How to Get a Visa and Work Permit in the United Kingdom (2025)

With a strong economy and diverse industries, the UK remains an attractive destination for skilled professionals and entrepreneurs alike. However, navigating the UK’s visa and work permit system—governed by the UK government and enforced by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI)—can be complex and time-consuming, involving strict sponsorship rules, extensive supporting documents, and compliance hurdles.

These challenges often lead to delays, elevated application fees, and increased organizational risk, especially for companies new to UK immigration. UK employers who wish to sponsor workers face ongoing audits from the Home Office, strict record-keeping, and high standards to maintain their licenses, while visa holders must meet salary thresholds, skill requirements, and pay health surcharges. The fragmentation and bureaucracy can deter fast hiring and limit access to critical talent.

Deel Immigration removes these blockers by offering a seamless, end-to-end visa application process and work permit solution. As a trusted Employer of Record (EOR) and immigration expert, Deel handles sponsorship, compliance, document legalization, biometric information collection, and application tracking—all through a user-friendly platform. This lets employers hire quickly, comply with immigration rules, and scale effortlessly.

With Deel supporting your UK hiring journey, expect faster approvals, reduced administrative burdens, and full visibility into every step of entering the UK workforce. Unlock the potential of UK talent and markets confidently in 2025 and beyond.

How easy is it to get a work visa in the United Kingdom?

Obtaining a work permit in the UK is moderately challenging for foreign nationals. The difficulty often depends on factors such as the applicant’s skills and education level, and whether there is high local demand for the applicant’s potential job title and scope.

Employers are also required to meet extensive requirements to sponsor work visas.

Are there different types of entry visas and work permits in the United Kingdom?

Yes. The main types of entry visas and work permits in the UK include:

• Skilled Worker Visa: A visa for individuals with a job offer from a UK employer in an eligible role. Requires sponsorship and meets salary/skill criteria. Valid up to five years and extendable
• Dependent Visa: Allows spouses, partners, and children of certain visa holders (like Skilled Workers) to live, work, and study in the UK. Duration matches the main visa holder’s stay
• Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR): Permanent residency status in the UK, allowing unlimited stay and work. Usually available after five years on an eligible visa

United Kingdom visa and work permit eligibility requirements for candidates

Candidates must meet a minimum salary threshold for most work visas and possess relevant qualifications or a valid job offer at the required skill level.

UK visa comparison table

For a fast, expert eligibility assessment—including a detailed cost breakdown—Deel Immigration can review your or your candidate’s profile within 48 hours, helping streamline the first step in your UK hiring journey.

See also: Self-Verify Global Employee Visa Eligibility in Minutes

Visa and work‑permit sponsorship criteria for UK employers

UK employers must be licensed sponsors registered with the UK Home Office and comply with extensive sponsorship duties before hiring foreign workers. This includes securing a Sponsorship License, implementing compliance systems, and requesting Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) for each new foreign hire—a process that’s especially complex for organizations navigating UK immigration for the first time.

To sponsor visas, the requesting company must be a legal entity incorporated and actively trading in the UK. The business must demonstrate robust HR systems to monitor sponsored employees and maintain compliance, including record-keeping, reporting obligations, and cooperation with UK Visas and Immigration for audits. Failing to meet these requirements can result in license suspension or fines.

For global companies or startups entering the UK market without local entities, partnering with an Employer of Record such as Deel enables visa sponsorship without setting up a full UK company. The EOR becomes the legal employer for immigration purposes, handling onboarding, compliance, payroll, and all sponsorship duties so that foreign talent can work in the UK legally and quickly.

Deel Immigration, a G2-leading Employer of Record in 150+ countries, specializes in sponsoring employees for over 200 permit types across 40 countries, including the UK’s main work visas. Deel manages large volumes of complex filings, delivers expert compliance advice, and leverages its experience to secure Certificates of Sponsorship and work permits far faster than most in-house HR teams. For scaling organizations, Deel’s platform makes high-volume sponsorship smooth, speeding up global hiring without compliance risk.

