Sponsored work visas — employer-tied routes across covered destinations

Skilled Worker visa

Work visa for non-UK workers with a job offer from a Home Office–licensed sponsor in an eligible occupation.

Health and Care Worker visa

Discounted Skilled Worker route for eligible NHS, adult social care, and allied health roles.

Scale-up visa

Sponsored route for workers joining qualifying fast-growing UK scale-up businesses, with faster settlement timelines.

Critical Skills Employment Permit

Fast-track employment permit for high-skill roles on the Critical Skills Occupations List.

General Employment Permit

Sponsored employment permit for roles not on the Critical Skills list but above the general salary threshold.

EU Blue Card (Germany)

Work and residence permit for highly qualified non-EU professionals with a qualifying German job offer.

Skilled Worker residence permit (§18a/§18b AufenthG)

Sponsored work and residence permit for qualified non-EU workers from any country worldwide who have a German job offer and a recognised qualification.

Recognition Partnership (Anerkennungspartnerschaft)

Residence permit allowing skilled workers to complete their qualification recognition while living and working in Germany.

D3 visa (highly qualified activity)

Residence visa for highly qualified workers with a Portuguese employment contract.

Highly Qualified Professional (HQP) permit

Residence permit for highly qualified workers with a Spanish employment contract, processed under the Law 14/2013 regime.

Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant)

Primary sponsored work route for high-skill workers hired by IND-recognised sponsors.

EU Blue Card (Netherlands)

Dutch implementation of the EU Blue Card for highly qualified non-EU workers.

UAE Employment (Standard Residence) visa

Standard employer-sponsored residence for workers recruited by UAE companies.

Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482)

Employer-sponsored temporary work visa (formerly TSS) with reformed routes from December 2024.

Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186)

Permanent residence visa for workers nominated by Australian employers.

H-1B Specialty Occupation

Employer-sponsored non-immigrant visa for specialty occupations requiring a bachelor’s degree or higher.

O-1 Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement

Visa for individuals with extraordinary ability in sciences, education, business, athletics (O-1A) or the arts/film/television (O-1B).

TN USMCA Professionals (Canada & Mexico)

Non-immigrant work visa under USMCA for Canadian and Mexican citizens in listed professions.

Employment Pass (EP)

Work pass for foreign professionals, managers, and executives earning above the qualifying salary, issued to employers.

S Pass

Work pass for mid-level skilled foreign workers earning above the S Pass qualifying salary, subject to employer quota and levy.

Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)

Employer-sponsored temporary work visa — New Zealand's main route for skilled workers with a job offer from an accredited employer.

Talent Passport — Salaried Employee (Passeport Talent Salarié)

Multi-year residence permit for qualified employees earning at least 2× the French minimum wage (SMIC), issued directly for up to 4 years.

EU Blue Card (Carte Bleue Européenne)

EU-wide highly qualified worker permit requiring a degree and a salary of at least 1.5× the average gross salary in France.

Long-Stay Visa — Salaried Worker (VLS-TS Salarié)

Standard work visa for non-EU nationals with a French employment contract who do not meet Talent Passport criteria — requires a full labour-market test.

EU Blue Card (Carta Blu UE)

EU-wide highly qualified worker permit for Italy — requires a degree and a salary above the Italian threshold.

Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services

Japan's most common work visa for knowledge workers — engineers, IT professionals, translators, designers, and business staff.

Specified Skilled Worker Type 1 (SSW-1 / 特定技能1号)

Work visa for skilled workers in 16 designated industries — requires passing a skills test and Japanese language test (JLPT N4+).

B Permit — Third-Country National (Aufenthaltsbewilligung)

Annual residence permit for non-EU/EFTA workers with a Swiss employer — subject to federal and cantonal quotas and a full labour-market test.

L Permit — Short-Term Residence (Kurzaufenthaltsbewilligung)

Short-term work and residence permit for project-based or temporary assignments of up to 12 months — separate quota from the B permit.

Work Visa and Iqama (Employer-Sponsored Residence)

Standard employer-sponsored work visa and residence permit (iqama) — the primary route for most foreign workers in Saudi Arabia.

E-7 Designated Activities Visa

Work visa for foreign professionals in specialised occupations — Korea's primary employer-sponsored route for skilled workers.

Work Permit (Arbetstillstånd)

Sweden's main employer-sponsored work permit — requires a job offer meeting salary and insurance conditions. Leads to permanent residence after 4 years.

