Editors Pick

The UK’s job market is increasingly reliant on international talent, making employer sponsorship a critical pathway for skilled professionals worldwide. For UAE professionals, this offers a direct route into high-demand industries such as healthcare, IT, finance, engineering, and education. Employer sponsorship not only helps fill urgent skills gaps but also provides foreign workers with access to competitive salaries, residency opportunities, and career stability.

• UK sponsorship programs address skill shortages in sectors like healthcare, IT, and engineering.
• Sponsored professionals gain legal work rights, career growth opportunities, and pathways to residency.
• Over 100,000 NHS vacancies drive strong hiring of international doctors, nurses, and care workers.
• The UK’s digital economy contributes £150 billion annually , boosting demand for IT and FinTech talent.
• he number of people applying for Skilled Worker visas rose to 256,300 in 2024,

UK Work Visa Sponsorship Explained

Why Employers Sponsor Foreign Professionals

The United Kingdom continues to face significant skill shortages across key sectors such as healthcare, information technology, finance, and engineering. With an aging workforce and rising demand for specialized expertise, local talent alone cannot meet employer needs. To address these gaps, the UK government allows licensed employers to recruit skilled professionals from abroad through the Skilled Worker visa route. This ensures companies remain competitive while offering international workers stable employment and long-term career opportunities.

What the Skilled Worker Visa Is

The Skilled Worker visa is the primary route for foreign professionals to live and work in the UK. To qualify, applicants must meet specific criteria, including:

• A valid job offer from a licensed UK employer.
• A Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) provided by the employer.
• A minimum salary of £26,200 per year (with lower thresholds for shortage occupations such as healthcare and social care).
• Proof of English language proficiency.

This visa not only grants the right to work in the UK but also provides a clear pathway to permanent residency after five years.

Key Highlights of UK Sponsorship

• Purpose: Designed to help UK employers fill critical skill gaps.
• Benefits: Provides legal work rights, competitive salaries, and a residency pathway.
• Healthcare demand: Over 100,000 NHS vacancies make healthcare the top sponsor sector.
• IT & Digital Growth: The UK tech sector contributes £150+ billion annually, creating strong demand for IT professionals.
• Visa grants: More than 250,000 Skilled Worker visas were issued in 2024, reflecting the scale of sponsorship demand.

Industries Sponsoring International Professionals in the UK

The United Kingdom’s job market is highly diverse, with several industries consistently turning to international talent to address workforce shortages. For foreign professionals, this creates opportunities across multiple sectors where sponsorship is actively offered by leading employers.

Detailed information about the industries sponsoring international professionals in the UK is given below:

Top UK Employers Sponsoring International Professionals

Several leading employers in the United Kingdom are consistently recognized for actively sponsoring international professionals to meet their workforce requirements. These organizations span healthcare, technology, finance, engineering, and education, making the UK one of the most attractive destinations for skilled workers worldwide.

Detailed information about the top UK employers sponsoring international professionals is given below:

Key Factors Driving UK Sponsorship Demand

The demand for foreign professionals in the UK is shaped by a combination of demographic shifts, economic priorities, and industry-specific shortages. Employers across different sectors are turning to sponsorship as a strategic solution to fill critical gaps and maintain competitiveness.

• Healthcare Shortages: With over 100,000 NHS vacancies in 2024, the UK healthcare system relies heavily on international doctors, nurses, and care workers to meet patient needs.
• Technology Growth: Rapid digital transformation is fuelling demand for professionals in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and fintech, areas where local talent supply remains limited.
• Financial Services Hub: As a leading global finance center, London requires a steady pipeline of specialists in investment, risk management, and compliance.
• Infrastructure Projects: Major national initiatives such as the HS2 rail project and renewable energy developments have created ongoing demand for civil, mechanical, and electrical engineers.
• Research and Education: UK universities continue to recruit globally to attract world-class lecturers and researchers, strengthening the country’s position as an academic and innovation leader.

Steps for UAE Professionals to Secure Sponsorship

The process to secure UK sponsorship for work visas is given below:

Step 1: Identify licensed employers by consulting the UK Home Office list of approved sponsors in your target sector.

Step 2: Match your skills to shortage occupations and tailor your CV and cover letter to UK role requirements.

Step 3: Apply directly via employer career pages and reputable portals (e.g., LinkedIn, Indeed) with all required documents.

Step 4: On receiving a job offer, obtain a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from the employer confirming the role, salary, and sponsor licence.

Step 5: Submit your Skilled Worker visa application with the CoS, English proficiency evidence, and financials, then prepare for relocation and compliance.

