Verified List of Companies Hiring Foreigners in the United Kingdom — Visa Sponsorship License Holders 2026

UK employers are recruiting international talent across technology, healthcare, engineering, finance, and education — with verified Skilled Worker visa sponsorship licenses and right-to-work authorization confirmed.

The United Kingdom issued 415,000+ Skilled Worker visas in 2024-2025, with demand remaining robust despite immigration policy tightening as employers face persistent talent shortages across sectors, according to UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) official statistics.

Why this matters. For professionals seeking UK employment, securing a role with a licensed sponsor is mandatory — no UK employer can legally hire foreign workers without a sponsor license, and the 2026 policy changes have raised salary thresholds and tightened family visa rules, making employer sponsorship more competitive but still accessible for qualified candidates.

What’s happening. The UK’s post-Brexit immigration system operates entirely on employer sponsorship for skilled workers, replacing free movement from EU countries. The December 2025 policy changes increased minimum salary requirements and restricted dependent visas for certain roles, creating a more selective system focused on higher-earning positions while maintaining demand for healthcare, engineering, and tech professionals.

The verified companies:

Technology & Software Development (650+ sponsors)

• Tech Giants:
  • Google UK — London — software engineers, site reliability engineers, product managers, data scientists, machine learning engineers
  • Meta (Facebook) UK — London — backend engineers, research scientists, product designers, engineering managers, data engineers
  • Amazon UK — London, Manchester, Edinburgh — software development engineers, cloud architects, solutions architects, program managers
  • Microsoft UK — London, Reading, Cambridge — cloud specialists, software engineers, AI researchers, technical consultants
  • Apple UK — London — software engineers, hardware engineers, design engineers, technical specialists
  • Netflix UK — London — streaming engineers, content platform developers, data analysts
• Financial Technology:
  • Revolut — London — backend developers, mobile engineers, data scientists, compliance tech specialists, platform engineers
  • Monzo Bank — London — software engineers, platform engineers, data analysts, mobile developers, security engineers
  • Wise (TransferWise) — London — full-stack engineers, infrastructure engineers, product managers, data scientists
  • Stripe UK — London — software engineers, solutions architects, technical account managers, payment systems engineers
  • Checkout.com — London — backend engineers, fraud analysts, payment integration specialists
• Enterprise Software:
  • Sage Group — Newcastle, London — software developers, cloud engineers, product managers, QA engineers
  • Aveva — Cambridge — software engineers, technical architects, product specialists, support engineers
  • Sophos — Abingdon — cybersecurity engineers, threat researchers, software developers, security analysts
  • Salesforce UK — London, Reading — software engineers, solutions architects, technical consultants, customer success engineers
• Startups & Scale-ups:
  • Deliveroo — London — backend engineers, mobile developers, data scientists, machine learning engineers
  • Darktrace — Cambridge — AI researchers, security engineers, software developers, data scientists
  • Graphcore — Bristol — chip designers, software engineers, machine learning specialists, compiler engineers

Healthcare & Life Sciences (850+ sponsors)

• NHS Trusts:
  • Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust — London — doctors (all specialties), registered nurses, radiographers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists
  • University College London Hospitals — London — consultants, specialty doctors, advanced nurse practitioners, diagnostic radiographers
  • Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust — Manchester — medical staff, nursing staff, allied health professionals, clinical scientists
  • Cambridge University Hospitals — Cambridge — medical consultants, research nurses, clinical fellows, biomedical scientists
  • Imperial College Healthcare — London — specialist doctors, surgical nurses, anesthetists, medical physicists
• Private Healthcare:
  • Bupa UK — nationwide — general practitioners, specialist doctors, registered nurses, healthcare managers
  • HCA Healthcare UK — London — consultants, theater nurses, radiologists, specialist nurses
  • Spire Healthcare — nationwide — surgeons, anesthetists, scrub nurses, diagnostic imaging specialists
  • Nuffield Health — nationwide — physiotherapists, radiographers, nursing staff, health screening specialists
• Pharmaceuticals:
  • AstraZeneca UK — Cambridge, Macclesfield — research scientists, clinical trial managers, regulatory affairs specialists, data scientists
  • GSK (GlaxoSmithKline) — London, Hertfordshire — pharmaceutical researchers, clinical scientists, biostatisticians, regulatory specialists
  • Pfizer UK — Sandwich — medicinal chemists, clinical researchers, pharmaceutical scientists, quality control analysts
• Biotechnology:
  • Oxford Biomedica — Oxford — molecular biologists, process development scientists, quality assurance specialists
  • Abcam — Cambridge — antibody researchers, product scientists, technical specialists

