Occupational therapy jobs with visa sponsorship in Winchester

How visa sponsorship works for occupational therapy roles

To work in the UK on a Skilled Worker visa you need a job offer from an employer approved by the Home Office — a “licensed sponsor” — who assigns you a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for the specific role. Only employers on the official register of licensed sponsors can do this. Every employer listed on this page appears on that register for the Skilled Worker route, checked nightly. A licence means an employer can sponsor; it does not guarantee sponsorship for any particular vacancy, so always confirm sponsorship for the specific role before applying.

Occupational therapists are in demand across NHS, social care and community rehabilitation settings.

The roles above are located in and around Winchester. Many sponsors recruit across several sites, so if you are flexible it is worth also browsing the full occupational therapy list and filtering by region on the main jobs board.

Salary requirements for a Skilled Worker visa

Healthcare salaries for the Skilled Worker route follow the NHS national pay scales: your salary must meet at least the pay-scale going rate for your band and UK nation, and never less than the £25,000 absolute floor for national-pay-scale health roles. A typical entry grade for sponsored occupational therapy posts is NHS Band 6, which has a minimum of £37,338 per year in England. Rates differ by band and between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (figures effective 22 July 2025) — always confirm the band and salary for the specific job with the employer.

Many occupational therapy roles with the NHS, an NHS supplier or in adult social care qualify for the Health and Care Worker visa — a variant of the Skilled Worker route with lower application fees and no immigration health surcharge. Your employer will confirm which route your Certificate of Sponsorship uses.

Registration and qualifications

To work in occupational therapy in the UK, you must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) to use the protected title and practise in the UK. Overseas-trained professionals apply through the HCPC's international application process.

Preparing your move to the UK

• Job offer + Certificate of Sponsorship from a licensed sponsor — the starting point for any Skilled Worker application.
• English language: new applicants must prove English at level B2 (CEFR) — for example through an approved Secure English Language Test or a degree taught in English.
• Qualification recognition: where your qualification was not awarded in the UK, check whether an Ecctis assessment or regulator-specific evaluation is needed.
• TB test: applicants from some countries need a tuberculosis test from an approved clinic — check the GOV.UK list for your country.
• Timing: regulator registration (where required) can take several months — start it early, in parallel with your job search.

Frequently asked questions

Do the employers on this page guarantee visa sponsorship?

No — and be wary of anyone who says otherwise. Every employer here holds a Home Office sponsor licence, which means they can sponsor Skilled Worker visas. Whether they sponsor a specific vacancy is their decision at hiring time, so always confirm it for the role before applying.

What salary do I need for a occupational therapy role?

The higher of the applicable threshold and the official going rate for the occupation — see the salary section above for the current figures and where they come from.

Can my family come with me?

Skilled Worker visa holders in eligible occupations can usually bring a partner and children as dependants, subject to the rules on GOV.UK — check the official guidance for your circumstances.