Dentist jobs with UK visa sponsorship

What dentist roles pay against the Skilled Worker going rate, and who can sponsor.

Checked against gov.uk on 6 October 2026

The short answer

Dentist jobs are paid on national pay scales set separately for each UK nation. For a Skilled Worker visa, the salary has to meet the going rate the Home Office sets from those scales for the grade of the job, and be at least £25,000 a year. For example, Dental foundation training and equivalent in England: £38,472. Many of these jobs can also use the Health and Care Worker visa. Figures from the Home Office going-rate tables, updated 11 November 2025.

Dentists diagnose and treat problems with teeth and gums, in high-street practices, community services and hospitals.

National pay scales for dentist roles, Home Office tables, 11 November 2025
Occupation (SOC code)	Going rate
Dental practitioners (2253, England)	Dental foundation training and equivalent (35-hour week): £38,472 Dental core training (hospital dental services) and equivalent (40-hour week): £49,909 Dental specialty training and equivalent (40-hour week): £61,825 Band A posts (for example, Community practitioner) and equivalent (37.5-hour week): £50,512 Band B posts (for example, Senior dental officer) and equivalent (37.5-hour week): £78,573 Band C posts (for example, Specialist / managerial posts) and equivalent (37.5-hour week): £94,007 Consultant and equivalent (40-hour week): £105,504 These going rates are per year and based on the weekly working hours stated above.
Dental practitioners (2253, Scotland)	Dental foundation training (Hospital dental services) known as Vocational Training in Scotland (based on a 35-hour week): £39,603 Dental core training and equivalent: £50,538 Band A posts (for example, Community practitioner) and equivalent: £52,035 Band B posts (for example, Senior dental officer) and equivalent: £80,942 Band C posts (for example, Specialist / managerial posts) and equivalent: £96,841 These going rates are per year and (unless otherwise stated) based on a 40-hour working week.
Dental practitioners (2253, Wales)	Dental foundation training (Hospital dental services) and equivalent: £38,292 Dental core training and equivalent: £41,269 Band A posts (for example, Community practitioner) and equivalent: £50,789 Band B posts (for example, Senior dental officer) and equivalent: £79,003 Band C posts (for example, Specialist / managerial posts) and equivalent: £94,525 Consultant and equivalent (37.5 hour week): £106,000 These going rates are per year and based on a 40 hour working week unless noted.
Dental practitioners (2253, Northern Ireland)	Dental foundation year two training (Hospital dental services) and equivalent: £36,371 Dental specialty training and equivalent (40-hour week): £38,780 Community Dental Officer and equivalent (37.5-hour week): £47,655 Senior community dental officer and equivalent (37.5-hour week): £74,129 Specialist Community Dentist (37.5-hour week): £88,686 Assistant Community Clinical Director (37.5-hour week): £88,686 Community Clinical Director (37.5-hour week): £88,686 Administrative dentists: Dental Officer (37- hour week): £43,738 Senior Dental Officer (37-hour week): £62,500 Assistant clinical Director (37-hour week): £83,051 Clinical Director (37-hour week): £83,051 Consultant Northern Ireland (40-hour week): £94,127 These going rates are per year and based on the weekly working hours stated above.

Grades from the Home Office table. The full table, with every note, is on gov.uk.

How many visas were granted for these occupation codes?

SOC 2253 Dental practitioners

In the year to June 2026, the Home Office granted 482 Skilled Worker entry clearance visas, including Health and Care Worker visas, to main applicants applying from outside the UK for this occupation code.
Of those, 462 were Health and Care Worker visas.
The industries sponsors gave most often for these visas: Human Health and Social Work Activities (474).
The most common nationalities among them: Iran (73), Taiwan (63) and Sudan (49).

Skilled Worker entry clearance visas (including Health and Care Worker visas) granted by quarter, year to June 2026
Occupation code	Jul to Sep 2025	Oct to Dec 2025	Jan to Mar 2026 (provisional)	Apr to Jun 2026 (provisional)
SOC 2253	156	109	125	92

Visas applied for from outside the UK only: switches inside the UK, for example from a Student or Graduate visa, are not counted. The sponsor chooses the occupation code and the industry. A small number of grants that could not be matched to a certificate of sponsorship are not included. Figures for January to June 2026 are provisional. Source: Home Office, Sponsored work entry clearance visas by occupation and industry (SOC 2020), year ending June 2026 (published 27 August 2026). Immigration system statistics data tables.

What the rules say for dentist jobs

Dentist roles sit on the Home Office table of occupations paid on national pay scales, which is open to new Skilled Worker applications.

Examples from the Home Office table: Dental foundation training and equivalent in England: £38,472 and Dental core training (hospital dental services) and equivalent in England: £49,909.

Job titles listed under 2253 include Dentist, Dental surgeon, Orthodontist and Periodontist.

What sponsors look for in dentist hires

Dental practitioners are on national pay scales, with separate rates for each UK nation. The figures shown are the posts listed in the Home Office table.

You need to be registered with the General Dental Council. Many high-street practices are small businesses, so check each practice holds a licence before you apply.

UK dental graduates usually complete dental foundation training. Dentists who qualified abroad need to meet the GDC requirements that apply to their qualification.

Rules change: always check gov.uk for the current thresholds, and when you can be paid less.

The evidence on every job in Visavi

Sponsorship: Active

AI VERDICT

Strong apply

Your profile fits, and the advert says they can sponsor.

UK SPONSOR REGISTER

Organisation: Northbank Analytics
Town: London
Type and rating: Worker (A rating)
Route: Skilled Worker

WHAT THIS MEANS

The advert says they can sponsor. Those are their words, not a promise they will sponsor you.

Questions people ask

What is the minimum salary for a dentist on a Skilled Worker visa?

There is no single figure. The salary has to be at least £25,000 a year and the rate for the grade of the job on national pay scales set separately for each UK nation, as listed in the Home Office tables updated 11 November 2025, whichever is higher. Check the healthcare and education rules on gov.uk.

Which occupation code is a dentist job?

The employer chooses the code from the duties of the job, not the title. Visavi maps dentist roles to SOC 2253 (dental practitioners). Job titles the Home Office lists under 2253 include Dentist, Dental surgeon, Orthodontist and Periodontist.

Can a dentist use the Health and Care Worker visa?

gov.uk lists SOC 2253 (dental practitioners) among the occupation codes for the Health and Care Worker visa. The job offer has to come from the NHS, an organisation providing medical services to the NHS, or an organisation providing adult social care. Check gov.uk for the full rules.

How many Skilled Worker visas were granted for the occupation codes dentist jobs use?

In the year to June 2026, the Home Office granted 482 Skilled Worker entry clearance visas, including Health and Care Worker visas, to main applicants applying from outside the UK for SOC 2253 (dental practitioners). Of those, 462 were Health and Care Worker visas.

Sources

Appendix Skilled Occupations (going rates) Updated 11 November 2025
Skilled Worker visa: your job
Skilled Worker visa: when you can be paid less
Home Office: sponsored work visas by occupation and industry Sponsored work entry clearance visas by occupation and industry (SOC 2020), year ending June 2026, published 27 August 2026