Finance & Banking (420+ sponsors)

• Investment Banks:
  • Goldman Sachs International — London — investment banking analysts, traders, quantitative analysts, risk managers, compliance officers
  • J.P. Morgan London — London — M&A analysts, sales traders, research analysts, technology associates, operations managers
  • Morgan Stanley UK — London — investment bankers, equity researchers, derivatives traders, wealth managers
  • Barclays — London, Manchester — corporate bankers, investment analysts, technology developers, risk specialists
  • HSBC UK — London, Birmingham — relationship managers, credit analysts, compliance officers, digital banking specialists
• Asset Management:
  • BlackRock UK — London — portfolio managers, research analysts, risk analysts, client relationship managers, operations specialists
  • Schroders — London — investment analysts, fund managers, ESG specialists, performance analysts
  • Fidelity International London — London — equity analysts, portfolio managers, risk analysts, client servicing professionals
  • Baillie Gifford — Edinburgh — investment managers, research analysts, client relationship managers
• Accounting & Professional Services:
  • PwC UK — London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds — auditors, tax consultants, management consultants, technology advisors, forensic accountants
  • EY (Ernst & Young) UK — major cities — assurance staff, tax advisors, transaction advisory professionals, business consultants
  • Deloitte UK — nationwide — audit managers, tax specialists, consulting professionals, technology consultants, financial advisors
  • KPMG UK — major cities — auditors, deal advisory consultants, tax planners, technology risk specialists

Engineering & Manufacturing (380+ sponsors)

• Aerospace & Defense:
  • Rolls-Royce — Derby, Bristol — aerospace engineers, materials engineers, design engineers, systems engineers, research scientists
  • BAE Systems — Preston, Warton, Portsmouth — systems engineers, software engineers, electrical engineers, aerodynamics specialists
  • Airbus UK — Filton, Broughton — aeronautical engineers, stress engineers, composite engineers, flight test engineers
  • Leonardo UK — Edinburgh, Southampton — radar engineers, electronic warfare engineers, systems integration specialists
  • Thales UK — Reading, Belfast — defense systems engineers, software developers, electronic engineers
• Automotive:
  • Jaguar Land Rover — Coventry, Solihull — automotive engineers, electrical engineers, software developers, powertrain engineers
  • McLaren Automotive — Woking — mechanical engineers, aerodynamics engineers, composite engineers, systems engineers
  • Bentley Motors — Crewe — design engineers, manufacturing engineers, quality engineers
  • Aston Martin Lagonda — Gaydon — vehicle engineers, CAD designers, electrical systems engineers
• Civil Engineering:
  • Arup — London, Manchester, Leeds — structural engineers, civil engineers, MEP engineers, transport planners, environmental consultants
  • Mott MacDonald — nationwide — infrastructure engineers, project managers, geotechnical engineers, water engineers
  • Atkins (SNC-Lavalin) — major cities — highways engineers, rail engineers, structural designers, project engineers
  • WSP UK — nationwide — civil engineers, environmental consultants, building services engineers, transport engineers
• Energy:
  • Shell UK — London, Aberdeen — petroleum engineers, process engineers, project engineers, data scientists, supply chain managers
  • BP — London, Aberdeen — reservoir engineers, drilling engineers, commercial analysts, renewable energy engineers
  • National Grid — London, Warwick — electrical engineers, network engineers, project managers, asset strategists
  • EDF Energy — London, Gloucester — nuclear engineers, electrical engineers, plant engineers, safety engineers

Education & Research (320+ sponsors)

• Universities (Russell Group):
  • University of Oxford — Oxford — lecturers, researchers, postdoctoral fellows (all disciplines), laboratory managers, academic administrators
  • University of Cambridge — Cambridge — academic staff, research associates, professors, teaching fellows, research scientists
  • Imperial College London — London — engineering lecturers, medical researchers, science professors, research fellows
  • UCL (University College London) — London — academic teaching staff, principal investigators, postdocs, technical specialists
  • King’s College London — London — lecturers, research assistants, clinical academic staff, laboratory managers
  • University of Edinburgh — Edinburgh — academic staff, research fellows, senior lecturers, professors
  • University of Manchester — Manchester — teaching fellows, research associates, professors, technical staff
• Research Institutions:
  • Francis Crick Institute — London — postdoctoral researchers, group leaders, research scientists, bioinformaticians
  • Wellcome Trust — London — research managers, scientific program officers, data scientists, policy researchers
  • Alan Turing Institute — London — research fellows, data scientists, AI researchers, research software engineers
• Private Education:
  • International schools (London, Manchester) — qualified teachers (IB, A-Level), subject specialists, pastoral care staff

