In short: UK employers can hire overseas workers on the Skilled Worker visa. You'll need a Home Office sponsor licence, and the role must meet the salary rules (the general threshold or the occupation's going rate, whichever is higher; lower for eligible health and care roles). CA Recruitment sources candidates and guides you through sponsorship end to end.
What the UK Skilled Worker visa is
The Skilled Worker visa is the main UK route for hiring an overseas worker. To use it, the UK employer must hold a Home Office sponsor licence and issue the worker a Certificate of Sponsorship. The role must be an eligible occupation at the required skill level, and it must meet the salary rules below.
Salary thresholds
A Skilled Worker role must normally pay at least the general salary threshold or the published going rate for that specific occupation — whichever is higher. Lower thresholds apply to some workers (for example new entrants) and to eligible Health and Care Worker roles. Because the Home Office updates these figures, always confirm the current thresholds on GOV.UK before you plan a hire — we do this for you at the eligibility check.
The Health and Care Worker visa
Eligible health and care roles use the Health and Care Worker visa, part of the Skilled Worker route with a lower salary threshold and reduced fees for qualifying occupations. If you run a UK care home or healthcare service, this is usually the route that applies.
Sponsor duties and settlement
As a sponsor you take on record-keeping and reporting duties, and the Immigration Skills Charge applies to most sponsored roles. For the worker, the Skilled Worker route can lead to settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain) after five years.
What CA Recruitment does for UK employers
We source and vet candidates — primarily from the Philippines — and guide you through the sponsorship process: confirming the role and salary qualify, the Certificate of Sponsorship, and the worker's visa application, through to arrival. We work both the Irish (DETE) and UK Skilled Worker routes, so if you're hiring across both, you have one partner.
Ready to talk?
WhatsApp Monette for a free eligibility check — we'll confirm what qualifies and a realistic timeline.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. The UK employer needs a Home Office sponsor licence and issues the worker a Certificate of Sponsorship. The role must be an eligible occupation at the required skill level and meet the salary rules. CA Recruitment sources candidates and guides you through the sponsorship process.
A Skilled Worker role must normally pay at least the general salary threshold or the going rate for the occupation, whichever is higher, with lower thresholds for some workers and for eligible Health and Care Worker roles. The Home Office updates these figures, so always confirm the current thresholds on GOV.UK — we check them for you at the eligibility stage.
Yes. To sponsor a Skilled Worker you must hold a valid Home Office sponsor licence before you can issue a Certificate of Sponsorship. CA Recruitment guides you through what's required.
Yes. We manage the Irish DETE employment permit routes and the UK Skilled Worker visa route. If you hire across both Ireland and the UK, you have a single recruitment partner for sourcing and the immigration process.