London remains Britain’s busiest immigration gateway, issuing well over half of the country’s Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) in 2024. For international professionals, pinpointing UK Tier 2 visa sponsorship companies based in the capital is therefore the quickest route to a Skilled Worker visa.
This guide analyses ten employers that currently sponsor the largest volumes of talent, explains how the licensing framework operates, and sets out practical tactics for applicants determined to succeed in 2025 and beyond.
What Makes a London Employer a Home-Office-Licensed Tier 2 Visa Sponsor?
Worker-route sponsor-licence categories
The Skilled Worker visa, which replaced Tier 2 (General), sits inside the “Worker” stream. London organisations must demonstrate that every sponsored role meets RQF Level 3 skill thresholds and that salaries reach either £38,700 or the role-specific going rate.
Key personnel and compliance infrastructure
Each sponsor appoints an Authorising Officer and at least one Level 1 user to manage the Sponsorship Management System (SMS). These individuals are responsible for monitoring visa expiry dates, storing right-to-work evidence and reporting absences that exceed ten consecutive workdays.
Proving vacancy genuineness and salary integrity
The Home Office will only grant a licence if a firm can document the commercial need for a vacancy, map the duties to a Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code, and evidence that the advertised salary equals or exceeds the statutory minimum.
Maintaining status on the Register of Licensed Sponsors
Once approved, a sponsor must notify the Home Office of any organisational change ownership, address, merger within ten working days. Failure to do so risks suspension or revocation, which in turn invalidates all linked CoS.
How Does the UK Skilled-Worker (Tier 2) Visa Application Process Unfold in 2025?
From job offer to Certificate of Sponsorship
After accepting a qualifying role, the applicant receives a digital CoS reference that stays valid for 90 days. Submitting the visa application within this window is critical because an expired CoS cannot be re-activated.
Visa costs, Immigration Health Surcharge and biometrics
For most out-of-country applicants the main fee is £719 for visas up to three years and £1,420 beyond that term. The Immigration Health Surcharge currently stands at £1,035 per adult, charged up-front for the full visa duration. Biometric enrolment follows; standard processing averages 15 working days overseas or eight weeks in-country, though priority upgrades can compress this to five or even one working day.
Decision outcomes and next steps
A successful applicant receives an electronic visa (eVisa) that links to their passport chip, plus a Biometric Residence Permit if applying from inside the UK. The first day of paid employment must align with the start date recorded on the CoS.
Who Are the Top 10 UK Tier 2 Visa Sponsorship Companies in London?
1. Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust – “Healing London, Globally”
A magnet for overseas clinicians, this flagship NHS trust hires more than 1,000 international staff each year across nursing, radiography and specialist medicine.
A dedicated Global Mobility team guides recruits through visas, flights and accommodation, while an on-site education centre provides UK clinical-practice bridging courses. The Trust’s riverside location beside Westminster Bridge places new arrivals in the heart of the capital’s cultural landmarks.
Specialism
Secondary and tertiary acute healthcare for complex adult and paediatric cases.
Ideal For
Doctors and nurses seeking structured rotations and fast-track permanent residency.
Pricing
Visa fees and Immigration Health Surcharge reimbursed; Band 5 nurse salaries from £34k.
- Website: https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/
- Tel: +44 (0)20 7188 7188
- Address: Westminster Bridge Rd, London SE1 7EH
- Email: international.recruitment@gstt.nhs.uk
Review ★★★★☆
“From interview to ward shift took just six weeks—pastoral support was outstanding.”
2. Barclays PLC – “FinTech Heritage Meets Future Talent”
Barclays pairs a 330-year banking pedigree with cutting-edge digital-payments labs in Canary Wharf. Visa sponsorship centres on software engineers, risk analysts and data scientists. New hires receive a relocation stipend, mortgage-advice workshops and discounted Underground travel.
Core Strength
High-volume tech hiring inside a regulated banking environment.
Perfect Match
Engineers wanting blue-chip brand equity plus agile product squads.
Pricing
Full visa costs covered; tech-grade salaries start at £58k, AVP level.
