So you want to code, build, or innovate in the UK tech scene — but you’re not a British citizen? No worries. You’re not alone. Thousands of brilliant developers, data scientists, DevOps engineers, and product managers make the leap every year — and you can too.
The key? A sponsored work visa.
Let’s break it down — step by step — with zero fluff, real talk, and insider tips from people who’ve done it (including me 👋).
🎯 TL;DR — Quick Summary
✅ Main Visa: Skilled Worker Visa (replaced Tier 2)
✅ Requirement #1: Job offer from a UK Home Office-licensed sponsor
✅ Requirement #2: Role must be on the eligible occupation list (SOL)
✅ Requirement #3: Meet salary threshold (£38,700 or “going rate,” whichever’s higher)
✅ Bonus Pathway: Scale-up Visa (if joining a fast-growing startup)
✅ Pro Tip: Startups & scale-ups are often more flexible sponsors than big corps
🧭 Step 1: Understand Your Visa Options
🟢 Skilled Worker Visa (Most Common)
This is your bread and butter. For skilled tech roles — software engineers, data analysts, cybersecurity pros, etc.
Duration: Up to 5 years (renewable), path to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after 5 years.
Eligibility:
- Job offer from a licensed sponsor 🖥️
- Job is on the eligible occupation list
- Meet minimum salary (£38,700 as of April 2024 — more on this below)
- Prove English proficiency (if required)
- Show you have £1,270 in savings (unless your sponsor certifies maintenance)
💡 Tech roles like “Software Developer” (SOC 2136), “Data Scientist” (SOC 2135), and “IT Business Analyst” (SOC 2134) are all eligible.
🚀 Scale-up Worker Visa (New & Underrated!)
Perfect if you’re joining a high-growth UK startup.
Requirements:
- Job offer from a certified “scale-up” company (grew 20%+ annually for 3 years)
- Salary ≥ £34,400 (lower than Skilled Worker!)
- Role must still be eligible and skilled (RQF Level 6+)
Perk: After 6 months, you can switch jobs without sponsorship — as long as you stay in a skilled role. Freedom? Yes please.
🌍 Global Talent Visa (For Rockstars)
If you’re an award-winning researcher, open-source contributor, or recognized tech leader — this is your golden ticket.
No job offer needed. Fast-track to settlement. But you need endorsement from Tech Nation or Royal Society.
Harder to get — but worth it if you qualify.
💼 Step 2: Find a Licensed Sponsor
This is THE make-or-break step.
You can’t apply for the visa without a sponsor. So where do you find them?
✅ Where to Look:
- LinkedIn Jobs → Filter by “Visa Sponsorship”
- Otta.com → Startup-focused, many list sponsorship clearly
- Glassdoor / Indeed → Search “visa sponsorship” + your role
- AngelList (Wellfound) → Filter startups by “visa support”
- Tech Nation’s Sponsors List → Official Gov List of Licensed Sponsors
🕵️♀️ Pro Tip: Don’t just apply blindly. Message hiring managers or recruiters on LinkedIn: “Hi — I’m an international candidate requiring Skilled Worker sponsorship. Is this role open to sponsored applicants?” Saves everyone time.
💰 Step 3: Salary Thresholds — The New 2024 Rules
Big changes happened in April 2024. Pay attention.
📉 General Salary Threshold: £38,700/year
Used to be £26,200 — now it’s much higher. But — there are exceptions!
🆚 “Going Rate” vs “General Threshold”
You must earn the higher of:
- The general threshold (£38,700)
- OR the “going rate” for your specific job (based on SOC code)
👉 Example: Software Developer (SOC 2136) “going rate” = £43,400
👉 So you’d need to earn £43,400 — even though £38,700 is the “general” floor.
🔍 Check your “going rate” here: UK SOC Code & Salary Lookup
🎓 Exception: “New Entrant” Rate
If you’re:
- Under 26,
- OR switching from a Student Visa,
- OR doing a recognized professional training program…
…you qualify for a 30% discount on the going rate!
Example: Software Dev “going rate” = £43,400 → New Entrant Rate = £30,380 ✅
💡 This is HUGE for recent grads or junior devs. Use it!
📄 Step 4: Get Your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)
Once you land the job, your employer applies for a CoS — a digital reference number tied to your role.
There are two types:
- Defined CoS → For applicants outside the UK (you!)
- Undefined CoS → For applicants already in the UK on another visa
Your employer handles this — but it costs them £199 (small cos) or £1,000 (large cos). Some might pass this cost to you — negotiate it!
📝 Step 5: Apply for Your Visa
Now it’s your turn.
What You’ll Need:
- Valid passport 🛂
- CoS reference number
- Proof of English (if required — usually waived for STEM grads from English-speaking unis)
- Proof of funds (£1,270 in bank for 28+ days) — unless your sponsor certifies maintenance
- TB test results (if from a listed country)
- Job title, salary, occupation code
⏱️ Processing Time:
- Standard: 3 weeks if applying from outside UK
- Priority (extra £500): 5 working days
- Super Priority (£800): next day (where available)
📍 Apply from your home country or a country you’re legally resident in.
