UK Visa Sponsorship for Saudi Arabian Nationals
Grants by year
Of the 115 grants in 2025, 48 went to people applying from outside the UK and 67 to people already here who switched route or extended (58%). 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 | 45 | 38 | 83 | ||
| 2022 | 76 | 47 | 123 | ||
| 2023 | 71 | 62 | 133 | ||
| 2024 | 38 | 85 | 123 | ||
| 2025 | 48 | 67 | 115 |
† 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.
Saudi Arabian students: what happens after study
Of the 1,942 Saudi Arabian students who arrived in 2020, 17% held a UK visa five years later and 0.4% were on a Skilled Worker visa.
Share holding a UK visa three years after arriving, including students still studying, by year of arrival. Years with fewer than 300 students are left out.
- Saudi Arabian students
- All students
Show the numbers for Saudi Arabian students
| Arrived | Students | Visa after 3 years | All students |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 7,824 | 51% | 43% |
| 2009 | 5,685 | 37% | 44% |
| 2010 | 2,542 | 37% | 41% |
| 2011 | 1,882 | 43% | 33% |
| 2012 | 2,178 | 50% | 33% |
| 2013 | 2,512 | 45% | 32% |
| 2014 | 2,969 | 46% | 32% |
| 2015 | 2,842 | 47% | 32% |
| 2016 | 2,508 | 49% | 34% |
| 2017 | 2,529 | 49% | 33% |
| 2018 | 2,822 | 46% | 34% |
| 2019 | 3,510 | 45% | 38% |
| 2020 | 1,942 | 51% | 56% |
| 2021 | 3,226 | 53% | 56% |
| 2022 | 3,736 | 58% | 58% |
In 2025, 115 UK work visas on the Skilled Worker or Health & Care Worker routes went to Saudi Arabian nationals, about the same as 2024. Grants were split roughly evenly between the two routes.
48 of those went to people applying from outside the UK. The other 67 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 Saudi Arabian nationals in 2025 was Generalist medical practitioners (9 grants), followed by Finance and investment analysts and advisers (6) and Specialist medical practitioners (4). 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 Saudi Arabian nationals. Filter by sponsor licence, visa route, or occupation.
Top occupations for Saudi Arabian nationals
Visas granted outside the UK only: 48 of the 115 granted to Saudi Arabian nationals in 2025 (41%). The Home Office publishes no job breakdown for the visas granted inside the UK.
| # | Occupation | Grants | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Generalist medical practitioners | 9 | H&CHealth & Care |
| 2 | Finance and investment analysts and advisers | 6 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 3 | Specialist medical practitioners | 4 | H&CHealth & Care |
| 4 | Production and process engineers | 3 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 5 | Management consultants and business analysts | 3 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 6 | Pharmacists | 2 | H&CHealth & Care |
| 7 | Solicitors and lawyers | 2 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 8 | Quality assurance and regulatory professionals | 2 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 9 | Production managers and directors in manufacturing | 1 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 10 | Marketing, sales and advertising directors | 1 | SWSkilled Worker |
Full occupation distribution for Saudi Arabian 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: 48 grants across 25 occupations, counting visas granted outside the UK only. That is 41% of the 115 granted to Saudi Arabian nationals in 2025. The Home Office publishes no job breakdown for the visas granted inside the UK.
Frequently asked questions
How many Saudi Arabian nationals got UK work visas in 2025?
In 2025, 115 UK work visas on the Skilled Worker and Health & Care Worker routes went to Saudi Arabian nationals: 48 granted outside the UK and 67 granted inside it to people already here who switched route or extended. By route, that is 61 Skilled Worker and 54 Health & Care Worker.
Do Saudi Arabian 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, 67 of the 115 grants to Saudi Arabian 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 Saudi Arabian nationals get sponsored for?
Home Office data shows the top occupations for Saudi Arabian nationals on Skilled Worker or Health & Care Worker visas are: Generalist medical practitioners, Finance and investment analysts and advisers, Specialist medical 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 Saudi Arabian nationals apply for the Skilled Worker visa?
Yes. Nationality doesn't affect Skilled Worker eligibility. Saudi Arabian 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 Saudi Arabian 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 Saudi Arabia — tax, purchasing power and visa costs.