- Website: https://home.barclays/
- Tel: +44 (0)20 7116 1000
- Address: 1 Churchill Place, London E14 5HP
- Email: graduates@barclays.com
Review ★★★★☆
“Barclays handled my CoS in two days and even paid the priority-visa surcharge.”
3. Deloitte LLP – “Insight-Driven. Impact-Delivered.”
The Big Four firm sponsors hundreds of overseas auditors, consultants and data-modellers into its Holborn campus each year. A global assignment team partners with Fragomen to manage paperwork and offers week-one tax briefings for newcomers.
Expertise
Multi-industry advisory projects spanning audit, cyber, AI and ESG.
Suits
Problem-solvers who crave fast promotion and cross-border secondments.
Pricing
Sponsorship & IHS reimbursed; analyst salaries from £49.8k plus ACA tuition.
- Website: deloitte.co.uk/careers
- Tel: +44 (0)20 7936 3000
- Address: 1 New Street Square, London EC4A 3HQ
- Email: ukrecruitment@deloitte.co.uk
Review ★★★★☆
“HR sent me a step-by-step visa tracker—zero surprises, just results.”
4. Amazon UK Services Ltd – “Delivering Tomorrow, Today”
From AWS architects to supply-chain managers, Amazon’s Principal Place office issues more CoS than any other London tech employer. Dedicated immigration specialists book Global Talent visas where faster, and new parents receive up to 20 weeks paid leave.
Forte
Cloud infrastructure and last-mile logistics innovation at hyperscale.
Tailored To
Builders who thrive on Day-1 culture and KPI-driven ownership.
Pricing
Complete visa & relocation package; Level 5 solutions architect salaries about £55k.
- Website: amazon.jobs
- Tel: 0800 279 7234
- Address: 1 Principal Place, Worship St, London EC2A 2FA
- Email: uk-talent@amazon.com
Review ★★★☆☆
“Process was fast but expect intense onboarding—worth it for the projects.”
5. Google UK Ltd – “Search, Cloud, AI—Powered by You”
Google’s King’s Cross campus lures world-class product managers, SREs and machine-learning researchers. The company fronts all immigration charges for staff and dependants, plus a no-interest loan to cover London deposits.
Hallmark
AI research and consumer-scale reliability engineering.
Advantageous For
Innovators chasing cutting-edge tooling and 20 per cent self-directed time.
Pricing
Visa fees paid; L4 engineer packages begin around £78k base.
- Website: careers.google.com
- Tel: +44 (0)20 7031 3000
- Address: 6 Pancras Square, London N1C 4AG
- Email: uk-recruiting@google.com
Review ★★★★★
“Relocation felt seamless—Google even arranged my NI number before arrival.”
6. Imperial College London – “Science for Benefit of Society”
Imperial sponsors post-doctoral fellows and research engineers across medicine, materials and robotics. An in-house International Student & Staff Office runs weekly drop-ins on visa extensions and dependants.
Signature Skill
High-impact STEM research, often in EU-funded consortia.
Recommended For
Researchers seeking world-top-10 lab facilities and joint-industry grants.
Pricing
Skilled-Worker fees refunded; PDRA salaries start at £43k.
- Website: imperial.ac.uk/jobs
- Tel: +44 (0)20 7589 5111
- Address: Exhibition Rd, London SW7 2AZ
- Email: international.staff@imperial.ac.uk
Review ★★★★☆
“My lab handled the CoS; I only uploaded documents—smooth and academic-friendly.”
7. Ernst & Young (UK) LLP – “Building a Better Working World”
EY’s More London campus sponsors tax, strategy and cyber-security graduates from 70+ countries. A points-based promotion ladder and hybrid-work kit sweeten the deal.
Leading Edge
Tech-infused assurance and big-data tax analytics.
Most Suitable For
Graduates wanting structured qualifications and global mobility swaps.
Pricing
Full sponsorship; graduate salaries from £47.5k plus sign-on bonus.