Hospitality & Food Services (280+ sponsors)

• Hotel Groups:
  • Marriott Hotels UK — major cities — executive chefs, sous chefs, restaurant managers, hotel managers, front office managers
  • Hilton UK — nationwide — head chefs, pastry chefs, food & beverage managers, rooms division managers
  • The Savoy (Fairmont) — London — chefs de partie, restaurant managers, sommeliers, senior chefs
  • Four Seasons Hotels UK — London — culinary professionals, guest services managers, spa managers
• Restaurant Groups:
  • Gordon Ramsay Restaurants — London — head chefs, sous chefs, pastry chefs, restaurant managers
  • The Ivy Collection — London, major cities — senior chefs, restaurant managers, bar managers
  • Dishoom — London, Manchester, Edinburgh — executive chefs, kitchen managers, restaurant managers
• Contract Catering:
  • Compass Group UK — nationwide — executive chefs, catering managers, food service directors
  • Sodexo UK — major sites — head chefs, catering supervisors, hospitality managers

Construction & Infrastructure (240+ sponsors)

• Major Contractors:
  • Balfour Beatty — nationwide — project managers, site engineers, quantity surveyors, civil engineers, construction managers
  • Skanska UK — major projects — structural engineers, MEP engineers, site managers, planning engineers
  • Laing O’Rourle UK — London, Manchester — design managers, BIM coordinators, construction engineers, project directors
  • Sir Robert McAlpine — major cities — civil engineers, project engineers, commercial managers, site managers

Retail & E-commerce (180+ sponsors)

• Major Retailers:
  • Tesco — Hertfordshire — supply chain managers, data analysts, software engineers, commercial analysts
  • Sainsbury’s — London — category managers, digital specialists, supply chain planners
  • John Lewis Partnership — London — buying managers, technology specialists, operations managers
• E-commerce:
  • ASOS — London — software engineers, data scientists, product managers, merchandising planners
  • Ocado — Hatfield — robotics engineers, software developers, warehouse automation specialists

Media & Entertainment (150+ sponsors)

• Broadcasting:
  • BBC — London, Manchester, Glasgow — journalists, producers, broadcast engineers, software developers, data analysts
  • ITV — London — producers, editors, broadcast technicians, digital content creators
  • Sky UK — Osterley — content producers, software engineers, broadcast engineers, commercial analysts
• Gaming:
  • Rockstar Games London — London — game developers, artists, designers, audio engineers
  • Creative Assembly — Horsham — game programmers, 3D artists, designers, QA testers
  • Jagex — Cambridge — game developers, artists, producers, technical designers

Consulting & Management (140+ sponsors)

• Strategy Consulting:
  • McKinsey & Company UK — London — management consultants, business analysts, specialists (healthcare, finance, tech)
  • Boston Consulting Group UK — London — consultants, project leaders, practice area specialists
  • Bain & Company UK — London — associate consultants, case team leaders, advanced analytics specialists
• IT Consulting:
  • Accenture UK — nationwide — technology consultants, Salesforce specialists, SAP consultants, cloud architects, data engineers
  • Capgemini UK — major cities — IT consultants, business analysts, cybersecurity specialists, digital transformation consultants

Legal Services (120+ sponsors)

• Magic Circle Law Firms:
  • Clifford Chance — London — solicitors (corporate, finance, litigation), legal counsels, paralegals
  • Allen & Overy — London — lawyers (M&A, banking, capital markets), associates, trainees
  • Linklaters — London — solicitors, legal advisors, restructuring specialists, tax lawyers
  • Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer — London — corporate lawyers, dispute resolution specialists, regulatory advisors
  • Slaughter and May — London — corporate lawyers, finance specialists, litigation solicitors

The numbers that matter:

• Minimum salary (General route): £38,700 annually (increased April 2024 from £26,200)
• Minimum salary (New entrants/under 26): £30,960 annually
• Minimum salary (Healthcare/Education): £29,000 going rates for specific roles
• Health surcharge: £1,035/year (paid upfront for visa duration)
• Visa fees: £719 (up to 3 years), £1,420 (over 3 years)
• Processing time: 3–8 weeks standard, 5–10 working days priority (additional £500)
• Indefinite Leave to Remain: 5 years continuous residence on skilled worker visa

Between the lines. The December 2025 immigration changes significantly tightened UK visa rules — the salary threshold jumped from £26,200 to £38,700 (excluding healthcare/education exceptions), family visas for dependents became restricted for many roles, and the Immigration Health Surcharge increased 66% — creating a more selective system that favors higher-earning professionals while potentially excluding mid-level skilled workers.

