UK Visa Sponsorship for Portuguese 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, 372 Portuguese nationals were granted UK work visas on the Skilled Worker or Health & Care Worker routes, down 30% on 2024. About 89% came through the Skilled Worker route, spanning professional, technical, and managerial jobs.
The most common occupation for Portuguese nationals in 2025 was Finance and investment analysts and advisers (41 grants), followed by Veterinarians (23) and Programmers and software development professionals (22). 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 Portuguese nationals. Filter by sponsor licence, visa route, or occupation.
Top occupations for Portuguese nationals
| # | Occupation | Grants | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finance and investment analysts and advisers | 41 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 2 | Veterinarians | 23 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 3 | Programmers and software development professionals | 22 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 4 | Management consultants and business analysts | 20 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 5 | Sales accounts and business development managers | 12 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 6 | Specialist medical practitioners | 10 | H&CHealth & Care |
| 7 | Generalist medical practitioners | 9 | H&CHealth & Care |
| 8 | Biochemists and biomedical scientists | 9 | MixMixed |
| 9 | Solicitors and lawyers | 8 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 10 | IT business analysts, architects and systems designers | 8 | SWSkilled Worker |
Full occupation distribution for Portuguese 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: 367 grants across 90 occupations.
Frequently asked questions
How many portuguese nationals got UK work visas in 2025? In 2025, 372 portuguese nationals were granted UK work visas: 330 via Skilled Worker and 42 via Health & Care Worker.
What are the most common jobs portuguese nationals get sponsored for? Home Office data shows the top occupations for portuguese nationals on Skilled Worker or Health & Care Worker visas are: Finance and investment analysts and advisers, Veterinarians, Programmers and software development professionals. Full breakdown in the table above.
Can portuguese nationals apply for the Skilled Worker visa? Yes. Nationality doesn't affect Skilled Worker eligibility. Portuguese 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 portuguese nationals? Any UK employer with a Home Office sponsor licence can hire portuguese 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 Portugal — tax, purchasing power and visa costs.