UK Visa Sponsorship for South Korean Nationals
Grants by year
Of the 832 grants in 2025, 194 went to people applying from outside the UK and 638 to people already here who switched route or extended (77%). 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 | 250 | 413 | 663 | ||
| 2022 | 306 | 460 | 766 | ||
| 2023 | 275 | 598 | 873 | ||
| 2024 | 228 | 693 | 921 | ||
| 2025 | 194 | 638 | 832 |
† 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 Korean applicants in 2025
Of the 182 Skilled Worker decisions on applications South Korean main applicants made from outside the UK in 2025, 4 (2.2%) were refusals, against 20% across all nationalities. Inside the UK, 1 of 547 (0.2%) was a refusal, against 2.1%.
Fewer than 50 Health and Care Worker decisions were made on applications South Korean main applicants made from outside the UK in 2025, so no share is shown for that side. Inside the UK, 1 of 93 (1.1%) was a refusal, against 2.1%.
Show the numbers for South Korean applicants
| Route | Granted outside | Refused outside | Withdrawn outside | Share outside | Granted inside | Refused inside | Share inside |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker | 178 | 4 | 1 | 2.2% | 546 | 1 | 0.2% |
| Health and Care Worker | 16 | 0 | 1 | n/a | 92 | 1 | 1.1% |
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 Korean students: what happens after study
Of the 1,367 South Korean students who arrived in 2020, 38% held a UK visa five years later and 6.9% 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 Korean students
- All students
Show the numbers for South Korean students
| Arrived | Students | Visa after 3 years | All students |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 6,039 | 19% | 43% |
| 2009 | 5,340 | 21% | 44% |
| 2010 | 5,391 | 19% | 41% |
| 2011 | 3,695 | 23% | 33% |
| 2012 | 2,435 | 35% | 33% |
| 2013 | 2,629 | 40% | 32% |
| 2014 | 2,530 | 41% | 32% |
| 2015 | 2,487 | 43% | 32% |
| 2016 | 2,538 | 43% | 34% |
| 2017 | 2,689 | 43% | 33% |
| 2018 | 2,640 | 46% | 34% |
| 2019 | 2,713 | 46% | 38% |
| 2020 | 1,367 | 60% | 56% |
| 2021 | 2,336 | 59% | 56% |
| 2022 | 2,469 | 55% | 58% |
In 2025, 832 UK work visas on the Skilled Worker or Health & Care Worker routes went to South Korean nationals, down 10% on 2024. About 87% came through the Skilled Worker route, spanning professional, technical, and managerial jobs.
194 of those went to people applying from outside the UK. The other 638 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 Korean nationals in 2025 was Programmers and software development professionals (26 grants), followed by Finance and investment analysts and advisers (12) and Natural and social science professionals n.e.c. (10). 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 Korean nationals. Filter by sponsor licence, visa route, or occupation.
Top occupations for South Korean nationals
Visas granted outside the UK only: 194 of the 832 granted to South Korean nationals in 2025 (23%). The Home Office publishes no job breakdown for the visas granted inside the UK.
| # | Occupation | Grants | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Programmers and software development professionals | 26 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 2 | Finance and investment analysts and advisers | 12 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 3 | Natural and social science professionals n.e.c. | 10 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 4 | Management consultants and business analysts | 10 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 5 | Generalist medical practitioners | 9 | H&CHealth & Care |
| 6 | Other researchers, unspecified discipline | 8 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 7 | Solicitors and lawyers | 7 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 8 | Restaurant and catering establishment managers and proprietors | 6 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 9 | Pharmacists | 6 | H&CHealth & Care |
| 10 | Engineering professionals n.e.c. | 5 | SWSkilled Worker |
Full occupation distribution for South Korean 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: 194 grants across 62 occupations, counting visas granted outside the UK only. That is 23% of the 832 granted to South Korean nationals in 2025. The Home Office publishes no job breakdown for the visas granted inside the UK.
Frequently asked questions
How many South Korean nationals got UK work visas in 2025?
In 2025, 832 UK work visas on the Skilled Worker and Health & Care Worker routes went to South Korean nationals: 194 granted outside the UK and 638 granted inside it to people already here who switched route or extended. By route, that is 724 Skilled Worker and 108 Health & Care Worker.
Do South Korean 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, 638 of the 832 grants to South Korean 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 Korean nationals get sponsored for?
Home Office data shows the top occupations for South Korean nationals on Skilled Worker or Health & Care Worker visas are: Programmers and software development professionals, Finance and investment analysts and advisers, Natural and social science professionals n.e.c.. 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 Korean nationals apply for the Skilled Worker visa?
Yes. Nationality doesn't affect Skilled Worker eligibility. South Korean 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 Korean 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 Korea — tax, purchasing power and visa costs.