What workers need to know:

Skilled Worker visa requirements:

Employer sponsorship:

• Must have Home Office sponsor license (check Register of Licensed Sponsors)
• Issues Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) with unique reference number
• Pays Immigration Skills Charge (£1,000/year small/charitable, £364/year for others)

Salary requirements (2026):

• General minimum: £38,700/year OR going rate for occupation (whichever higher)
• New entrants (under 26, postdocs, students switching): £30,960/year
• Healthcare/Education: £29,000+ depending on role
• Shortage occupations: Potentially lower thresholds (list under review)

English language:

• CEFR Level B1 (intermediate) — equivalent to IELTS 4.0 each component
• OR degree taught in English
• OR national of majority English-speaking country

Maintenance funds:

• £1,270 personal savings held 28 days (unless sponsor certifies maintenance)

What’s changing in 2026:

• Salary threshold increase impact: Many mid-level roles (junior developers, administrators, coordinators) no longer qualify
• Dependent restrictions: Family visas limited for roles under £38,700, only those earning significantly above can bring dependents
• Shortage Occupation List review: Being replaced with “Immigration Salary List” with stricter criteria
• Healthcare surcharge increases: Now £1,035/year (was £624), paid upfront for full visa duration
• Switching rules tightened: Harder to switch employers without leaving UK

Salary expectations by sector (2026):

Technology:

• Junior software developer: £35,000–£50,000 (often below new threshold)
• Mid-level engineer: £50,000–£75,000
• Senior engineer: £75,000–£110,000
• Tech lead: £90,000–£130,000

Healthcare:

• Registered nurse: £28,000–£40,000 (healthcare exception allows sponsorship)
• Junior doctor: £32,000–£63,000 (depending on grade)
• GP (general practitioner): £65,000–£100,000+
• Consultant: £88,000–£120,000+

Finance:

• Analyst: £40,000–£60,000
• Associate: £60,000–£100,000
• Vice President: £100,000–£180,000
• Director: £150,000–£300,000+

Engineering:

• Graduate engineer: £28,000–£38,000 (new entrant route needed)
• Chartered engineer: £45,000–£70,000
• Senior engineer: £60,000–£90,000
• Principal engineer: £80,000–£120,000

Hospitality:

• Sous chef: £30,000–£38,000 (limited sponsorship now)
• Head chef: £35,000–£50,000
• Executive chef: £45,000–£70,000

The application process:

Step 1: Secure sponsored job offer

• Employer must have sponsor license
• Job must meet skill level requirement (RQF Level 3+ / A-Level equivalent)
• Salary meets minimum threshold for occupation

Step 2: Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)

• Employer assigns CoS with unique reference number
• Contains job details, salary, start date, sponsor license number
• Valid 3 months from assignment

Step 3: Visa application

• Apply online through gov.uk
• Pay visa fee + Immigration Health Surcharge upfront
• Book biometrics appointment (visa application center)
• Upload supporting documents (passport, CoS, qualifications, English test, bank statements)

Step 4: Decision

• Standard: 3–8 weeks processing
• Priority: 5 working days (additional £500)
• Super Priority: 1 working day (additional £1,000, limited availability)

Step 5: Arrival and registration

• Collect Biometric Residence Permit within 10 days
• Register with GP, open bank account
• National Insurance number application
• Begin employment within CoS start date

Critical requirements:

• Criminal record certificate: From countries lived 12+ months in past 10 years
• Tuberculosis test: Required for applicants from listed countries
• Academic qualifications: Degree certificates, NARIC/ENIC statement for foreign degrees
• Professional registration: GMC for doctors, NMC for nurses, etc.
• Right to work checks: Employer must verify before employment starts

What’s included in UK employment:

• Annual leave: 28 days statutory minimum (including bank holidays)
• Sick pay: Statutory Sick Pay after 4 days absence
• Maternity/Paternity leave: Statutory provisions, often enhanced by employers
• Pension: Auto-enrollment workplace pension (minimum 8% total contribution)
• NHS access: Free healthcare after paying health surcharge
• Bank holidays: 8 public holidays (England/Wales), 9 (Scotland), 10 (Northern Ireland)

Regional variations:

London:

• Highest salaries (10–30% premium over regions)
• Highest living costs (rent £1,800–£3,500/month 2BR)
• Most sponsor opportunities (60% of Skilled Worker sponsors)
• Excellent public transport, international connectivity