💷 Step 6: Fees & Costs (2025)
Let’s talk money — because visas ain’t free.
| Application Fee (3 years) | £827 (outside UK) |
| Healthcare Surcharge (IHS) | £1,035/year |
| Priority Service (optional) | +£500 or +£800 |
| Biometrics (if required) | Included |
| Total (3-year visa, IHS) | ~£3,932 |
💡 Yes, it’s steep. But NHS access? Worth every penny.
🧳 Step 7: Arrival & Settling In
Congrats — you got the visa! Now what?
✅ Collect your BRP (Biometric Residence Permit) within 10 days of arrival
✅ Register with a GP (doctor) — use NHS
✅ Open a UK bank account (Monzo, Revolut, HSBC are expat-friendly)
✅ Get a National Insurance Number (NINo) — your employer will help
✅ Join tech meetups (Meetup.com, TechHub, LinkedIn groups) — build your network!
🧠 Insider Tips from People Who’ve Done It
👩💻 “I negotiated my salary UP to meet the threshold.”
“My offer was £37K — just under. I showed them the gov site and asked for £39K. They said yes.” — Dev, Manchester
👨💻 “I targeted scale-ups — they’re hungrier for talent.”
“Big banks said no to sponsorship. A Series B AI startup said yes — and paid £45K.” — Data Engineer, London
🧑💻 “I switched from a Graduate Visa — used the ‘new entrant’ rate.”
“Stayed in UK after my Master’s, got sponsored at £32K. Saved me.” — Cybersecurity Analyst, Edinburgh
🚫 Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Assuming all tech companies sponsor — many don’t (especially small agencies)
❌ Accepting a salary below the threshold — visa will be denied
❌ Not checking the SOC code — your job title MUST match the eligible role
❌ Forgetting the healthcare surcharge — budget for it!
❌ Waiting until the last minute — processing delays happen
📈 Which UK Tech Hubs Sponsor the Most?
| London | Fintech, AI, Startups, Big Tech | ✅✅✅ High |
| Manchester | Scale-ups, Digital Agencies | ✅✅ Medium-High |
| Edinburgh | Gaming, Data Science, Fintech | ✅✅ Medium |
| Bristol | Robotics, Aerospace, Cybersecurity | ✅ Medium |
| Cambridge | Deep Tech, Biotech, AI | ✅✅ Medium-High |
💡 Outside London = lower salary thresholds sometimes apply (shortage occupations). Check “going rates” by region.
🔄 Alternatives If You Can’t Get Sponsored (Yet)
Not ready for Skilled Worker? Try these:
🎓 Graduate Visa (Post-Study Work)
Stay 2 years (3 if PhD) after UK degree. Work any job. No sponsorship needed. Use this time to find a sponsor!
💼 High Potential Individual (HPI) Visa
For grads from top global universities (think: MIT, Stanford, ETH Zurich, NUS). No job offer needed. Stay 2–3 years. Build experience → then get sponsored.
🇪🇺 Youth Mobility Scheme (if eligible)
For citizens of Australia, Canada, NZ, etc. Work for 2 years — then switch to Skilled Worker.
🧭 Final Checklist: Are You Ready?
✅ Found a licensed sponsor?
✅ Role on eligible occupation list?
✅ Salary meets threshold (or new entrant rate)?
✅ Got your CoS?
✅ Saved for fees + IHS + relocation?
✅ Documents ready (passport, bank statements, degree certs)?
If yes — you’re golden. 🏅
🌟 Conclusion: Yes, It’s Possible — And Worth It
Getting sponsored in UK tech isn’t easy — but it’s absolutely doable. Especially in 2025, with AI booming, startups scaling, and talent shortages in DevOps, ML, and cybersecurity.
The key? Be strategic.
→ Target the right companies.
→ Negotiate smartly.
→ Use “new entrant” or “scale-up” loopholes.
→ Start early.
→ Ask for help.
Thousands have done it before you. You’re next.
❓ FAQs — Quick Burning Questions
Q1: Can startups sponsor me?
✅ Yes! Especially if they’re certified scale-ups or have a sponsor license. Many are more flexible than big corps.
Q2: Do I need to speak English?
🇬🇧 Usually waived if you’re from a majority English-speaking country OR hold a degree taught in English. Otherwise, you’ll need to prove B1 level.
Q3: Can I switch jobs after getting the visa?
🔄 Yes — but your new employer must also be a licensed sponsor and issue you a new CoS. You’ll need to apply to update your visa.
Q4: How long until I can settle (get ILR)?
⏳ 5 years on a Skilled Worker Visa → apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain → then citizenship after 1 more year.
Q5: What if my salary is just below the threshold?
📉 You can’t “round up.” But — ask for a signing bonus? Sometimes they’ll bump base to meet it. Or use “new entrant” rate if eligible.