- Website: ey.com/uk/careers
- Tel: +44 (0)20 7951 2000
- Address: 1 More London Place, London SE1 2AF
- Email: ukstudenthire@uk.ey.com
Review ★★★★☆
“EY covered my family’s visas too—felt valued before day one.”
8. Barts Health NHS Trust – “East London’s Care, World-Class Talent”
Europe’s largest NHS trust recruits international doctors and allied-health staff for five hospitals. New starters benefit from free hospital accommodation for a month and paid OSCE exam fees.
Prime Competence
Emergency and trauma services across a 2.6 million-patient catchment.
Best Suited
Clinicians who want rapid exposure to high-acuity cases.
Pricing
Visa fees covered; FY2 equivalent salaries from £34k.
- Website: bartshealth.nhs.uk
- Tel: +44 (0)20 7377 7000
- Address: 1 Churchill Place, London E14 5HJ
- Email: international.recruitment@bartshealth.nhs.uk
Review ★★★★☆
“Accommodation near the Royal London eased my first-month stress immensely.”
9. PwC LLP – “Trust in a Digital World”
PwC sponsors strategy associates, cloud engineers and deal-analytics specialists. Its MyMobility app tracks every immigration milestone, while buddy schemes pair new hires with alumni from the same country.
Stand-out Skill
Data-driven consulting with deep regulatory insight.
Designed For
Analysts aspiring to MBA-level client impact without leaving the UK.
Pricing
Visa & IHS paid; associate packages from £50.7k plus annual bonus.
- Website: pwc.co.uk/careers
- Tel: +44 (0)20 7583 5000
- Address: 1 Embankment Place, London WC2N 6RH
- Email: experiencedhire@pwc.com
Review ★★★★☆
“My whole visa finished in 12 days—PwC’s app pinged me at every step.”
10. Goldman Sachs International – “Where Ideas Become Capital”
The Wall Street titan’s Plumtree Court HQ sponsors quant developers, traders and risk managers. A concierge arm coordinates visas, shipping and even school searches for dependants.
Hallmark Plus
High-frequency trading tech and complex derivative structuring.
Optimal For
Ambitious quants seeking top-quartile pay and steep learning curves.
Pricing
Complete immigration cover; new-grad engineer salaries about £80k plus sign-on.
- Website: goldmansachs.com/careers
- Tel: +44 (0)20 7774 1000
- Address: 25 Shoe Lane, London EC4A 4AU
- Email: emea-careers@gs.com
Review ★★★★☆
“Demanding hours, yes—but the visa process was white-glove from start to finish.”
What Eligibility Criteria Do International Applicants Need to Meet?
Salary and skill thresholds
Most Skilled-Worker roles must clear the higher of £38,700 or the occupation’s stated going rate. Positions on the Shortage Occupation Listnursing, certain AI roles, some secondary-school teaching posts enjoy concessions that lower the salary floor by 20 per cent.
English-language and maintenance requirements
Applicants normally prove English at CEFR B1 via IELTS or a bachelor’s degree taught in English. They must also show either £1,270 in personal funds held for 28 consecutive days or obtain an “A-rated” employer’s written maintenance guarantee.
Tuberculosis certificates and criminal-record checks
Citizens of high-incidence TB countries must supply a certificate no more than six months old. Certain healthcare and teaching roles require an overseas police clearance to satisfy safeguarding rules.
How Competitive Are Salaries and Benefits at London Visa-Sponsoring Firms?
Cash remuneration versus cost of living
Visa-sponsoring employers typically pitch salaries 10–20 per cent above national averages to counter London rents and transport costs. Financial-services and Big Tech firms often exceed this premium, especially in revenue-generating or highly specialised engineering posts.
Visa reimbursement and relocation assistance
Large multinationals such as Google and Amazon routinely refund both the Immigration Health Surcharge and the main visa fee for employees and dependants. Many also cover a one-way economy flight, two weeks of serviced accommodation, and a flat relocation grant that can reach £5,000.
Where Can Candidates Find Up-to-Date Sponsored Job Listings in the Capital?
Government-run resources
The official “Find a job” portal allows users to filter for roles flagged as Skilled Worker visa-eligible. Candidates can also download the Home Office sponsor register to cross-check any prospective employer.
