UK companies that sponsor Skilled Worker visas (2026 guide)

If you need a UK work visa, the single most useful filter on your job search is this: can this employer legally sponsor me? Most can't. Sponsoring is a licence you apply for, not a default, and applying into a company with no licence is wasted effort, no matter how strong your CV.

The good news: the list of who can sponsor is public.

The official source: the Register of Licensed Sponsors

The Home Office publishes the Register of Licensed Sponsors (Workers), a downloadable list of every UK organisation licensed to sponsor a work visa. It's free, and it's the authoritative answer to "can they sponsor".

We mirror that register and make it searchable, by company name, by city, and by licence type, so you don't have to scroll a giant CSV. You can browse sponsors by city or search the full list inside the product.

What a sponsor licence does (and does not) mean

This is where most guides get sloppy, so let's be exact. A licence means the employer has been approved by UK Visas and Immigration to issue Certificates of Sponsorship. It does not mean every role they advertise is sponsored: a licensed employer can still list jobs they won't sponsor, for example ones that don't meet the salary or skill threshold, or where they simply choose not to.

If a guide tells you "these companies sponsor, just apply" without that caveat, be sceptical. Ask early, or look for explicit wording in the advert.

The A and B rating

Each sponsor on the register has a rating:

• A-rated: in good standing. Can issue new Certificates of Sponsorship.
• B-rated: on an action plan to fix compliance issues; cannot issue new certificates until they return to A.

Most candidates focus on A-rated employers. A B rating isn't necessarily a red flag about the company overall, but it does mean they can't bring on a new sponsored hire right now.

The Skilled Worker basics (verify the current figures on gov.uk)

The Skilled Worker route has eligibility thresholds: a minimum skill level for the role and a minimum salary that's periodically updated. The principle that matters here: a job has to clear those thresholds for sponsorship to be possible, even at a licensed employer.

A practical approach

1. Start from the register, not from job boards. Build a shortlist of licensed employers in your field and target city. Sponsors by city is a fast way in.
2. Check the rating. Prefer A-rated employers when sponsorship is essential.
3. Confirm at the role level. A licence is necessary, not sufficient; ask whether the specific job is sponsored.
4. Tune your CV for UK ATS. Licensed or not, most large employers filter CVs by software first. Our free ATS CV checker scores yours the way those systems do.

Want the list filtered to your city and field? Browse UK visa sponsors by city, then run a free ATS scan on the CV you'll send them.

Frequently asked questions

How do I find UK companies that sponsor Skilled Worker visas? Start from the Home Office's Register of Licensed Sponsors (Workers), a free, public list of every organisation licensed to sponsor a work visa, refreshed most working days and currently over 120,000 employers. Gorizzume mirrors it so you can search by company, city and licence type instead of scrolling a giant CSV.

Does a sponsor licence mean the company will sponsor any role? No. A licence means the employer can sponsor, not that every role is sponsored. Licensed employers still advertise roles they won't sponsor, for example ones below the salary or skill threshold, or where they simply choose not to. Always confirm sponsorship for the specific job.

What's the difference between an A-rated and B-rated sponsor? A-rated sponsors are in good standing and can issue new Certificates of Sponsorship. B-rated sponsors are on a compliance action plan and can't issue new certificates until they return to A. Most candidates focus on A-rated employers when sponsorship is essential.

What are the Skilled Worker salary and skill thresholds? The route has a minimum skill level and a minimum salary that are updated periodically. The exact figures change, so check the current Skilled Worker guidance on gov.uk rather than trusting a number in any blog. The principle: a job must clear those thresholds for sponsorship to be possible, even at a licensed employer.