Skilled Worker visa · hiring now

AI and ML engineer jobs in the UK with visa sponsorship (2026)

These are AI and ML engineer roles in the UK at companies that can sponsor a work visa: the posting says so, or the company is on the official sponsor register. Roles whose posting says it cannot sponsor are left out. Recent ones come from Faculty, Mistral AI and Accenture.

General salary threshold
£41,700 a year
Software developers (SOC 2134)
£54,700 a year
Visa fee, applying from outside the UK, up to 3 years
£819

Hiring now, and can sponsor

Show 15 more companies

Every role, newest first

Datatonic

Datatonic

London

Team Lead, AI & Machine Learning

—

1d ago

Mistral AI

Mistral AI

London

Applied Scientist - Research Engineer (Formal Methods), EMEA

—

1d ago

Omnea

Omnea

London

AI Transformation Strategist

—

2d ago

Prime Intellect

Prime Intellect

London

Applied Research - Scientific AI

—

2d ago

Niantic Spatial

Niantic Spatial

London

3D Computer Vision Research Engineer - World Map

—

2d ago

Prime Intellect

Prime Intellect

London

Applied Research - Sovereign AI

—

2d ago

Scandit

Scandit

United Kingdom

Senior Machine Learning Engineer - Video Understanding

—

2d ago

NTT DATA

NTT DATA

London

AI Principal Architect

—

2d ago

Skilled Worker visa · checked 18 Oct 2026

The rules at a glance

General salary threshold£41,700 a year[1]or the occupation’s going rate, whichever is higher
Software developers (SOC 2134)£54,700 a year[2]standard going rate, 37.5 hours a week
IT managers, incl. product managers (SOC 2132)£55,000 a year[2]
IT architects and systems designers (SOC 2133)£54,900 a year[2]
Cyber security professionals (SOC 2135)£48,500 a year[2]
Data analysts (SOC 3544)Medium skilled[3]needs a specific exception, not the standard route
Skill levelRQF 6 (graduate level)[1]since 22 July 2025
EnglishB2[4]for new applicants from 8 January 2026
Lower rates70% to 90% of the going rate[5]only for new entrants, PhD holders and some postdocs; floor £33,400

What it costs

  • Visa fee, applying from outside the UK, up to 3 years£819[6]

    You, unless the employer reimburses

  • Visa fee, applying from outside the UK, over 3 years£1,618[6]

    You, unless the employer reimburses

  • Immigration Health Surcharge£1,035 per adult per year[7]

    You

  • Savings to show (maintenance)£1,270 for 28 days[7]

    You, unless the sponsor certifies it

  • Certificate of Sponsorship£525[8]

    Employer only; it cannot be passed to you

  • Immigration Skills Charge, first year£1,320 (medium or large) or £480 (small)[9]

    Employer

How applying works

  1. 1Find a role at a licensed sponsor and check the employing company on the Home Office register.
  2. 2The employer confirms the occupation code and a salary that clears both tests, then assigns a Certificate of Sponsorship (usually approved within one working day).
  3. 3Apply online within three months of the certificate, and no more than three months before your start date.
  4. 4Prove B2 English with an approved test or an Ecctis-assessed degree, give biometrics, and take a TB test at an approved clinic in India.
  5. 5A decision from outside the UK usually takes about three weeks.
Home Office register of licensed sponsors

What changed recently

  • 22 Jul 2025Skill level raised to RQF 6 and the general threshold to £41,700; going rates revised.
  • 16 Dec 2025Immigration Skills Charge raised for employers.
  • 8 Jan 2026English requirement raised to B2 for new applicants and switchers.
  • 8 Oct 2026New Home Office fee table in force.
  • 31 Dec 2026Most Immigration Salary List entries are due to end.

Other routes

  • Global Talent (digital technology)

    For recognised or emerging tech leaders. No job offer or sponsor needed, but you need an endorsement.

  • High Potential Individual

    For graduates of listed universities in the last five years. Two years (three for a PhD), no sponsor, £880 plus the surcharge.

  • Settlement

    Skilled Worker leads to settlement after five years today. A ten-year “earned settlement” is a proposal under consultation, not the current rule.

Sources

  1. [1]GOV.UK: Skilled Worker visa, your job
  2. [2]GOV.UK: Skilled Worker going rates for eligible occupations, updated 22 Jul 2025
  3. [3]GOV.UK: Skilled Worker eligible occupations and codes
  4. [4]GOV.UK: Skilled Worker visa, knowledge of English
  5. [5]GOV.UK: When you can be paid less
  6. [6]GOV.UK: Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 October 2026, updated 10 Sep 2026
  7. [7]GOV.UK: Skilled Worker visa, how much it costs
  8. [8]GOV.UK: Certificates of sponsorship
  9. [9]GOV.UK: Immigration Skills Charge

This page describes the official rules as published on the dates shown, and is not legal advice. Rules and fees change; check the linked official source, and confirm sponsorship for a specific role with the employer.

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Frequently asked

Is £41,700 enough for a software engineer visa in the UK?

Usually not. You need the higher of £41,700 and the going rate for the occupation. For software developers (SOC 2134) the standard going rate is £54,700, so a £50,000 offer fails even though it is above £41,700.

Who pays for UK visa sponsorship?

The employer must pay the £525 Certificate of Sponsorship and the Immigration Skills Charge, and cannot pass them on. You pay the visa fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge unless the employer agrees to reimburse them.

Does a company being on the sponsor register mean it will sponsor me?

No. The register shows who holds a licence, not who is hiring or which roles they sponsor. Confirm sponsorship for the specific role with the employer.

How long does a UK Skilled Worker visa take from India?

After the employer assigns the certificate, a decision on an application from outside the UK usually takes about three weeks. Testing, documents and appointments add time.

Visa sponsorship in other countries

Tech jobs in Germany with visa sponsorshipTech jobs in the Netherlands with visa sponsorshipH-1B sponsorship jobs in the USAll visa sponsorship jobs