EU Blue Card (Sweden)

EU-wide highly qualified worker permit with a higher salary threshold than the standard work permit — offers intra-EU mobility after 12 months.

EU Blue Card (Austria)

EU-wide highly qualified worker permit — higher salary threshold than the RWR Card but offers intra-EU mobility after 12 months.

Pay Limit Scheme (Beloebsordningen)

Denmark's salary-threshold work permit — no occupation or qualification restrictions if the annual salary exceeds the Pay Limit threshold.

Positive List Scheme (Positivlisten)

Work permit for occupations on Denmark's shortage list — lower salary threshold than the Pay Limit Scheme, but occupation-restricted.

Fast-Track Scheme (Fast-Track-ordningen)

Accelerated work-permit processing for workers hired by SIRI-certified Danish employers — work can begin within days.

Skilled Worker Residence Permit (Oppholdstillatelse som faglaert)

Norway's main work permit for skilled workers — requires a concrete full-time job offer and relevant qualifications. Leads to permanent residence after just 3 years.

Intra-Company Transfer (ICT Permit)

Residence permit for managers, specialists, and trainees transferred from a foreign branch to a Norwegian entity of the same corporate group.

Residence permit for a specialist

Fast-track Finnish work residence route for highly skilled expert roles with confirmed employment.

Residence permit for an employed person

Finland’s general work residence permit for non-EU workers whose job does not fit a specialist category.

Single Permit

Belgium’s combined residence and work authorisation for non-EU employees staying more than 90 days.

Residence permit for salaried workers

Luxembourg’s standard third-country employee route, usually starting with authorisation to stay before arrival.

Employee Card

Czechia’s main long-term residence and work permit for third-country employees staying more than 3 months.

Temporary residence and work permit

Poland’s combined temporary residence and work permit, granted for work purposes for more than 3 months and up to 3 years.

Temporary residence permit for employment

Estonian work residence route for non-EU employees with employment in Estonia.

Single Permit

Malta’s main combined employment licence and residence permit for third-country nationals working more than 6 months.

Specialist Employee Initiative

Fast-track Maltese employment route for skilled third-country nationals who do not qualify under KEI but meet SEI criteria.

Temporary residence and employment permit

Cyprus work residence route for third-country nationals employed by Cypriot or foreign-interest companies.

Visa by job offer / temporary resident with work authorisation

Employer-initiated Mexican work route where INM authorises a visa based on a job offer.

Residence authorization for work (VITEM V)

Residence authorization for foreign nationals coming to Brazil to work, generally initiated by a Brazilian employer.

Temporary Residence as a Migrant Worker

Temporary residence for foreign nationals hired under an employment relationship to carry out lawful paid work in Argentina.

Temporary Residence - Lawful Remunerated Activities

Temporary residence subcategory for foreigners coming to Chile to perform lawful paid work under a contract, service contract or job offer.

General Work Visa

Employer-tied work visa for foreigners with a confirmed South African job offer whose occupation is not on the Critical Skills List.

Occupation Permit (Professional)

Combined work and residence permit for foreign professionals employed in Mauritius under a local or multinational employment contract.

Young Professional Occupation Permit (YPOP)

Work and residence permit allowing recent graduates of Mauritian tertiary institutions to take up local employment.

Class D Work Permit (Employment)

Employer-sponsored work permit for a foreign national offered specific employment by a specific Kenyan employer, where the skills are not available locally.

General Employment Policy (GEP)

Hong Kong's main employer-sponsored route for non-local professionals with a confirmed job offer that cannot be readily filled locally.

Technology Talent Admission Scheme (TechTAS)

Fast-track scheme for eligible technology companies to admit non-local R&D talent against a quota allotted by the Innovation and Technology Commission.

Work Permit for Specialized or Technical Work + ARC

The standard employer-sponsored route for foreign professionals: the employer obtains a work permit from the Workforce Development Agency, then the worker applies for a resident visa and Alien Resident Certificate.

Foreign Special Professional Work Permit

An enhanced work-permit route under the Foreign Professionals Act for designated special professionals, allowing employment permits of up to five years and additional incentives.

Employment Pass (EP)

Employer-sponsored work pass for expatriate professionals, issued in Categories I, II and III with a tiered minimum-salary structure, processed via the Expatriate Services Division.

Non-Immigrant Visa "B" + Work Permit

Thailand's standard employment route: a Non-Immigrant "B" visa from a Thai mission plus a separate work permit issued by the Department of Employment.

