UK Visa Sponsorship for Iraqi Nationals
Grants by year
Data starts in 2020. The Skilled Worker route launched in December 2020 and the Health & Care Worker visa in August 2020, replacing earlier Tier 2 categories.
In 2025, 100 Iraqi nationals were granted UK work visas on the Skilled Worker or Health & Care Worker routes, down 43% on 2024. About 78% came through the Health & Care Worker route, mostly NHS and social-care roles.
The most common occupation for Iraqi nationals in 2025 was Generalist medical practitioners (58 grants), followed by Specialist medical practitioners (12) and Dental practitioners (5). 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 Iraqi nationals. Filter by sponsor licence, visa route, or occupation.
Top occupations for Iraqi nationals
| # | Occupation | Grants | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Generalist medical practitioners | 58 | H&CHealth & Care |
| 2 | Specialist medical practitioners | 12 | H&CHealth & Care |
| 3 | Dental practitioners | 5 | H&CHealth & Care |
| 4 | Civil engineers | 4 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 5 | Managers and directors in retail and wholesale | 3 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 6 | Medical and dental technicians | 2 | H&CHealth & Care |
| 7 | Bakers and flour confectioners | 2 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 8 | Quality assurance technicians | 1 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 9 | Fitness and wellbeing instructors | 1 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 10 | Sales accounts and business development managers | 1 | SWSkilled Worker |
Full occupation distribution for Iraqi 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: 100 grants across 21 occupations.
Frequently asked questions
How many iraqi nationals got UK work visas in 2025? In 2025, 100 iraqi nationals were granted UK work visas: 22 via Skilled Worker and 78 via Health & Care Worker.
What are the most common jobs iraqi nationals get sponsored for? Home Office data shows the top occupations for iraqi nationals on Skilled Worker or Health & Care Worker visas are: Generalist medical practitioners, Specialist medical practitioners, Dental practitioners. Full breakdown in the table above.
Can iraqi nationals apply for the Skilled Worker visa? Yes. Nationality doesn't affect Skilled Worker eligibility. Iraqi 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 iraqi nationals? Any UK employer with a Home Office sponsor licence can hire iraqi nationals. Every company listed on Hunt UK Visa Sponsors holds one. Search jobs or browse the sponsor directory below.
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 Iraq — tax, purchasing power and visa costs.