Benefits of UK Employer Sponsorship for Foreign and UAE Professionals

Securing UK employer sponsorship offers professionals worldwide—including those from the UAE—a wealth of career and lifestyle advantages. Sponsorship not only provides the right to live and work in the UK but also opens pathways to professional growth, international exposure, and long-term settlement opportunities. It enables individuals to access competitive salaries, enhance their global skills, and enjoy a high standard of living with their families.

Key Benefits

• Career opportunities with world-leading companies across healthcare, IT, finance, engineering, and education.
• Competitive salaries aligned with UK standards in high-demand sectors.
• Residency pathway through Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after 5 years of sponsorship.
• Family inclusion, allowing dependents to accompany and benefit from healthcare and education.
• Global work experience through exposure to international projects, training, and diverse workplace culture.
• Quality of life, supported by excellent infrastructure, healthcare, and a multicultural environment.

Future Outlook: UK Sponsorship Opportunities

The outlook for UK employer sponsorship remains highly favorable, driven by demographic changes, economic growth, and global competitiveness. Healthcare and care roles are expected to remain the highest priority due to persistent staffing shortages within the NHS and the wider care sector. In parallel, IT and FinTech will continue to expand, fuelled by digital transformation, cybersecurity needs, and the UK’s position as a global financial hub.

The demand for engineering and renewable energy specialists is also set to rise as the UK invests heavily in infrastructure projects and green technologies. Additionally, the education and research sector will benefit from global academic partnerships, encouraging universities to sponsor more international lecturers and researchers.

For UAE professionals, these developments represent a wealth of long-term opportunities in one of the world’s most dynamic labor markets, combining career growth, financial security, and pathways to permanent residency in the UK.

Why the UK is a Top Choice for Sponsored Careers?

The UK is one of the best destinations for international professionals, offering a strong job market and competitive salaries. With employers in healthcare, IT, finance, engineering, and education actively sponsoring skilled workers, UAE professionals can secure rewarding careers. By targeting licensed employers and shortage occupations, you can access opportunities, achieve residency, and build a successful global career in the UK.

Highlights: First-Ever Express Entry draw for Education Professionals issues 1,000 ITAs

• The latest Express Entry draw #344 was held on May 1, 2025.
• This is the first category-based draw targeting education professionals.
• The Express Entry Draw issued 1,000 Invitations to Apply to candidates with a CRS score 479.
• So far, IRCC held 14 Express Entry draws in 2025, issuing 32,929 candidates to apply for Canada PR.
   

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Latest Category-based Express Entry Draw invites 1000 candidates

The most recent Express Entry draw was held on May 1, 2025. Express Entry Draw #344 issued 1,000 ITAs to Education professionals with a minimum CRS score of 479. This is the first draw targeting the education category, which was announced earlier in February 2025. The education category was recently added to the list of eligible categories for the Express Entry draws.
 

Given below are the six categories listed under the Express Entry categories:
 

1. French-language proficiency
2. Healthcare and social services occupations
3. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) occupations
4. Trade occupations
5. Agriculture and agri-food occupations
6. Education occupations
    

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List of Occupations Eligible for Education Category

The Education category was added to the list of Express Entry categories on February 27, 2025. It was introduced to prioritize professionals in the educational sector, including teachers, allowing them to apply for Canada PR through the category-based draws.
 

The table below has details of the list of occupations along with their NOC codes:

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Highlights: Significant drop in CRS scores after the removal of bonus points for arranged employment

• Express Entry candidate pool has witnessed significant changes after the removal of the CRS score.
• The Express Entry candidate pool attracted 7,373 candidate profiles due to the removal of arranged employment.
• Candidates witnessed the most significant changes in scores among Express Entry occurred within the 501-600 CRS score range.
• There was an addition of 2,157 profiles within the score range between 461 and 470 CRS points.
   

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Major changes introduced to Express Entry pool

The removal of arranged employment points under the Comprehensive Ranking system has seen significant changes in the Express Entry candidate pool. Around thousands of candidates in the Express Entry pool have noticed that their CRS scores dropped by 50 or 200 points, with a chance of receiving an ITA to apply for Canada Permanent Residence (PR).
 

The most significant score change among Express Entry candidates occurred within the 501-600 CRS score range, which saw a drastic decrease of 5,740 profiles. A similar reduction in profile can be observed within score ranges between:
 

• 491 and 500 CRS points, which saw a decline of 1,618 profile
• 481 and 490 CRS points witnessed a drop of 984 profile
   

These three score ranges collectively witnessed a decrease of 8,347 profiles between March 16 and April 14, 2025. With the removal of arranged employment points, if the profiles have not expired, they will be distributed to a lower score range within the candidate pool.
 

