UK Visa Sponsorship for New Zealand Nationals
Grants by year
Of the 1,501 grants in 2025, 205 went to people applying from outside the UK and 1,296 to people already here who switched route or extended (86%).
| Year | Outside the UK | Inside the UK | Skilled Worker | Health & Care Worker | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 220 | 1,056 | 1,276 | ||
| 2022 | 334 | 715 | 1,049 | ||
| 2023 | 267 | 711 | 978 | ||
| 2024 | 219 | 878 | 1,097 | ||
| 2025 | 205 | 1,296 | 1,501 |
† 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 New Zealand applicants in 2025
Of the 153 Skilled Worker decisions on applications New Zealand main applicants made from outside the UK in 2025, 3 (2%) were refusals, against 20% across all nationalities. Inside the UK, 2 of 1,129 (0.2%) were refusals, against 2.1%.
Of the 56 Health and Care Worker decisions on applications New Zealand main applicants made from outside the UK in 2025, 1 (1.8%) was a refusal, against 17% across all nationalities. Inside the UK, 0 of 169 (0%) were refusals, against 2.1%.
Show the numbers for New Zealand applicants
| Route | Granted outside | Refused outside | Withdrawn outside | Share outside | Granted inside | Refused inside | Share inside |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker | 150 | 3 | 0 | 2% | 1,127 | 2 | 0.2% |
| Health and Care Worker | 55 | 1 | 2 | 1.8% | 169 | 0 | 0% |
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, 1,501 UK work visas on the Skilled Worker or Health & Care Worker routes went to New Zealand nationals, up 37% on 2024. About 85% came through the Skilled Worker route, spanning professional, technical, and managerial jobs.
205 of those went to people applying from outside the UK. The other 1,296 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 New Zealand nationals in 2025 was Paramedics (21 grants), followed by Generalist medical practitioners (18) and Solicitors and lawyers (13). 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 New Zealand nationals. Filter by sponsor licence, visa route, or occupation.
Top occupations for New Zealand nationals
Visas granted outside the UK only: 205 of the 1,501 granted to New Zealand nationals in 2025 (13%). The Home Office publishes no job breakdown for the visas granted inside the UK.
| # | Occupation | Grants | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paramedics | 21 | H&CHealth & Care |
| 2 | Generalist medical practitioners | 18 | H&CHealth & Care |
| 3 | Solicitors and lawyers | 13 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 4 | Management consultants and business analysts | 12 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 5 | Programmers and software development professionals | 10 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 6 | Specialist medical practitioners | 9 | H&CHealth & Care |
| 7 | Chartered and certified accountants | 7 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 8 | Finance and investment analysts and advisers | 7 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 9 | Marketing, sales and advertising directors | 6 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 10 | Chief executives and senior officials | 5 | SWSkilled Worker |
Full occupation distribution for New Zealand 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: 204 grants across 69 occupations, counting visas granted outside the UK only. That is 13% of the 1,501 granted to New Zealand nationals in 2025. The Home Office publishes no job breakdown for the visas granted inside the UK.
Frequently asked questions
How many new zealand nationals got UK work visas in 2025?
In 2025, 1,501 UK work visas on the Skilled Worker and Health & Care Worker routes went to new zealand nationals: 205 granted outside the UK and 1,296 granted inside it to people already here who switched route or extended. By route, that is 1,277 Skilled Worker and 224 Health & Care Worker.
Do new zealand 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, 1,296 of the 1,501 grants to new zealand 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 new zealand nationals get sponsored for?
Home Office data shows the top occupations for new zealand nationals on Skilled Worker or Health & Care Worker visas are: Paramedics, Generalist medical practitioners, Solicitors and lawyers. 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 new zealand nationals apply for the Skilled Worker visa?
Yes. Nationality doesn't affect Skilled Worker eligibility. New Zealand 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 new zealand nationals?
Any UK employer with a Home Office sponsor licence can hire new zealand 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 New Zealand — tax, purchasing power and visa costs.