Social worker jobs with UK visa sponsorship
What social worker roles pay against the Skilled Worker going rate, and who can sponsor.
Checked against gov.uk on
The short answer
Social worker jobs are paid on NHS Agenda for Change pay bands. 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. 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.
Social workers support children, families and adults through difficult situations, and protect people at risk.
| Occupation (SOC code) | Going rate |
|---|---|
| Social workers (2461) | NHS Agenda for Change pay bands (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), Table 4 of the Home Office tables, on gov.uk |
How many visas were granted for these occupation codes?
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SOC 2461 Social workers
In the year to June 2026, the Home Office granted 157 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, 155 were Health and Care Worker visas.
The industries sponsors gave most often for these visas: Public Admin and defence; compulsory social security (113), Other Service Activities (24) and Human Health and Social Work Activities (14).
The most common nationalities among them: Zimbabwe (97), South Africa (30) and India (14).
| Occupation code | Jul to Sep 2025 | Oct to Dec 2025 | Jan to Mar 2026 (provisional) | Apr to Jun 2026 (provisional) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOC 2461 | 50 | 22 | 40 | 45 |
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 social worker jobs
Social worker roles sit on the Home Office table of occupations paid on national pay scales, which is open to new Skilled Worker applications.
Job titles listed under 2461 include Mental health social worker, Social worker, Senior practitioner (local government: social services), Team leader (local government: social services) and Independent review officer (social worker).
What sponsors look for in social worker hires
Social workers are on the national pay scale table in the Home Office tables. Councils are the largest employers, and many hold sponsor licences.
You must register with the regulator for the nation you work in: Social Work England, the Scottish Social Services Council, Social Care Wales or the Northern Ireland Social Care Council.
Newly qualified social workers in England usually complete a supported first year in employment. Councils and children’s services are the main employers.
Rules change: always check gov.uk for the current thresholds, and when you can be paid less.
The evidence on every job in Visavi
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
FROM THIS ADVERT
"We welcome applications from candidates who require visa sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route."
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 social worker 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 NHS Agenda for Change pay bands, 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 social worker job?
The employer chooses the code from the duties of the job, not the title. Visavi maps social worker roles to SOC 2461 (social workers). Job titles the Home Office lists under 2461 include Mental health social worker, Social worker, Senior practitioner (local government: social services) and Team leader (local government: social services).
Can a social worker use the Health and Care Worker visa?
gov.uk lists SOC 2461 (social workers) 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 social worker jobs use?
In the year to June 2026, the Home Office granted 157 Skilled Worker entry clearance visas, including Health and Care Worker visas, to main applicants applying from outside the UK for SOC 2461 (social workers). Of those, 155 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