The Express Entry candidate pool grew by a total of 7,373 candidate profiles within the same time frame despite the radical decrease, which indicated larger changes within the pool composition. The largest among these was the addition of 2,157 profiles within the score range between 461 and 471 CRS points.
 

Candidates who have arranged employment will receive an additional 50 CRS points. Below The table will mention the changes in the Express Entry profile between March 16 and April 14, 2025, for all score ranges:

Current composition of scores within the Express Entry pool following the CRS points change

The following table details the current composition of the Express Entry Candidate pool as of April 14, 2025:

In 2024-2025, the Express Entry pool has witnessed an increase in candidates. With the removal of CRS points for arranged employment, it means the following CRS score ranges will now have roughly the same number of candidate profiles as they did in December of 2024, which are:

• 501-600
• 490-500
• 481-490
   

This increase of 25,792 candidate profiles was despite this score from December 2024 to April 2025.|
 

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Highlights: Manitoba PNP introduced special work permit for eligible candidates

• Manitoba PNP will issue exceptional Manitoba-specific work permits for up to two years.
• Applicants must meet general and federal requirements to qualify for this special work permit.
• Manitoba will begin accepting applications for these work permits starting April 22, 2025.
• Eligible candidates can apply online for special permits till December 31, 2025.
   

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Eligibility Criteria to apply for exceptional Manitoba-specific work permits

To qualify for an exceptional Manitoba-specific work permit, an applicant must:
 

• Holder of a work permit that will expire within 45 days or holder of a work permit that expired in 2024 or 2025
• Continuously residing in Manitoba since January 15, 2025
• A valid MPNP Express Entry Interest Profile and still have it since January 15, 2025
• Have a letter of employment from their current employer in Manitoba
   

Manitoba PNP will begin to accept applications for work permits from April 22, 2025. If an MPNP candidate qualifies, they can apply online to the MPNP for a support letter, which they can use in their work permit application to IRCC. These applications for work permits will be open until December 31, 2025. Applicants who have already received a letter of Advice to apply for the Manitoba PNP are not eligible for the special work permit. IRCC’s Temporary public policy will issue these work permits to facilitate work permits for prospective Provincial Nominee candidates.
 

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Federal requirements to apply for special Manitoba-specific work permits

To apply for exceptional Manitoba-specific work permits, an applicant must fulfill the Federal requirements such as:
 

• Valid work permit
• Holder of a work permit since May 7, 2024
• Maintained works permit status since May 7, 2024, and submitted a work permit extension application permit before this date
   

Documentation required for special Manitoba-specific work permits

Applicants who have fulfilled the requirements can apply for

• Support letter
• Copy of your Expression of Interest Profile
• Letter of employment from current employer
• Current work permit
• Proof of authorization to work
• Holder of valid work permit since May 7, 2024
   

*Are you looking for step-by-step assistance for Canada Immigration? Talk to Y-Axis, the leading visa and overseas immigration consultancy in UAE.
 

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Highlights: New Federal Rule Mandates IDs for immigrants in the USA

• A new U.S. federal rule has been announced for immigrants in the USA.
• According to the rule, all immigrants above 18 years of age must always carry proof of registration or ID.
• Non-citizens in the country will be given 30 days to register with the federal government.
• The new rule for non-citizens in the US was effective from April 11, 2025.
   

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Immigrants in the US will now have to carry an ID at all times

According to the new Federal rule, implemented on April 11, 2025, all immigrants in the US, including H-1B visa holders, F-1 visa holders, US visitor visa holders, and Green card holders, will be required to carry proof of registration, irrespective of their visa status. The new policy makes it compulsory for non-citizens aged 18 years and above to always carry their ID card. Immigrants who have yet to be registered will be given around 30 days to complete their registration with the US federal government.
 

Individuals currently in the country with US student visas (F-1), I-94 admissions, and H-1B visas, EADs, or Green Cards will automatically be considered registered. However, the new rule requires them to carry their proof of registration everywhere to avoid any consequences.
 

Also, read…

US Extends Employment Document Renewals to 540 Days
 

What are the new registration rules in the US?

The new rule also requires individuals to meet specific requirements, such as:

• Children turning 14 will be required to re-register and submit biometrics (fingerprints) within 30 days of celebrating their birthday.
• Any address changes must be informed within 10 days, failing which a fine of $5,000 or one month of jail time may be imposed.
   

Note: Violating these rules may result in losing their legal status in the US, detention, or re-entry to the US after traveling abroad.   
 

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