See also: Easy Visa Sponsorship for Exploring New International Markets

United Kingdom work‑permit application process

Follow this five-step roadmap to obtain a UK work permit with confidence and minimal stress during your visa application process.

Step one: Job offer and Certificate of Sponsorship

Obtain a job offer from a licensed UK sponsor with a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). The applicant must secure a formal employment offer from a UK-based organization with an active Sponsorship License, which then issues a unique CoS number.

Tip: With Deel EOR, you can skip the lengthy sponsorship license application process and accelerate global hiring and visa approvals, enabling you to hire in days, not months.

Step two: Prepare and submit your visa application form on the UK government portal

Prepare and submit the visa application form on the UK government website with all required supporting documents, including legalized and translated documents.
Applicants must gather proof of qualifications, references, financial support, and English language proficiency, ensuring all supporting documents are legalized and translated by UK-certified professionals. Deel’s platform automates compliance checks and document requests, reducing manual back-and-forth.

Tip: Upload all documents to Deel’s self-serve portal for instant review and translation.

Step three: Pay application fees and health surcharge

Pay the visa application fees and the healthcare surcharge as part of the submission process. Both government visa fees and the Immigration Health Surcharge must be settled up front.

Tip: Deel tracks and consolidates all your payments, giving you a transparent cost summary.

Step four: Attend biometric information appointments

Attend any required biometric appointments or interviews as requested by UK Visas and Immigration.
Applicants may be called for biometric fingerprinting or an in-person interview at a local visa application centre. Deel notifies candidates of upcoming appointments and offers partner discounts for travel and relocation support as needed.

Tip: Schedule biometrics early to avoid delays, and leverage Deel’s relocation partners for assistance with travel logistics.

Step five: Track your application status and wait for the decision

Wait for the decision, which usually takes between 3 to 8 weeks, depending on the visa type and application location.

Tip: Applicants can track application status using Deel’s real-time in-app visa tracker, receiving alerts at every stage from submission to approval.

See also: Application Guide for Enterprise Employee Visas

What is the cost of a visa and work permit in the United Kingdom?

Costs depend on the specific visa, applicant nationality, family members, and whether the employer or employee covers sponsorship and legal expenses.

Deel provides transparent, flat pricing on all UK immigration and sponsorship services, with no hidden fees. Clients receive a detailed, upfront breakdown—so budgeting for talent mobility in the UK is easy and predictable.

Is Deel Immigration the best choice for hiring in the United Kingdom?

Absolutely. Deel Immigration stands out as the premier partner for navigating the United Kingdom’s complex visa and work-permit landscape, offering seamless end-to-end management that simplifies every step from sponsorship to settlement. Their deep expertise in UK immigration compliance ensures your hires are processed smoothly, fast, and with minimal risk. You get:

• End-to-end immigration management handling all UK sponsorship requirements
• Fast free visa assessments to quickly determine candidate eligibility
• Personalized expert support guiding you through UK Home Office compliance
• Real-time application tracking with instant updates on visa status
• Automated renewal reminders to keep your workforce compliant and proactive

With Deel Immigration, you can confidently accelerate your UK hiring process while maintaining full legal compliance.

Hire employees in the United Kingdom faster with Deel Immigration

Deel Immigration empowers your organization to hire top talent in the UK without the usual delays and compliance headaches. Their end-to-end immigration management service expertly navigates the UK’s sponsorship licensing, Certificate of Sponsorship issuance, and document legalization requirements, ensuring that your visa applications proceed quickly and correctly the first time.

Additionally, Deel’s personalized expert support team is always on hand to answer questions, resolve issues, and provide strategic guidance tailored to your organization’s needs. This hands-on approach, combined with their technology platform’s self-serve document uploads and real-time application tracking, drastically reduces wait times and administrative burdens.

Book a free consultation with Deel Immigration today to experience how their streamlined immigration services can accelerate your UK hiring and keep your global workforce compliant and productive from day one.