Visa-sponsoring employers in London
35,287 employers in London hold a Skilled Worker licence (register, 5 October 2026). Here's what that means for your search.
Home Office register,
The short answer
35,584
Skilled Worker licences in London
Home Office register, 5 October 2026
London has the highest count of the 493 towns with a page on Visavi. 35,571 of those licences carry an A rating, and 13 carry a B rating. Within about 25 miles, another 16,153 Skilled Worker licences list one of 310 other towns.
Counted by the register's own town column, London's Skilled Worker licences are 28.9% of the 123,132 Skilled Worker licences on the register.
Counting every licence route, 36,641 organisations in London hold a sponsor licence of some kind.
Besides Skilled Worker, the licence routes held most often here are Global Business Mobility: Senior or Specialist Worker (5,711), Creative Worker (779) and Tier 2 Ministers of Religion (396).
5,497 of the Skilled Worker sponsors in London also hold a Global Business Mobility licence, the routes that bring an overseas employer's staff to work in the UK.
By registered name, 1,205 have "tech", "software", "digital" or "data" in their name; 859 have "restaurant", "kitchen", "cafe" or "food" in their name; and 818 describe themselves as consultants or consultancies.
The nearest towns with their own page are Hammersmith (5 miles, 27 licences), Leyton (6 miles, 30 licences), Wimbledon (7 miles, 78 licences) and Walthamstow (7 miles, 37 licences).
| Licence route | Count |
|---|---|
| Skilled Worker | 35,584 |
| Global Business Mobility: Senior or Specialist Worker | 5,711 |
| Creative Worker | 779 |
| Tier 2 Ministers of Religion | 396 |
| Charity Worker | 315 |
| Rating | Licences |
|---|---|
| A rating | 35,571 |
| B rating | 13 |
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
- Tabacalera SLU
- 3i plc
- AB InBev UK Ltd
- ABN AMRO Bank N.V., UK Branch
- Acrisure International Holdings
- Addleshaw Goddard LLP
- Adonis Smart Foods Ltd
- Akelius Residential Limited
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 London sponsor visas?
On 5 October 2026, the Home Office register listed 35,584 Skilled Worker licences in London, one for each organisation and town, and 36,641 organisations there held a sponsor licence of some kind. Within about 25 miles, another 16,153 Skilled Worker licences list one of 310 other towns.
Are the visa sponsors in London A-rated?
35,571 of the 35,584 Skilled Worker licences in London carry an A rating, and 13 carry 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 London 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 Tabacalera SLU, 3i plc and AB InBev UK Ltd.
What this means for your search in London
- 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.