and biochemists – all jobs
2113	Physical scientists – only the following jobs in the construction-related ground engineering industry: engineering, geologist, hydrogeologist, geophysicist
2113	Physical scientists – only the following jobs in the oil and gas industry: geophysicist, geoscientist, geologist, geochemist, technical services manager in the decommissioning and waste areas of the nuclear industry senior resource geologist and staff geologist in the mining sector
2114	Social and humanities scientists – only archaeologists
2121	Civil engineers – all jobs
2122	Mechanical engineers – all jobs
2123	Electrical engineers – all jobs
2124	Electronics engineers – all jobs
2126	Design and development engineers – all jobs
2127	Production and process engineers – all jobs
2129	Engineering professionals not elsewhere classified – all jobs
2135	IT business analysts, architects, and systems designers – all jobs
2136	Programmers and software development professionals – all jobs
2137	Web design and development professionals – all jobs
2139	Information technology and communications professionals not elsewhere classified – only cybersecurity specialists
2216	Veterinarians – all jobs
2425	Actuaries, economists, and statisticians – only bio-informaticians and informaticians
2431	Architects – all jobs
2461	Quality control and planning engineers – all jobs
3111	Laboratory technicians – all jobs
3411	Artists – all jobs
3414	Dancers and choreographers – only skilled classical ballet dancers or skilled contemporary dancers who meet the standard required by internationally recognised UK ballet or contemporary dance companies. The company must be endorsed as being internationally recognised by a UK industry body such as the Arts Councils (of England, Scotland, or Wales).
3415	Musicians – only skilled orchestral musicians who are leaders, principals, sub-principals, or numbered string positions, and who meet the standard required by internationally recognized UK orchestras. The orchestra must be endorsed as being internationally recognised by the Association of British Orchestras.
3416	Arts officers, producers and directors – all jobs
3421	Graphic designers – all jobs
5215	Welding trades – only high integrity pipe welders, where the job requires 3 or more years’ related on-the-job experience. This experience must not have been gained through illegal working.
6146	Senior care workers – all jobs

List of Jobs for Medical and Education Fields

Medical field jobs are among the most sponsored ones in the UK. Here is a list for Medical and Education field jobs in the UK.

Occupation code	Job types included on the shortage occupations list
2211	Medical practitioners – all jobs
2212	Psychologists – all jobs
2213	Pharmacists – all jobs
2217	Medical radiographers – all jobs (including radiotherapy practitioners/ technologists)
2219	Health professionals not elsewhere classified – all jobs
2221	Physiotherapists – all jobs
2222	Occupational therapists – all jobs
2223	Speech and language therapists – all jobs
2231	Nurses – all jobs
2314	Secondary education teaching professionals – only teachers in maths, physics, science (where an element of physics will be taught), computer science, and modern foreign languages
2314	Secondary education teaching professionals – only teachers in Gaelic
2315	Primary and nursery education teaching professionals – only Gaelic medium teachers
2442	Social workers – all jobs
3213	Paramedics – all jobs
6141	Nursing auxiliaries and assistants – all jobs

Most Popular Jobs in UK (Sector-wise)

The following are the most popular jobs in UK:

Sector	Most demanding and popular sponsorship jobs in UK
Engineering	Workflow manager, Assistant Manager, PA, Supervisors, Line-workers/employees, Administrative Assistant
Films and Mass Media	Production assistant – broadcasting, Film editor, News editor, Graphic designer, Content specialist
Healthcare	Paediatrician, General practitioner, Veterinarian, Nurses, Psychologist and more
Education	Production assistant – broadcasting, Film editor, News editor, Graphic designer, Content Specialist
IT	Database developer, Software Developer, Programmer, software engineer, Web designer, Cybersecurity specialist, Data scientist
Management	Teachers, Assistant Teachers, Helpers, Professors, Lecturers

Also Read: Explore the Top High Paying Jobs in UK

Top Job Profiles for Visa Sponsorship and their Salaries

Following are the top profiles for visa sponsorship and their salaries:

Job Profile	Salary
Regional Operations Officer	£36,727 pa (INR 37,84,140)
Registered Mental Nurse	£19.00 per hour (INR 1950)
Project Manager	£55,000 pa (INR 56,66,890)
Experienced Butcher	£30,000 pa (INR 30,91,000)
Senior Recruitment Advisor	£32,500 pa (INR 33,48,600)
Full-stack Developer	£50,000 pa (INR 51,51,710)
Senior Product Manager	£90000 pa (INR 92,73,100)
Business Development Manager	£35,000 pa (INR 36,06,200)
BI Engineer	£55,000 pa (INR 56,66,900)
Data Engineer	£55,000 pa (INR 56,66,900)

Top Companies for Visa Sponsorship 

Here is a list of all those companies and organizations that are worldwide famous for visa sponsorship jobs:

• Accenture
• Google 
• IBM
• Infosys
• Cognizant 
• Deloitte 
• Tata Consultancy Services 
• Microsoft 
• Apple 
• Oracle Corporation 
• JPMorgan Chase 
• KPMG
• PwC
• Goldman Sachs
• Citi
• Deutsche Bank
• McDonald’s 
• Airbus
• Atkins
• BAE Systems
• National Grid
• Network Rail
• Shell
• TPP
• UK Power Networks
• Morgan Stanley
• Barclays
• HSBC 
• Merrill Lynch

Important Note

Recently, the UK government announced a new addition to work visa guidelines for international candidates. Under this new rule, students from all across the globe (including India) can work or look for opportunities at any skill level. This can also be helpful for students looking for job opportunities with minimum or no work experience. But also, beware of the fake UK visa sponsorship job offers that are these days circulating in the market. 

FAQs

Thus, this blog on visa sponsorship jobs in UK will help you in knowing all the details about visa opportunities in the country. If you’re looking for jobs in the UK, Leverage Edu experts can guide you in exploring different opportunities in the country and finding the right one that suits your interests.