UK Visa Sponsorship for Surinamese Nationals
Grants by year
Of the 6 grants in 2024, 3 went to people applying from outside the UK and 3 to people already here who switched route or extended (50%). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 6 | 0 | 6 | ||
| 2024 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
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.
Sponsorship for Surinamese nationals is uncommon. Just 6 grants in 2024, inside and outside the UK combined. It still happens, but there are fewer licensed employers to compete for. Use the search below for current openings.
Frequently asked questions
How many Surinamese nationals got UK work visas in 2024?
In 2024, 6 UK work visas on the Skilled Worker and Health & Care Worker routes went to Surinamese nationals: 3 granted outside the UK and 3 granted inside it to people already here who switched route or extended. By route, that is 2 Skilled Worker and 4 Health & Care Worker.
Do Surinamese 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 2024, 3 of the 6 grants to Surinamese 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 Surinamese nationals get sponsored for?
Home Office data shows the top occupations for Surinamese nationals on Skilled Worker or Health & Care Worker visas are: Care workers and home carers. 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 Surinamese nationals apply for the Skilled Worker visa?
Yes. Nationality doesn't affect Skilled Worker eligibility. Surinamese 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).