For international workers from countries like Nigeria, India, and the Philippines, Visa Sponsorship is the primary route to legal employment in the UK. This system requires a UK employer to hold a valid Sponsor Licence issued by the Home Office. Before you can apply for a visa, this employer must assign you a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)—a unique digital reference number that proves you have a genuine job offer meeting specific skill and salary criteria.

A major shift occurred recently: the old “Shortage Occupation List” was replaced by the Immigration Salary List (ISL). While this list still offers lower salary requirements for certain roles, it is significantly shorter than before. Understanding whether your job falls on the ISL or qualifies for the Health and Care Worker route is crucial, as these are the main exceptions to the new, higher salary rules.