Skilled Worker Sponsorship for Veterinary Practices
28th August 2025
- Categories: Business, Compliance, Consultancy, General, HR, Sponsor licence, Visas
28th August 2025
Sector Focus: Veterinary Services
Our ‘Sector Focus’ series looks at skilled worker sponsorship in the veterinary sector. In this publication, we consider how UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) accreditation (also known as skilled worker sponsorship) can support the sector, which occupations can benefit from sponsorship and why this is something that organisations should consider when developing or reviewing their recruitment strategy.
A significant number of reports demonstrate a shortage of skilled workers in the veterinary sector in certain regions and specialties within the UK. Globally, there is also a shortage of veterinary nurses with a nationwide shortage here in the UK. Factors contributing to this shortage include an increasing demand for veterinary services due to pet ownership trends (this increased considerably during the COVID-19 pandemic), Brexit and the expansion of veterinary services beyond traditional roles, all of which compounds the continued challenges in recruiting and retaining veterinary professionals.
Some specific areas where shortages have been noted include rural areas, where there may be fewer veterinary practices and difficulties attracting professionals, as well as in certain specialties like farm animal medicine, animal welfare and public health.
Global mobility allows UK businesses to tap into a diverse pool of talent from around the world. Home Office accreditation as a sponsor is particularly crucial in sectors where specific skills are in high demand or where there are shortages within the domestic workforce. By deploying global mobility strategies, businesses can attract and retain top talent, enhancing their competitiveness and innovation capabilities.
Practices should consider the growing pool of overseas veterinary workers already employed in the UK as a useful talent pool, but these individuals cannot be considered for full-time employment without a sponsor licence in place.
And, it’s not just those who have qualified overseas who require sponsorship. There are a growing number of UK graduates from local vet schools that also require sponsorship after their graduate visa expires. Many practices assume that candidates needing sponsorship have only gained their degree overseas, but this is not the case, some vet schools’ recent graduate cohorts have more than 50% of overseas nationals.
By leveraging global mobility effectively, businesses can enhance their competitiveness, drive growth, and succeed in an increasingly interconnected world.
The number of overseas veterinary professionals coming to work in the UK had seen a significant decline since Brexit negotiations in 2018. Data from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) illustrates that annually, the number of qualified vets moving to work in the UK had dropped by 68% between 2019 and 2021. However, recent figures indicate a record year in 2023 for overseas registrations with the RCVS, with 2024 registrations increasing again by 37%. These figures positively evidence that overseas veterinary practitioners are increasingly interested in migrating to the UK.
Some employers express their concerns regarding communication and English language levels. However, candidates sponsored under the UKVI Skilled Worker scheme must sit and pass a Secure English Language Test (SELT) or an Occupational English Test (OET) prior to registration with the RCVS. This ensures that the sponsored workers meet a satisfactory standard of English. In practice, many candidates have excellent communication skills and spoken/written English.
Given the significant challenges faced across most sectors following the negotiations and implementation of Brexit, businesses are increasingly applying for a sponsor licence. Current data illustrates that 136,251 UK business now hold a sponsor licence, with over c.3,600 new licence applications being submitted every month. This demonstrates that an increasing number of UK businesses are now exploring wider global mobility and recognising the benefits of overseas sponsorship.
UK sponsorship of skilled workers is very much dictated by the needs of the business and ultimately any genuine and eligible role can be fulfilled via UKVI sponsorship. When considering which veterinary jobs can be sponsored it is worth considering the range of occupations listed on the Government eligibility list:
The following roles are eligible for sponsorship only if the applicant was granted permission as a Skilled Worker under the rules in place before 22 July 2025, and they have had continuous permission as a Skilled Worker since then;
Other supporting roles such as marketing, sales, finance and business development can also be considered for sponsorship.
The skills shortage is a growing issue in the UK veterinary sector, which has historically relied, in some part, on bringing qualified vets from overseas in order to improve its pool of available professionals.
To combat the shortage, temporary arrangements have been set in place to enable RCVS recognition of graduates from vet schools accredited by the European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education (EAEVE).
During their January 2024 meeting, the RCVS Council agreed to continue this recognition for up to five years, meaning eligibility will last until 2029 at the latest. The policy could still be terminated earlier if circumstances change.
Supporting veterinary practices with skilled worker sponsorship involves a structured action plan to navigate UK immigration rules, secure the right candidates, and maintain compliance.
As the veterinary sector demand for skilled labour grows, being prepared to hire internationally could give your practice a valuable advantage. If you’re unsure about where to start, get in touch with us today and we can help you through your application and the sponsorship process.
Eligibility
Application
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