Visa-sponsoring employers in Bolton
560 employers in Bolton hold a Skilled Worker licence (register, 5 October 2026). Here's what that means for your search.
Home Office register,
The short answer
561
Skilled Worker licences in Bolton
Home Office register, 5 October 2026
Bolton has the 23rd highest count of the 493 towns with a page on Visavi. 560 of those licences carry an A rating, and 1 carries a B rating. Within about 25 miles, another 6,690 Skilled Worker licences list one of 104 other towns.
Counted by the register's own town column, Bolton's Skilled Worker licences are 0.46% of the 123,132 Skilled Worker licences on the register.
Counting every licence route, 594 organisations in Bolton hold a sponsor licence of some kind.
Besides Skilled Worker, the licence routes held most often here are International Sportsperson (16), Tier 2 Ministers of Religion (13) and Charity Worker (9).
6 of the Skilled Worker sponsors in Bolton also hold a Global Business Mobility licence, the routes that bring an overseas employer's staff to work in the UK.
By registered name, 39 have "care" or "healthcare" in their name; 22 have "restaurant", "kitchen", "cafe" or "food" in their name; and 10 have "construction", "building" or "engineering" in their name.
The nearest towns with their own page are Bury (6 miles, 141 licences), Salford (9 miles, 223 licences), Wigan (9 miles, 117 licences) and Chorley (9 miles, 71 licences).
| Licence route | Count |
|---|---|
| Skilled Worker | 561 |
| International Sportsperson | 16 |
| Tier 2 Ministers of Religion | 13 |
| Charity Worker | 9 |
| Religious Worker | 8 |
| Rating | Licences |
|---|---|
| A rating | 560 |
| B rating | 1 |
A rating includes the A (Premium) and A (SME+) labels. A B rating generally means the employer cannot sponsor new workers until it is back to an A rating.
Examples from the register
- Assystem Energy & Infrastructure Limited
- Astemo UK Ltd
- Joy Global (UK) Limited
- Joy Global (UK) Ltd
- Krones UK Ltd
- Momentive Performance Materials Ltd
These employers also hold a Global Business Mobility licence. They are examples from the register, not a sign that any of them is hiring.
Questions people ask
How many companies in Bolton sponsor visas?
On 5 October 2026, the Home Office register listed 561 Skilled Worker licences in Bolton, one for each organisation and town, and 594 organisations there held a sponsor licence of some kind. Within about 25 miles, another 6,690 Skilled Worker licences list one of 104 other towns.
Are the visa sponsors in Bolton A-rated?
560 of the 561 Skilled Worker licences in Bolton carry an A rating, and 1 carries a B rating (register, 5 October 2026). A B rating generally means the employer cannot sponsor new workers until it is back to an A rating.
How can I check if a company in Bolton can sponsor a visa?
Search its name in the Visavi sponsor check, which reads the same Home Office register. A licence means they can sponsor. It is not a promise that they will. Employers on the register here include Assystem Energy & Infrastructure Limited, Astemo UK Ltd and Joy Global (UK) Limited.
What this means for your search in Bolton
- Check the licence first. An employer needs a licence to sponsor a Skilled Worker visa. Use the sponsor check. The register changes often and lists legal names, which can differ from a brand name. Check the latest register on gov.uk before you rule an employer out.
- Read the advert's sponsorship line. "Applicants must already have the right to work in the UK" is a no, even from a licensed employer.
- Check the salary. Usually the higher of £41,700 and the going rate. For new entrants, the higher of £33,400 and 70% of the going rate. See salary thresholds and going rates.
- After an offer, ask about the Certificate of Sponsorship. See what to ask.
Full routine: How to find a job that sponsors your visa in the UK. Rules change: always check gov.uk.