Top 10 UK Employers in 2025: Who Offers Visa Sponsorship?
The UK job market in 2025 remains one of the most attractive in the world, especially for foreign nationals seeking visa-sponsored employment. With its robust economy, thriving sectors and globally renowned institutions, the United Kingdom continues to attract international talent.
If you are searching for UK visa sponsorship jobs in 2025, understanding which companies offer work permits is essential. Below, we explore the top 10 UK employers in 2025, highlighting whether they sponsor work visas and what sectors they operate in.
1. NHS (National Health Service)
Employees: c. 1,510,000 (including NHS England, Scotland and Wales)
Sector: Public
Visa Sponsorship: Yes (role-dependent)
Sponsorship Route: Skilled Worker visa and Health and Care Worker visa. A-rated sponsor.
The NHS remains the largest employer in the UK and one of the most consistent sources of visa-sponsored jobs. From doctors and nurses to IT specialists and administrative professionals, the NHS regularly recruits skilled foreign nationals. As an A-rated sponsor, the NHS lists hundreds of roles eligible for visa sponsorship.
Search visa-sponsored NHS jobs on UK Visa Jobs
2. Tesco
Employees: c. 350,000
Sector: Private
Visa Sponsorship: Yes (for eligible roles)
Sponsorship Route: Mainly Skilled Worker visa. A-rated sponsor.
Tesco continues to dominate the UK retail landscape. While entry-level retail roles typically do not qualify for visa sponsorship, opportunities in technology, logistics, data science and management are often open to international applicants.
Find Tesco visa-sponsored roles
3. Sainsbury’s
Employees: c. 148,000
Sector: Private
Visa Sponsorship: Rare (role-specific)
Sponsorship Route: Mainly Skilled Worker visa. A-rated sponsor.
Sainsbury’s remains a major private employer in the UK. Most retail-based jobs are not eligible for sponsorship, but foreign nationals with skills in finance, supply chain, IT and digital transformation may qualify for visa-sponsored roles.
Find Sainsbury’s visa-sponsored roles
4. Ministry of Justice (MoJ)
Employees: c. 90,000
Sector: Public
Visa Sponsorship: No
The Ministry of Justice is now one of the UK’s largest public sector employers. It manages the court system, prisons and other justice services. However, MoJ roles are restricted to British nationals, Irish citizens and eligible Commonwealth applicants. It does not sponsor work visas under the Skilled Worker route.
5. Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
Employees: c. 87,000
Sector: Public
Visa Sponsorship: No
The DWP is one of the largest government departments, but remains restricted in its hiring. Visa sponsorship is not offered due to civil service nationality requirements. Roles are mostly limited to UK nationals, Irish citizens and certain Commonwealth applicants.
6. Amazon UK
Employees: c. 75,000
Sector: Private
Visa Sponsorship: Yes (role-dependent) - New Entry in 2025
Sponsorship Route: Skilled Worker visa. A-rated sponsor.
Amazon UK has climbed into the top 10 this year, overtaking traditional government departments. The company hires for various roles in software engineering, logistics, cloud computing and operations, many of which are eligible for visa sponsorship.
Explore Amazon visa-sponsored jobs
7. BT Group
Employees: c. 69,700
Sector: Private
Visa Sponsorship: Yes (for technical and some graduate roles) - New Entry in 2025
Sponsorship Route: Skilled Worker Visa
British Telecom (BT) re-enters the top 10 this year due to its expansion in digital infrastructure. BT offers visa sponsorship for roles in cybersecurity, engineering, AI and IT. It also actively recruits international graduates via structured programmes.
Find BT Group jobs that sponsor visas
8. HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)
Employees: c. 66,000
Sector: Public
Visa Sponsorship: No
HMRC plays a critical role in tax collection and public funding across the UK. Despite its size, HMRC does not offer visa sponsorship, in line with wider civil service nationality restrictions. Most roles are only open to UK nationals, Irish citizens or eligible Commonwealth applicants.
9. Ministry of Defence (MOD)
Employees: c. 55,000
Sector: Public
Visa Sponsorship: No
The MOD manages national defence and intelligence. Due to the nature of its work, visa sponsorship is not available, and roles are strictly limited to British citizens and select Commonwealth applicants.
10. Home Office
Employees: c. 53,900
Sector: Public
Visa Sponsorship: No
As the department responsible for immigration, borders and national security, the Home Office is a significant employer. However, it does not sponsor work visas, and its roles are usually limited to individuals with existing work rights in the UK.
What’s Changed Since the 2024 Analysis?
Public Sector Slightly Down in Visa Accessibility
While the public sector still dominates in workforce numbers, visa sponsorship remains limited to the NHS. Departments like the MOD, MoJ, HMRC and Home Office continue to restrict access due to Civil Service rules.
Amazon and BT Group Break into the Top 10
- Amazon UK jumped up the ranks thanks to continued expansion in e-commerce, logistics and cloud computing, creating more tech and operations roles suitable for sponsorship.
- BT Group returned to the top 10, driven by growing demand for digital connectivity and structured hiring of international graduates and engineers.
Conclusion: Where Should Foreign Nationals Focus in 2025?
If you’re an international job seeker in 2025, your best chance of securing visa sponsorship in the UK lies in the private sector, particularly with employers like Amazon, HSBC, Barclays, Tesco and BT Group. The NHS also remains a top public sector option for healthcare professionals.
To maximise your success, use platforms like UK Visa Jobs that curate visa-sponsored job listings and help connect you with employers ready to support Skilled Worker visa applications.