India Employment Visa

Visa for highly skilled foreign professionals engaged by an Indian or foreign company to work in India.

India Project Visa

Sector-specific work visa for foreign nationals executing projects in the power and steel sectors.

Work Residence Permit

The standard employer-sponsored residence permit for foreign nationals coming to work and live in Qatar. A Qatari employer applies and handles the paperwork.

B/1 Expert Work Visa

Employer-sponsored work visa for foreign experts whose specialist skills are not readily available in the Israeli labour market. The Israeli employer must first obtain a permit from PIBA before the visa is issued.

Turkey Work Permit (employer-sponsored)

Employer-sponsored permit issued by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security that grants both the right to work and to reside in Türkiye for its validity period.

Work KITAS (Limited Stay Permit)

Employer-sponsored limited stay permit (ITAS/KITAS) that lets a foreign professional live and work for a registered Indonesian company.

9(G) Pre-Arranged Employment Visa

The main employer-sponsored work visa for foreign nationals taking up pre-arranged employment in the Philippines.

Work Visa (LD) and Work Permit

Employer-sponsored work visa (LD) paired with a MoLISA work permit, the standard route for foreign employees in Vietnam.

Temporary Residence - Employed Worker

Employer-sponsored temporary residence allowing a foreign national to work for a specific employer in Costa Rica.

Employment-Based Temporary Permit

Employer-tied temporary residence permit for foreign workers, paired with a labour permit from the labour ministry.

CERPAC (Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card)

The core residence-and-work permit for expatriates living in Nigeria for a year or more, issued by the Nigeria Immigration Service and renewable while the underlying employment and expatriate quota remain valid.

Subject to Regularisation (STR) Employment Visa

The entry visa a foreign worker uses to come to Nigeria for employment and then regularise their stay into a CERPAC residence-and-work permit.

Expatriate Quota (company-level authorisation)

A Ministry of Interior authorisation that grants a Nigerian company a fixed number of slots to employ expatriates in named positions, underpinning each worker's STR visa and CERPAC.

Work-based Residence Permit (Egypt)

An employer-tied residence permit issued by the Ministry of Interior on the back of a work permit, allowing a foreign employee to live in Egypt for the duration of the employment, renewable but never permanent.

Work and Residence Permit (companies)

The standard employer-sponsored work and residence permit issued by the Ghana Immigration Service to a foreign national employed by a company in Ghana, renewable but not permanent.

Work and Residence Permit (Missionaries / NGOs / GIPC / Shareholders)

A Ghana Immigration Service work and residence permit for foreign nationals in special categories - missionaries, NGO staff, holders of a GIPC immigrant quota, and company shareholders or directors - renewable but not permanent.

LMRA Work Permit (employer-sponsored)

The standard employer-sponsored work permit for expatriates in Bahrain. A Bahraini employer applies through the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) and the permit carries the associated residence.

Employment Visa (employer-sponsored work visa)

The standard employer-sponsored Employment Visa for foreign workers in Oman, issued by the Royal Oman Police after the employer obtains a labour clearance from the Ministry of Labour.

Work Residence Permit

Georgia's main residence permit for foreign nationals working for, or carrying out entrepreneurial activity through, a Georgian-registered entity.

Stay-and-Work Permit (single permit)

Croatia's combined residence-and-work permit for third-country nationals with a Croatian job offer, covering most employment outside the highly-qualified Blue Card route.

Seasonal Worker Permit (Croatia)

A short-duration permit for seasonal employment in sectors such as agriculture, forestry, hospitality and tourism.

Guest Worker Residence Permit

A temporary work-and-residence permit for guest workers tied to listed employers, occupations and sending countries.

Single Permit (residence and work)

Serbia's unified residence-and-work permit, combining temporary residence and work authorisation in one biometric document.

St Kitts and Nevis Work Permit

For people who have a job offer from an employer in St Kitts and Nevis. Your employer applies on your behalf to the Department of Labour, usually after advertising the role locally first.

Antigua and Barbuda Work Permit

For people who have a job offer from an employer in Antigua and Barbuda. The work permit is employer-led and is completely separate from the citizenship-by-investment programme.

Dominica Work Permit

For people who have a job offer in Dominica. Non-nationals must get a work permit from the Labour Division before starting paid work; it is separate from citizenship by investment.

Grenada Work Permit

For people who have a job offer in Grenada. The Ministry of Labour administers the work-permit system; the permit is separate from citizenship by investment.

