UK Visa Sponsorship for Bulgarian Nationals
Grants by year
Of the 157 grants in 2025, 108 went to people applying from outside the UK and 49 to people already here who switched route or extended (31%). For all nationalities together, the Skilled Worker visa statistics show grants outside and inside the UK each quarter.
| Year | Outside the UK | Inside the UK | Skilled Worker | Health & Care Worker | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 71 | 2 | 73 | ||
| 2022 | 111 | 11 | 122 | ||
| 2023 | 110 | 29 | 139 | ||
| 2024 | 88 | 59 | 147 | ||
| 2025 | 108 | 49 | 157 |
† The Home Office published in-country grants for these years as one combined figure, so the route columns cover the visas granted outside the UK only. The combined amount is in the “inside the UK” column and in the total.
Select a Skilled Worker or Health & Care figure to see where those visas were granted. Grants to main applicants, not dependants. Counting starts in 2021, the first full year of these routes: the Skilled Worker visa opened in December 2020 and the Health & Care Worker visa in August 2020, replacing earlier Tier 2 categories. 2020 itself covers only those opening weeks, so it is left out rather than shown as a year.
Refusals and grants for Bulgarian applicants in 2025
Of the 96 Skilled Worker decisions on applications Bulgarian main applicants made from outside the UK in 2025, 3 (3.1%) were refusals, against 20% across all nationalities. Fewer than 50 Skilled Worker decisions were made on applications Bulgarian main applicants made inside the UK in 2025, so no share is shown for that side.
Show the numbers for Bulgarian applicants
| Route | Granted outside | Refused outside | Withdrawn outside | Share outside | Granted inside | Refused inside | Share inside |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker | 93 | 3 | 2 | 3.1% | 35 | 1 | n/a |
This is what happened to decisions in 2025. It is not your chance of a visa. Counts are main applicants, not dependants.
See how often Skilled Worker visas are refused, for every nationality
In 2025, 157 UK work visas on the Skilled Worker or Health & Care Worker routes went to Bulgarian nationals, about the same as 2024. About 82% came through the Skilled Worker route, spanning professional, technical, and managerial jobs.
108 of those went to people applying from outside the UK. The other 49 went to people already here, switching from a Graduate, Student or other visa, or extending a sponsored job they already had. That second group is the larger one for most nationalities, and it is worth knowing about: if you are already in the UK on another visa, you are on the more common path, not the rare one.
Among the visas granted outside the UK, the most common occupation for Bulgarian nationals in 2025 was Ship and hovercraft officers (18 grants), followed by Finance and investment analysts and advisers (10) and Dental practitioners (9). The Home Office publishes no job breakdown for the visas granted inside the UK, so these counts cover the entry clearance half only. Other eligible Skilled Worker occupations are sponsorable too, as long as the employer holds a Home Office sponsor licence and the role clears the salary and skill-level thresholds for its SOC code.
Search the roles below to see who's currently hiring Bulgarian nationals. Filter by sponsor licence, visa route, or occupation.
Top occupations for Bulgarian nationals
Visas granted outside the UK only: 108 of the 157 granted to Bulgarian nationals in 2025 (68%). The Home Office publishes no job breakdown for the visas granted inside the UK.
| # | Occupation | Grants | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ship and hovercraft officers | 18 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 2 | Finance and investment analysts and advisers | 10 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 3 | Dental practitioners | 9 | H&CHealth & Care |
| 4 | Programmers and software development professionals | 6 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 5 | Marine and waterways transport operatives | 5 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 6 | Generalist medical practitioners | 3 | H&CHealth & Care |
| 7 | Management consultants and business analysts | 3 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 8 | Chief executives and senior officials | 2 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 9 | Production managers and directors in manufacturing | 2 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 10 | Financial managers and directors | 2 | SWSkilled Worker |
Full occupation distribution for Bulgarian nationals
Each rectangle is one occupation, sized by grant count and grouped by SOC major category. Color shows year-over-year change vs 2023. Total: 108 grants across 51 occupations, counting visas granted outside the UK only. That is 68% of the 157 granted to Bulgarian nationals in 2025. The Home Office publishes no job breakdown for the visas granted inside the UK.
Frequently asked questions
How many Bulgarian nationals got UK work visas in 2025?
In 2025, 157 UK work visas on the Skilled Worker and Health & Care Worker routes went to Bulgarian nationals: 108 granted outside the UK and 49 granted inside it to people already here who switched route or extended. By route, that is 128 Skilled Worker and 29 Health & Care Worker.
Do Bulgarian nationals have to apply for a UK work visa from outside the UK?
No. You can be sponsored from abroad, or switch into a sponsored visa from inside the UK if you already hold another one, such as a Graduate, Student or dependant visa. In 2025, 49 of the 157 grants to Bulgarian nationals were made in the UK, so switching is a normal route rather than an exception. A few visa types can't be switched from, including visitor and short-term study visas, and those do mean leaving and applying from abroad.
What are the most common jobs Bulgarian nationals get sponsored for?
Home Office data shows the top occupations for Bulgarian nationals on Skilled Worker or Health & Care Worker visas are: Ship and hovercraft officers, Finance and investment analysts and advisers, Dental practitioners. Those counts cover visas granted outside the UK, the only half the Home Office publishes a job breakdown for. Full breakdown in the table above.
Can Bulgarian nationals apply for the Skilled Worker visa?
Yes. Nationality doesn't affect Skilled Worker eligibility. Bulgarian nationals qualify if they have a job offer from a Home Office licensed sponsor, the role is on the eligible occupations list, and the salary meets the threshold (usually £41,700 or the going rate for that SOC code, whichever is higher).
Which UK companies sponsor Bulgarian nationals?
Keep exploring
Current openings from Home Office licensed sponsors. Filter by visa route, salary, and occupation.
Visa trends and top occupations for every nationality, browsable by region.
See what a UK salary is really worth compared with Bulgaria — tax, purchasing power and visa costs.