How to find a UK software or IT job with visa sponsorship (2026)

Which IT and software roles are eligible

The Skilled Worker route is open to the main technology occupations. GOV.UK lists these IT and software jobs as eligible occupations, with their occupation codes: programmers and software development professionals (code 2134), IT business analysts, architects and systems designers (code 2133), cyber security professionals (code 2135), IT project managers (code 2131) and IT managers (code 2132). Your Certificate of Sponsorship must state the occupation code that matches the actual job. Check the current GOV.UK eligible-occupations list for your specific role, as codes and eligibility can change.

You need a licensed sponsor — target them directly

Any UK employer can advertise a tech role, but only an employer on the Home Office register of licensed sponsors can sponsor your visa, by assigning you a Certificate of Sponsorship. A licence means an employer can sponsor — it does not mean they are hiring or will sponsor any particular role. Rather than applying to every listing, check whether an employer is licensed first. You can look up any company with our free sponsor licence checker, which searches a daily-refreshed copy of the register, and browse our live software, data and engineering roles, which are all tied to employers on the register.

The salary and going-rate reality for tech roles

Tech occupations do not use NHS pay scales. For most Skilled Worker applications your salary must be at least the higher of the general salary threshold and the occupation's official going rate — a per-occupation figure published by GOV.UK. Because these figures change, we do not restate them here: our sponsored-salary guide shows the median advertised salary for each occupation on our live board alongside the official GOV.UK going rate, with the dates. Always confirm the figure for your occupation code on GOV.UK.

Prove your English and check your situation

New Skilled Worker applicants must prove English at level B2 on the CEFR scale — through a Secure English Language Test, a UK degree taught in English, an Ecctis-assessed overseas degree, or a nationality exemption if you are a national of one of the listed majority English-speaking countries. This guide is general information, not immigration advice: it never tells you that you personally qualify. Always check your own situation against the current GOV.UK Skilled Worker guidance.