Saint Lucia Work Permit

For people who have a job offer in Saint Lucia. Non-CARICOM nationals need a work permit from the Ministry of Labour before starting paid work; it is separate from citizenship by investment.

Barbados Work Permit

If a Barbadian employer wants to hire you, this is the permit that lets you work for them legally. It is employer-tied, so it starts with a job offer, not a personal application.

Bahamas Work Permit

If a Bahamian employer wants to hire you, this is the permit that lets you work for them. The employer applies, usually after first advertising the role locally.

Temporary Residence for Work (RT-3)

If a Dominican company has hired you, RT-3 temporary labour residence is the route that lets you live in the Dominican Republic to do that job under your work contract.

Cayman Islands Work Permit (WORC)

If a Cayman Islands employer wants to hire you, this is the permit that lets you work for them. The employer applies through WORC, normally after advertising the role locally.

Z Work Visa (with Foreigner Work Permit and Residence Permit)

For you if a Chinese employer has offered you a job: the Z visa is the standard route into paid work in mainland China, used together with a Foreigner Work Permit and, after arrival, a residence permit.

Single Permit for Residence and Work

If you are a non-EU national with a Bulgarian job offer, this is the main route - one document that lets you both live and work in Bulgaria.

Single Permit for Work and Residence

If you are a non-EU national with a Romanian job offer, the single permit is the main route - one document covering both your work and your residence.

Residence Visa (Employment Category)

For you if a Sri Lankan employer or approved project needs your services: the employment-category residence visa lets foreign professionals live and work in Sri Lanka, usually a year at a time and renewable.

Temporary Residence - Work (Relacion de Dependencia)

For people moving to Ecuador with a job offer: this is the employer-tied temporary residence visa for working under an employment contract for an Ecuadorian employer.

Temporary Residence for Employment

If you have a job with an Armenian employer, this temporary residence status lets you live and work in Armenia and start building toward permanent residence.

Unique Permit (Leje Unike)

If you are a non-EU national working in Albania, the Unique Permit is the main route - one card combining work and residence, and it includes a remote-work sub-category.

Work Residence Card (carte de sejour, salarie)

For foreign nationals taking up a job in Morocco: this is the employment-based residence card (carte de sejour) you hold once a Moroccan employer has secured an ANAPEC-authorised work contract for you, letting you live and work in the country lawfully.

Work Permit (employment)

For foreign nationals taking up a job in Rwanda: the employment work permit lets you work for a Rwandan employer once you are in the country, applied for online through IremboGov and issued by the Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration.

Work Permit

For non-citizens taking up employment in Botswana: the work permit gives you permission to work for a Botswana employer, applied for through the Department of Immigration and Citizenship on the national portal gov.bw.

Work Permit and Residence (employer-sponsored)

For you if a Kazakhstani employer has offered you a job: this is the standard route into paid work in Kazakhstan, where your employer secures a work permit for you and you then hold a temporary residence permit to live there.

EB Business Visa (E-class ordinary visa, business/employment)

For you if you are coming to Cambodia to work or do business: the EB is the most common long-stay visa, an extension of the E-class ordinary visa - but please read the honesty note, because working also needs a separate Work Permit.

EP Employment Visa (E-class qualified-worker sub-class)

For you if you are taking up employment in Cambodia: the EP is an E-class extension oriented towards qualified workers and employees - and, like the EB, it still needs a separate Work Permit before you can legally work.

Work Visa (E) with work-permit confirmation

For you if an Uzbekistani employer has offered you a job: the work visa is the standard employment route, used together with a work-permit confirmation that authorises you to work.

Working (Non-Tourist) Visa

For you if you are taking up employment in Nepal: the Working Visa is the only visa that allows you to work, and it depends on a separate labour permit plus a recommendation from the relevant government ministry.

Temporary Residence and Work Permit

If you are a foreign national with a Montenegrin job offer, this is the main route - one permit that lets you both live and work in Montenegro.

Temporary Residence for Employment (Moldova)

If you have a job with a Moldovan employer, this is the main route - temporary residence tied to your work, decided by the migration authority.

Single Residence and Work Permit (Slovenia)

If you are a non-EU national with a Slovenian job offer, this is the main route - one permit that lets you both live and work in Slovenia.

Worker Resident (Trabajador Residente)

For people moving to Peru with a job: this is the employer-tied residence category for foreign nationals working under a registered employment contract for an employer in Peru.

