UK Visa Sponsorship for South African Nationals
Grants by year
Of the 4,041 grants in 2025, 969 went to people applying from outside the UK and 3,072 to people already here who switched route or extended (76%).
| Year | Outside the UK | Inside the UK | Skilled Worker | Health & Care Worker | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,657 | 844 | 2,501 | ||
| 2022 | 3,573 | 1,301 | 4,874 | ||
| 2023 | 3,750 | 1,763 | 5,513 | ||
| 2024 | 1,946 | 2,570 | 4,516 | ||
| 2025 | 969 | 3,072 | 4,041 |
† 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 South African applicants in 2025
Of the 838 Skilled Worker decisions on applications South African main applicants made from outside the UK in 2025, 45 (5.4%) were refusals, against 20% across all nationalities. Inside the UK, 7 of 2,263 (0.3%) were refusals, against 2.1%.
Of the 190 Health and Care Worker decisions on applications South African main applicants made from outside the UK in 2025, 14 (7.4%) were refusals, against 17% across all nationalities. Inside the UK, 10 of 826 (1.2%) were refusals, against 2.1%.
Show the numbers for South African applicants
| Route | Granted outside | Refused outside | Withdrawn outside | Share outside | Granted inside | Refused inside | Share inside |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker | 793 | 45 | 33 | 5.4% | 2,256 | 7 | 0.3% |
| Health and Care Worker | 176 | 14 | 8 | 7.4% | 816 | 10 | 1.2% |
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
South African students: what happens after study
Of the 411 South African students who arrived in 2020, 55% held a UK visa five years later and 21% 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.
- South African students
- All students
Show the numbers for South African students
| Arrived | Students | Visa after 3 years | All students |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 366 | 47% | 43% |
| 2009 | 336 | 49% | 44% |
| 2010 | 370 | 46% | 41% |
| 2011 | 354 | 39% | 33% |
| 2012 | 302 | 44% | 33% |
| 2013 | 346 | 48% | 32% |
| 2014 | 307 | 48% | 32% |
| 2015 | 374 | 49% | 32% |
| 2016 | 400 | 43% | 34% |
| 2017 | 479 | 50% | 33% |
| 2018 | 491 | 52% | 34% |
| 2019 | 540 | 63% | 38% |
| 2020 | 411 | 72% | 56% |
| 2021 | 625 | 68% | 56% |
| 2022 | 668 | 63% | 58% |
In 2025, 4,041 UK work visas on the Skilled Worker or Health & Care Worker routes went to South African nationals, down 11% on 2024. About 75% came through the Skilled Worker route, spanning professional, technical, and managerial jobs.
969 of those went to people applying from outside the UK. The other 3,072 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 South African nationals in 2025 was Vehicle technicians, mechanics and electricians (116 grants), followed by Chartered and certified accountants (60) and Social workers (43). 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 South African nationals. Filter by sponsor licence, visa route, or occupation.
Top occupations for South African nationals
Visas granted outside the UK only: 969 of the 4,041 granted to South African nationals in 2025 (23%). The Home Office publishes no job breakdown for the visas granted inside the UK.
| # | Occupation | Grants | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vehicle technicians, mechanics and electricians | 116 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 2 | Chartered and certified accountants | 60 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 3 | Social workers | 43 | H&CHealth & Care |
| 4 | Telecoms and related network installers and repairers | 37 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 5 | Welding trades | 34 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 6 | Management consultants and business analysts | 32 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 7 | Care workers and home carers | 24 | H&CHealth & Care |
| 8 | Generalist medical practitioners | 19 | H&CHealth & Care |
| 9 | Occupational therapists | 19 | H&CHealth & Care |
| 10 | Vehicle body builders and repairers | 18 | SWSkilled Worker |
Full occupation distribution for South African 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: 968 grants across 154 occupations, counting visas granted outside the UK only. That is 23% of the 4,041 granted to South African nationals in 2025. The Home Office publishes no job breakdown for the visas granted inside the UK.
Frequently asked questions
How many South African nationals got UK work visas in 2025?
In 2025, 4,041 UK work visas on the Skilled Worker and Health & Care Worker routes went to South African nationals: 969 granted outside the UK and 3,072 granted inside it to people already here who switched route or extended. By route, that is 3,049 Skilled Worker and 992 Health & Care Worker.
Do South African 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, 3,072 of the 4,041 grants to South African 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 South African nationals get sponsored for?
Home Office data shows the top occupations for South African nationals on Skilled Worker or Health & Care Worker visas are: Vehicle technicians, mechanics and electricians, Chartered and certified accountants, Social workers. 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 South African nationals apply for the Skilled Worker visa?
Yes. Nationality doesn't affect Skilled Worker eligibility. South African 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 South African 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 South Africa — tax, purchasing power and visa costs.