SPath helps job seekers across the UK, Africa, the US and Europe find jobs, build stronger applications, reach employers, prepare for interviews and manage their job search from one place. UK visa sponsorship is one specialist pathway inside SPath.

How do I find UK visa sponsorship jobs in 2026?

Use SPath's UK sponsorship pathway to search 139,720+ organisations indexed from the Home Office Register of Licensed Sponsors for free, filtered by industry, location and visa route. SPath then helps you check each role's salary and occupation-code fit, prepare a targeted application, reach the employer and track your progress. Always verify the current register and each vacancy on GOV.UK.

How many companies sponsor visas in the UK?

As of 2026, there are over 139,720 organisations on the UK Home Office Register of Licensed Sponsors. SPath indexes the full register and lets you search by industry, location, and visa route.

What visa routes can be sponsored by UK employers?

UK employers can sponsor workers under routes including the Skilled Worker visa, Health and Care Worker visa, Global Business Mobility, Scale-up visa, Creative Worker visa, and KTP (Knowledge Transfer Partnership). SPath explains each major route in depth, plus unsponsored options like the Graduate visa.

Is SPath free to use?

Yes. SPath Free is free for Founding Members and needs no card. It includes employer and sponsor search, CV and application help, outreach resources, interview preparation and an application tracker. SPath Max is an optional £99.99 one-time upgrade that does the research, drafting and tracking for you.

Can international students find sponsorship jobs on SPath?

Yes. SPath's UK sponsorship pathway lets you search 139,720+ licensed sponsors and uses transparent role-to-industry matching to show which licensed employers commonly align with your target role. The same account gives you CV, outreach, interview and tracking tools for the rest of your search.

What is the minimum salary for a Skilled Worker visa?

The general minimum salary threshold is £41,700 for most roles, or the going rate for the occupation, whichever is higher. 'New entrant' rates for recent graduates or those under 26 are lower, with a floor around £33,400. Health & Care Worker roles require £25,000, with the Agenda for Change Band 3 entry point rising to £25,760 from April 2026. Always verify current thresholds on GOV.UK before applying.

How often is the sponsor data updated?

SPath's sponsor data is indexed from the official UK Government Register of Licensed Sponsors, which the Home Office updates regularly. Licences are added and removed over time, so always confirm an employer's current status on GOV.UK before applying.

What does SPath Max include?

SPath Max is a paid workflow that saves you time: it researches employers, organises your pipeline, drafts applications, outreach and follow-ups, and tracks everything, while you approve every important action. It costs £99.99 once, with no subscription or success fee.

Job Search Guide · 6 min read · Updated 2026-10-10

How to Ask for a Job Referral (Even From People You Barely Know)

Why referrals work, who to ask, and short message templates for friends, former colleagues and alumni, plus how to make referring you easy.

A referral moves your application from a pile of strangers to a recommendation from someone the employer already trusts. Many companies also pay staff a bonus for successful referrals, so you may be helping the person you ask.

You do not need a large network. You need a few relevant people and a clear, easy request.

Who to ask

Friends and former colleagues who work at your target company.
Alumni from your university or school. Shared background earns surprisingly high reply rates.
People from your community, professional groups or previous employers.
Second-degree LinkedIn connections, through an introduction from the person you both know.

Template: someone you know

Hi [Name], I hope you are well. I have seen [Company] is hiring for [Role] ([link]) and I think it is a strong fit: I have [one relevant result]. Would you be comfortable referring me? I have attached my CV and a two-line summary you could use. No pressure at all if it is not possible. Thank you!

Template: someone you do not know yet

Hi [Name], I noticed we both studied at [University] and that you work on [team] at [Company]. I am applying for [Role] and would value ten minutes to hear what the team is like. If after that you feel comfortable referring me, I would be grateful, but I would appreciate your perspective either way.

With people you do not know, ask for a conversation first and let the referral follow naturally.

Make referring you easy

Send the exact job link and job reference number.
Attach a tailored CV, not a general one.
Write a two or three line summary they can paste into the referral form.
Thank them, and tell them the outcome, whatever it is.

What not to do

Ask a stranger for a referral in your first message.
Ask one person to refer you for several unrelated roles.
Chase repeatedly. One gentle reminder after a week is enough.

How SPath Global helps

LinkedIn optimisation guides and outreach templates are in your free account.
PathTracker records who you asked, for which role, and when to follow up.
Saved employer targets help you see where your network can open doors.