Temporary Residence with Work Authorisation

For people moving to El Salvador for a job: this is the temporary residence that comes with authorisation to work, supported by an employer in the country.

Work Residency (Employer-Sponsored)

For people moving to Jordan with a job: this is the employer-sponsored residence permit you hold alongside a Ministry of Labour work permit so you can live and work in Jordan.

Work Permit for Non-Citizen Skilled Contracted Workers (Time Post)

For people moving to Fiji with a job offer: this is the employer-tied work permit (commonly called a "Time Post") for a non-citizen on an employment contract with a business or organisation in Fiji.

Work Permit (Ministry of Labour)

For people moving to Jamaica with a job: this is the Ministry of Labour work permit your employer (or, for investors, JAMPRO) applies for so you can work legally.

Residence Permit Class B (employment)

For expatriates taking up a job with a Tanzanian company or institution: the Class B residence permit lets you live in Tanzania for your employment, but it sits on top of a work permit, which the Prime Minister's Office (Labour) must grant first.

Work Permit (Prime Minister's Office - Labour)

For foreigners taking up employment in Tanzania: the work permit is the labour-side authorisation that the Prime Minister's Office (Labour) must grant before the Immigration Department can issue your Class B residence permit.

Work Permit and Temporary Residence Permit

For you if an Azerbaijani employer has offered you a job: this is the standard route into paid work, where your employer secures a work permit for you and you then hold a temporary residence permit to live in the country.

Work Permit

For people moving to Trinidad and Tobago with a job: this is the employer-tied work permit a non-national needs to take up paid (or even unpaid) employment in the country.

Residence Permit for Qualified Professionals (Iceland)

If you are a qualified professional or expert with an Icelandic job offer, this is the main route - a two-step residence permit plus a linked work permit.

Temporary Work Permit due to Labour Shortage (Iceland)

If an Icelandic employer cannot fill a role locally, this temporary permit lets them hire you from outside the EEA for a job in short supply.

Temporary Residence Permit for Employment (Lithuania)

If you have a Lithuanian job offer, this is the main route - a temporary residence permit for work, with a faster, quota-free lane for highly qualified roles.

Temporary Employment Permit (Work Permit)

For people moving to Belize for a job: this is the Temporary Employment Permit you apply for through the Labour Department to work lawfully for an employer in the country.

Temporary Residence - Worker (Residencia Temporal Trabajador)

For people moving to Guatemala with a job: this is the temporary residence for migrant workers, tied to a job offer from an employer in the country.

Employment Permit

For foreign nationals taking up a job in Namibia: the employment permit lets you work for a Namibian employer, applied for through the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security.

Temporary Residence Permit for Employment (Latvia)

If you have a Latvian job offer, this is the main route - a temporary residence permit tied to your employment with a Latvian employer.

Temporary Residence for Employment / Single Permit (Slovakia)

If you have a Slovak job offer, this is the main route - one application that combines your residence and your right to work in Slovakia.

Residence Visa (Employee ground)

For people coming to work in Vanuatu for an employer, where the job runs for 12 months or more. The visa is granted on the employee ground and tied to that employment.

Work Permit and Residence (HG employment)

For you if a Mongolian employer has offered you a job: this is the standard employment route, where you work under an HG-type permission and hold a residence permit that runs for the same duration as your work permit.

Article 18 Work Residency (private-sector Iqama)

For people taking a private-sector job in Kuwait. Your Kuwaiti employer sponsors you and the residency (the Iqama) is tied to that job. Note up front: Kuwait has no permanent residence for expatriates, and every residency here is fixed-term and sponsor-tied.

Article 17 Government Work Residency

For people employed by a Kuwaiti government or public-sector body. The government entity sponsors your residency, and as with all Kuwaiti residency it is fixed-term and sponsor-tied - there is no permanent residence for expatriates.

Work Pass (employer-sponsored employment)

For you if a Brunei employer has offered you a job: the Work Pass is the standard, employer-sponsored route into paid employment, handled by the immigration department's Foreign Work Pass division alongside a valid visa.

Residence Permit B for Gainful Employment (Liechtenstein)

If you are an EEA national with a Liechtenstein job and want to actually live there, this is the route - but residence permits are rationed, and half are decided by a twice-yearly lottery.

Cross-Border Commuter Permit / Grenzganger (Liechtenstein)

If you live in Austria or Switzerland and work in Liechtenstein, this is the realistic mass route - you work in Liechtenstein but return home, without using up a residence permit.