Manchester/Birmingham/Leeds:

• Growing tech, finance, professional services sectors
• 30–50% lower living costs than London
• Strong university connections, research opportunities
• Improving but limited compared to London job markets

Scotland (Edinburgh/Glasgow):

• Finance, tech, energy, life sciences strong
• Lower cost of living than London (20–40% cheaper)
• Different legal system, distinct culture
• Scottish Government wants increased immigration (limited devolved powers)

Northern Ireland (Belfast):

• Cybersecurity, fintech, aerospace sectors
• Lowest UK cost of living
• Closer ties to Ireland/EU post-Brexit
• Smaller job market, fewer sponsors

Southeast (Cambridge/Oxford/Reading):

• Tech clusters, research institutions, pharmaceuticals
• High housing costs despite being outside London
• Excellent transport links to London
• Quality of life advantages over capital

Another critical factor. The UK’s post-Brexit relationship with EU means EU citizens now need sponsorship like all other foreign nationals — this dramatically increased competition for sponsored roles while simultaneously expanding the pool of potential employers (who previously relied on EU workers) now needing to sponsor, creating complex labor market dynamics.

What’s unclear:

• Whether salary thresholds will continue increasing annually above inflation
• How the new Immigration Salary List will differ from previous Shortage Occupation List
• If government will further restrict family migration amid political pressure
• Whether post-election policy changes (potential Labour government) will adjust thresholds
• How regional visa pilots might develop (Scotland seeking more autonomy)

The big picture. The UK offers world-class employers, excellent professional development, English-language environment, and clear 5-year pathway to permanent residence — but the 2024-2025 immigration tightening created a two-tier system favoring high earners (£38,700+) and healthcare/education workers while excluding many mid-level professionals, making employer sponsorship more competitive and permanent settlement more expensive (health surcharge, visa fees) than most comparable countries.

Tax considerations:

• Income tax: 0% (£12,570), 20% (£12,571–£50,270), 40% (£50,271–£125,140), 45% (£125,140+)
• National Insurance: Employee 12% (£12,570–£50,270), 2% above
• Council Tax: £1,200–£3,000/year depending on location and property band
• Typical net: 70–75% for £40,000–£60,000 salaries
• Student loans: UK student loans not applicable to international graduates

Family considerations:

• Dependent visas: Spouse and children under 18 can be included
• Work rights: Dependents can work without restriction
• School access: Free state schools for all visa holders
  • Higher education: Dependents pay domestic fees if resident 3+ years
  • Healthcare: Covered under Immigration Health Surcharge payment

  Pathways to settlement:

  Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR):

  • Timeline: 5 years continuous residence on Skilled Worker visa (or combination of eligible visas)
  • Absences: Maximum 180 days/year, 540 days total over 5 years
  • Life in the UK test: Civics and culture test, pass required
  • English requirement: B1 level minimum
  • Processing: 6 months standard, £2,885 application fee (2026)

  British Citizenship:

  • After ILR: Apply after 12 months holding ILR (6 years total from arrival)
  • Requirement: Pass Life in UK test (if not already), good character, intention to reside
  • Dual citizenship: Allowed (UK permits, but check home country rules)
  • Benefits: UK/British passport, unrestricted travel, voting rights, consular protection

  Red flags to avoid:

  • Employers requesting money for “sponsorship fees” (illegal — employer pays all)
  • Job offers from companies not on Register of Licensed Sponsors
  • Salaries advertised below legal minimum thresholds
  • Promises of “easy” visa processes without proper documentation
  • Unlicensed immigration advisors (check OISC registration)
  • “Guaranteed” visa approval claims (only UKVI decides applications)

  Bottom line. The UK’s Skilled Worker visa system is transparent but expensive — visa fees, health surcharge, and high salary thresholds create significant barriers, while the clear 5-year ILR pathway and world-class employers offer long-term stability for those who secure sponsorship and meet financial requirements, with the 2026 landscape favoring healthcare workers, senior tech professionals, and finance/consulting specialists over mid-level generalists.

  Verification essential: Always verify employer sponsor license on UK government’s Register of Licensed Sponsors (updated weekly), confirm occupation code meets skill level, calculate total visa costs (fees + health surcharge + priority processing), and verify salary meets both general minimum AND occupation-specific going rate before accepting offers — UK visa refusals are costly and can create reapplication complications.

  Access verification: Visit gov.uk/government/publications/register-of-licensed-sponsors-workers to search current sponsor license holders by organization name, license number, or address — sponsors can lose licenses for non-compliance, so verify status within 2 weeks of job offer acceptance.