UK Visa Sponsorship for Japanese 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, 209 Japanese nationals were granted UK work visas on the Skilled Worker or Health & Care Worker routes, about the same as 2024. About 97% came through the Skilled Worker route, spanning professional, technical, and managerial jobs.
The most common occupation for Japanese nationals in 2025 was Finance and investment analysts and advisers (20 grants), followed by Programmers and software development professionals (16) and Management consultants and business analysts (14). 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 Japanese nationals. Filter by sponsor licence, visa route, or occupation.
Top occupations for Japanese nationals
| # | Occupation | Grants | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finance and investment analysts and advisers | 20 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 2 | Programmers and software development professionals | 16 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 3 | Management consultants and business analysts | 14 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 4 | Sales accounts and business development managers | 11 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 5 | IT business analysts, architects and systems designers | 10 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 6 | Functional managers and directors n.e.c. | 5 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 7 | Generalist medical practitioners | 5 | MixMixed |
| 8 | Financial managers and directors | 5 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 9 | Brokers | 4 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 10 | Business sales executives | 4 | SWSkilled Worker |
Full occupation distribution for Japanese 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: 208 grants across 76 occupations.
Frequently asked questions
How many japanese nationals got UK work visas in 2025?
In 2025, 209 japanese nationals were granted UK work visas: 202 via Skilled Worker and 7 via Health & Care Worker.
What are the most common jobs japanese nationals get sponsored for?
Home Office data shows the top occupations for japanese nationals on Skilled Worker or Health & Care Worker visas are: Finance and investment analysts and advisers, Programmers and software development professionals, Management consultants and business analysts. Full breakdown in the table above.
Can japanese nationals apply for the Skilled Worker visa?
Yes. Nationality doesn't affect Skilled Worker eligibility. Japanese 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 japanese nationals?
Any UK employer with a Home Office sponsor licence can hire japanese 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 Japan — tax, purchasing power and visa costs.