Software development jobs with visa sponsorship

How visa sponsorship works for software development 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.

Software developers and engineers are the largest sponsored IT group in the UK, hired by product companies, consultancies and financial services across the country.

Salary requirements for a Skilled Worker visa

For a Skilled Worker visa in software development, you usually need to be paid the higher of the standard salary threshold (£41,700 per year) and the occupation's official “going rate”. The published going rate for this occupation is £54,700 per year (based on a 37.5-hour week, effective 22 July 2025). Lower thresholds can apply in limited cases (for example some new entrants), and the exact requirement depends on your circumstances and Certificate of Sponsorship date — check GOV.UK. Roles paying below the applicable figure cannot normally be sponsored on the standard route, which is why we check advertised salaries against these thresholds before publishing.

Registration and qualifications

To work in software development in the UK, there is no legal registration requirement — this occupation does not appear on the UK's list of professions regulated by law, so employers assess your skills and experience directly. Professional bodies such as BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, exist and membership can strengthen a CV, but it is not required to work.

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 software development 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.