UK Skilled Worker Jobs: Who Can Still Get Sponsored

You've seen a UK job advert that says "visa sponsorship available", and you want to know if it's real. Since July 2025, far fewer UK Skilled Worker jobs qualify for sponsorship. Some roles that were popular with overseas applicants, such as care work, are now closed to people applying from abroad.

This guide shows which jobs can still get sponsored as of September 2026, and how to check any job yourself on GOV.UK. Rules change often, so confirm everything on the official pages before you apply.

What changed for UK Skilled Worker jobs in July 2025?

On 22 July 2025, the skill level for new Skilled Worker jobs went up to RQF level 6. RQF stands for Regulated Qualifications Framework, and level 6 is roughly degree level. The government said around 180 occupations dropped out for new applicants.

The salary rules also matter. As of September 2026, you usually need to be paid £41,700 a year or the "going rate" for your job, whichever is higher. The going rate is the typical pay GOV.UK sets for each type of job. A lower threshold of £33,400 can apply in some situations.

GOV.UK now sorts jobs into two groups: higher skilled and medium skilled. Higher skilled jobs can be sponsored as normal. Medium skilled jobs only qualify in limited cases.

Which jobs can still get sponsorship?

Here's how some common job areas look, based on GOV.UK's eligible occupations page.

A job title alone doesn't decide anything. What counts is the occupation code your employer puts on your certificate of sponsorship, the digital record that confirms your job offer.

Care work: overseas recruitment has closed

New applications from outside the UK for care workers (code 6135) and senior care workers (code 6136) closed on 22 July 2025. The government said it made the change because of worker exploitation and jobs that didn't exist.

People already in the UK can switch into these roles until 22 July 2028. According to GOV.UK, they must have worked legally for the sponsoring care provider for at least 3 months before the certificate was issued. In England, the employer must also be registered with the Care Quality Commission.

IT, teaching and health

Most graduate-level IT, teaching and health jobs are still listed as higher skilled. That includes software developers, secondary and primary teachers, and nurses.

Doctors, nurses and many health professionals may qualify for the Health and Care Worker visa instead. GOV.UK says people on that visa, and their family, don't pay the Immigration Health Surcharge. That's the yearly fee most visa holders pay to use the NHS.

Temporary Shortage List vs Immigration Salary List

These two lists are how some medium skilled jobs can still be sponsored. They're easy to mix up.

The Temporary Shortage List was published on 22 July 2025. It covers mid-level jobs, mostly technician, IT support and trade roles such as data analysts, welders, electricians and plumbers. According to the July 2025 explanatory memorandum, workers sponsored in these lower-skilled roles generally can't bring dependants, meaning partners or children.

The Immigration Salary List was last updated on 11 November 2025. It lets certain jobs qualify with a lower salary requirement and a lower visa fee. As of September 2026, the fee for these jobs is £628 for up to 3 years, or £1,235 for longer, when applying from outside the UK.

How to check a job's eligibility code and going rate

You don't need a lawyer to do a first check. Follow these steps.

1. Ask the employer for the occupation code. It's a 4-digit number, such as 2134.
2. If you don't have it, search your job title in the CASCOT occupation coding tool, which GOV.UK links to.
3. Find the code on GOV.UK's eligible occupations page. Check whether it's higher skilled or medium skilled.
4. If it's medium skilled, check both lists. Search the Temporary Shortage List and the Immigration Salary List for the code.
5. Look up the going rate for the code in GOV.UK's going rates table.
6. Compare the salary. It must meet the going rate and the general threshold, whichever is higher.

A quick example

Say Amaka, a secondary school maths teacher in Accra, gets an offer from a school in Birmingham. Code 2313 is higher skilled, so the job type qualifies.

Next she checks the going rate for 2313 and confirms her salary meets it, along with the general threshold. Finally, she searches the sponsor register for the school's exact name before she accepts. This is a made-up example, but the steps are the ones anyone can follow.

How to check the sponsor register

The Home Office publishes a register of licensed sponsors on GOV.UK. It's a spreadsheet file that's updated very often. As of 15 September 2026, it had been updated that same day.

Search it for the employer's legal name, and the town if the name is common. Check that the company is licensed for the Skilled Worker route, not only for temporary worker routes.

If you end up with a refusal, our guide on what to do after a visa refusal explains your options.

Costs to plan for

As of September 2026, GOV.UK lists these costs for a Skilled Worker applying from outside the UK:

• Visa fee: £819 for up to 3 years, or £1,618 for more than 3 years
• Immigration Health Surcharge: usually £1,035 per year, per person
• Savings: at least £1,270 held for 28 days in a row, unless you're exempt or your employer certifies your costs

The health surcharge often costs more than the visa itself. Our guide to relocation costs for moving abroad helps you build a full budget.

Settlement rules may also change. Current guidance still describes settlement after five years, but the government has consulted on a longer "earned settlement" model. As of September 2026, GOV.UK says no outcome has been published.

Common mistakes

• Trusting the job title. The occupation code decides eligibility, not the advert.
• Using pre-2025 salary figures. Old blog posts quote thresholds that no longer apply.
• Applying for care jobs from abroad. That route closed on 22 July 2025.
• Forgetting dependant limits. Many shortage list roles don't let you bring family.
• Skipping the sponsor register. A polished offer letter proves nothing.
• Paying for a certificate. That's a red flag for a scam.

What to do next

Get the occupation code for your job offer and check it on GOV.UK today. Then confirm the going rate and search the sponsor register for the employer.

If your case is complicated, paid advice can be worth it. Our guide to immigration lawyer costs explains what to expect before you book anyone.