Visa Sponsorship Data
Companies That Sponsor Work Visas in United Kingdom
Find employers licensed to sponsor Skilled Worker visas. We track all licensed sponsors from the UK Home Office register.
View data for:
2,237,955
Visa Grants
139,425
Licensed Sponsors
50+
Companies Tracked
2010-2025
Years of Data
Understanding UK Skilled Worker Visa
The Skilled Worker visa is the UK's main work visa route for foreign nationals. Employers must be licensed sponsors approved by the UK Home Office and issue a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for each worker.
How UK Sponsorship Works
- Employer obtains a sponsor licence from the Home Office
- Employer assigns a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)
- Worker applies for Skilled Worker visa
- Visa granted (usually 3-5 years)
- After 5 years, apply for settlement (ILR)
Key Facts
- • No annual cap on Skilled Worker visas
- • Minimum salary threshold applies
- • English language requirement (B1 level)
- • Job must be at RQF Level 3 or above
- • Path to settlement after 5 years
Tip: Check if a company is on the licensed sponsor register before applying. Only licensed sponsors can issue the Certificate of Sponsorship required for your visa application.
Visa Grants by Year
135,111 approvals
2016
133,167 approvals
2017
142,878 approvals
2018
161,485 approvals
2019
98,376 approvals
2020
123,306 approvals
2021
217,822 approvals
2022
279,501 approvals
2023
154,109 approvals
2024
94,949 approvals
2025
Top UK Cities by Number of Visa Sponsors
London
42,494Birmingham
3,293Manchester
3,082Leicester
1,476Glasgow
1,460Bristol
1,432Edinburgh
1,264Leeds
1,158Top Skilled Worker Sponsors
1
Amazon
Sponsors
2
Oracle
Sponsors
3
Intel Corporation
Sponsors
4
tata consultancy services
Sponsors
5
Microsoft
Sponsors
6
KPMG
Sponsors
7
Deloitte
Sponsors
8
Goldman Sachs
Sponsors
9
Google
Sponsors
10
Wipro
Sponsors
11
IBM
Sponsors
12
NTT DATA, Inc.
Sponsors
13
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Sponsors
14
Accenture
Sponsors
15
Cummins Inc.
Sponsors
16
Qualcomm
Sponsors
17
CGI
Sponsors
18
MINDTREE LIMITED
Sponsors
19
PayPal
Sponsors
20
Salesforce
Sponsors
Visa Sponsorship by Role
Application Resources
UK Skilled Worker Visa FAQ
What is the UK Skilled Worker visa?â–¼
The Skilled Worker visa allows foreign nationals to work in the UK for a licensed sponsor employer. The employer must hold a valid sponsor licence from the Home Office and assign a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). The job must meet minimum skill level and salary requirements.
How do I check if a UK employer is a licensed sponsor?â–¼
The UK Home Office publishes a register of licensed sponsors which is updated regularly. ApplyWave tracks this register so you can search any company and verify their sponsorship status instantly.
Can the Skilled Worker visa lead to permanent residence?â–¼
Yes. After 5 years on a Skilled Worker visa, you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), which is the UK equivalent of permanent residence. You must meet salary and continuous residence requirements.
Data Sources
Our visa sponsorship data is sourced from official government databases and updated regularly to ensure accuracy.
🇺🇸
USCIS H-1B Employer Data Hub
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
🇨🇦
Canada LMIA Open Data
Employment and Social Development Canada
🇬🇧
UK Licensed Sponsor Register
UK Home Office
🇦🇺
AU Visa Grant Statistics
Australian Department of Home Affairs
🇳🇿
NZ Accredited Employers
Immigration New Zealand
🇮🇪
IE Employment Permits Data
Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
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