UK Skilled Worker Visa for IT Professionals

Tech Roles That May Qualify for UK Sponsorship

The UK's Skilled Worker visa is open to people with a job offer from an approved UK employer, and many IT roles appear on the list of eligible occupations. The official list marks these codes as higher skilled: IT business analysts, architects and systems designers (2133), programmers and software development professionals (2134), cyber security professionals (2135), IT quality and testing professionals (2136), IT network professionals (2137), and other IT professionals (2139). If you write code, secure systems, test software, or design networks, your duties may match one of these codes. Your actual job duties must match the occupation code on your Certificate of Sponsorship, not just your job title.

Requirements for IT Professionals

You need a job offer from an employer approved by the Home Office and a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). The standard minimum salary is £41,700 per year, or the going rate for your occupation code if that is higher. You must also show English at level B2, using an approved English test, a qualifying degree, or a UK school qualification, unless you are a national of an exempt country. In addition, you generally need £1,270 in savings held for 28 days in a row. Salary and English rules can differ depending on your circumstances and the date of your CoS, so check the official pages for your situation.

How to Find an IT Job With Visa Sponsorship

Employers can only sponsor you if they hold a licence, so begin with the official list:

1. Download the Register of Licensed Sponsors and look for technology companies, software firms, banks, and consultancies that interest you.

2. Search major job websites for terms such as Software Engineer Visa Sponsorship, Backend Developer Skilled Worker Sponsorship, Cyber Security Analyst Sponsorship, and DevOps Engineer Relocation.

3. Apply for roles whose salary clearly meets the visa threshold, and mention in your application that you will need sponsorship.

4. Tailor your resume to the technologies in each job advert and show measurable results from your projects.

Not every advertised role offers sponsorship, so ask the employer early whether they can sponsor an overseas applicant. Emig can also help you identify relevant opportunities, improve your resume, and prepare stronger job applications.

Check if you qualify →