Many people want to work in the UK. Some jobs need a degree, but many do not. This guide lists the main job types for foreign workers in the UK, what they pay and how the process really works. It helps you choose the right path and stay away from fake offers.
Read this first: since July 2025 the UK gives its main work visa only for jobs at degree level. For most jobs without a degree there is no work visa any more. Two things are still open: seasonal farm and poultry work, and a short list of trade jobs. This guide shows what is real.
The main jobs for foreign workers in the UK
| Seasonal farm work | Open. 41,000 places in 2026. No English test |
|---|---|
| Seasonal poultry work | Open from October to December. 1,900 places |
| Trade jobs (welder, some building trades) | Temporary list. Read the guide |
| Factory and warehouse | No work visa. Read the guide |
| Hotel, kitchen, cleaning | No work visa. Read the guide |
| Truck driver | No work visa. Read the guide |
| Care worker | Closed to new workers from abroad since July 2025 |
How much you can earn
Since 1 April 2026 the minimum wage in the UK for workers aged 21 or more is £12.71 an hour. It is called the National Living Wage. Seasonal workers must be paid at least this amount, for at least 32 hours a week. Jobs at degree level that can get the Skilled Worker visa must usually pay £41,700 a year or more.
From your pay, income tax and National Insurance are taken when you earn above a set amount.
If you have a trade
Electricians, plumbers, welders, mechanics, carpenters and cooks usually earn more than general workers, and employers look for them first. But a trade is only useful abroad if you can prove it:
- Bring your training certificate and letters from past employers, with dates and the work you did.
- Some trades, such as electrician and plumber, are regulated. You may need a local licence or an exam before you can work alone.
- Photos or a short video of your work can help in an interview.
Which job is right for you?
- If you are strong and like clear tasks, look at factory, warehouse and construction work.
- If you have a clean licence and driving experience, driver jobs often pay more.
- If you like working with people, look at hotel, kitchen and care work.
- If you have a trade, apply in your trade first. It is the fastest way to better pay.
What you need before you can work in the UK
The UK changed its rules on 22 July 2025. The main work visa, called the Skilled Worker visa, now asks for a job at university degree level and a salary of at least £41,700 a year in most cases. Since January 2026 it also asks for a higher level of English. Care worker jobs can no longer be given to new workers from abroad. For people without a degree, this is what is left:
- The Seasonal Worker visa. Work on farms that grow fruit, vegetables and flowers, for up to six months, or work with poultry from 2 October to 31 December. In 2026 there are 41,000 places for farm work and 1,900 for poultry, and the same number of farm places is planned for 2027. You do not need a degree or an English test.
- A short list of trade jobs. Some jobs below degree level, such as welders and some building trades, can still be sponsored because the UK lacks workers. The list in force now ends on 31 December 2026, and a shorter list is planned from 2027. Workers on this list cannot bring their family.
For both you need a sponsor with a licence from the UK government. For seasonal work, the sponsor is one of a few approved companies, called scheme operators, listed on GOV.UK. Nobody can promise you a visa.
Costs to plan for
For the Seasonal Worker visa you pay the visa fee of £340 yourself, and you pay your travel to the UK and back. There is no health charge for this visa. Seasonal workers usually live on the farm, in shared housing, and the law limits how much the farm can take from your pay for it. For the Skilled Worker visa the costs are much higher: the visa fee and a health charge of more than £1,000 for each year. Rent in the UK is high, above all in London. Plan your costs before you accept a job, so you know what you can save.
How to apply safely
- Read the Seasonal Worker visa page on GOV.UK and open the list of approved scheme operators.
- Apply on the website of an operator that recruits in your country. Applying to an operator is free.
- If you are chosen, the operator gives you a certificate of sponsorship number.
- Apply for the visa on GOV.UK yourself and pay the fee there, not to an agent.
- Travel only when you have the visa, and keep the operator’s phone number with you.
These are guides, not live vacancies. We are not an employer.
Mistakes to avoid
- Applying for every job you see. Choose the two or three job types that fit your experience.
- Trusting adverts that promise “visa in 10 days” or “no interview”.
- Travelling on a visitor visa to “find work there”. In most countries you cannot work on a visitor visa.
- Paying anyone for a job offer.
Your rights as a worker in the UK
- You must get at least the minimum wage and a payslip that shows your hours and what was taken from your pay.
- Seasonal workers must be paid for at least 32 hours a week.
- Full-time workers have 28 days of paid holiday a year, counted by the time they work.
- Nobody can keep your passport, and you can leave a farm that treats you badly. You can ask your scheme operator to move you to another farm.
- You can report abuse to the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority, and the service Acas gives free advice about work.
Protect yourself from fake job offers
- Never pay for a certificate of sponsorship or for a job. Many people paid thousands of pounds for care and factory jobs that did not exist.
- Check every sponsor on the register of licensed sponsors on GOV.UK.
- For seasonal work, apply only to the approved scheme operators listed on GOV.UK. They do not charge you a fee to apply.
- Be careful with offers for warehouse, hotel, cleaning or driver jobs “with UK visa”. These jobs cannot be sponsored.
Questions people ask
Which job is easiest to get in the UK without a degree?
Seasonal farm work. It has the most places, no English test and a low visa fee. Factory, hotel, cleaning, care and driver jobs can no longer get a work visa.
Is there an age limit?
You must be at least 18. There is no upper age limit in the visa rules. Farm work is hard, physical work outdoors.
Can I get a UK work visa for factory, hotel, cleaning or driver work?
No. Since July 2025 these jobs cannot be sponsored for the Skilled Worker visa. The only open way without a degree for most people is seasonal farm or poultry work.
Can I go to the UK as a visitor and look for work?
You can visit, but you cannot work, and you cannot change a visitor visa into a work visa inside the UK.
More guides for the UK
- Factory jobs in the UK
- Driver jobs in the UK
- Hotel and cleaning jobs in the UK
- Construction jobs in the UK
- How to apply for jobs in the UK
- UK work visa guide
Last checked: November 2026. This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules and pay change, so always confirm on the official websites before you decide. We are not a recruiter and we never ask for money.
These are guides, not live vacancies. We are not an employer.