Private-sector employment platforms
LinkedIn, Glassdoor and Indeed all support advanced Boolean searches such as “Skilled Worker visa” AND London. Many London recruiters add a “visa sponsorship available” badge to improve candidate targeting.
Sector-specific job boards
“For overseas doctors and nurses, the NHS Jobs portal is still the most reliable place to find sponsored clinical posts, while Tech Nation’s archived board continues to flag start-up and scale-up roles that come with visa budgets.”
What Common Pitfalls Cause Tier 2 Visa Rejections or Delays?
Mis-matched SOC codes
If the SOC code on the CoS does not align with the role described in the employment contract, the application is usually refused outright.
Insufficient maintenance evidence
Even a small shortfall in the £1,270 balance, or an unverified bank statement, invalidates the financial requirement.
Employer compliance breaches
When a sponsor fails a Home Office audit often for poor right-to-work records all linked CoS can be curtailed, giving employees only 60 days to find a new sponsor.
How Can Job-Seekers Improve Their Chances of Securing Tier 2 Sponsorship?
Targeting shortage occupations
Applying for roles on the Shortage Occupation List reduces the salary threshold and makes employers far more willing to absorb visa costs.
Strategic networking in London’s talent ecosystem
Connecting with university alumni, attending sector meet-ups and messaging in-house recruiters on LinkedIn consistently yields higher interview-conversion rates than cold applications.
Tailoring CVs to sponsor-licence language
Referencing the precise SOC code and mirroring terminology from the sponsor’s published role description reassures HR teams that the vacancy is genuine and sponsorship-compliant.
Why Do Sectors Like Tech and Healthcare Sponsor More Visas Than Others?
Chronic domestic skill shortages
The NHS grapples with vacancy rates above 10 per cent in London trusts, while FinTech and AI scale-ups outstrip the UK’s graduate pipeline, necessitating overseas hiring.
Government incentives and regulatory levers
Policy instruments such as the Health and Care visa route and the new Innovator Founder visa channel steer employers toward sponsorship by streamlining costs and processing times.
What Is the Future Outlook for Tier 2 Sponsorship in Post-Brexit Britain?
Imminent policy refinements
A white paper published in March 2025 foreshadows a points uplift for salaries above the 75th percentile and new fast-track loops for PhD-led R&D roles.
Impact of remote work and automation
While entry-level administrative jobs may diminish, demand for cyber-security analysts, AI safety researchers and green energy engineers is projected to push Skilled Worker numbers higher for the next three years.
Conclusion
London houses the densest cluster of UK Tier 2 visa sponsorship companies anywhere in the country. By focusing on licensed firms with robust compliance records, aligning skills with genuine shortages, and staying attuned to policy shifts, international candidates can convert a Skilled Worker visa into a long-term career foothold in the capital.
FAQs About UK Tier 2 Visa Sponsorship Companies
Can a Student-visa holder switch to the Skilled-Worker route inside the UK?
Yes. A student can apply once the course is completed or within 90 days of the official end date, provided a qualifying job offer and CoS are in place.
Do Tier 2 sponsors always pay the Immigration Health Surcharge?
Many large corporations reimburse the IHS, but they are not legally obliged to do so. Candidates should confirm the arrangement in their offer letter.
Is there an age limit for Skilled-Worker applicants?
No; eligibility depends on skill level, salary and English proficiency, not age.
When can a Skilled-Worker migrant apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain?
After five continuous years on qualifying visas, assuming salary and sponsorship conditions remain satisfied.
What happens if my employer’s sponsor licence is revoked?
The Home Office normally issues a 60-day curtailment notice. During that period you may switch to a new licensed sponsor or leave the UK.
Are dependants allowed to work in the UK?
Yes, partners and children over 16 can work in any role except professional sportsperson positions.
Can a Skilled-Worker visa holder work remotely outside the UK?
Short business trips are acceptable, but prolonged remote work abroad may interrupt continuous residence, jeopardising future ILR eligibility.