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Visa-sponsor jobs

Mechanical fitter jobs with visa sponsorship in the UK

Mechanical fitters are in SOC 5223, a medium-skilled occupation that is on the Temporary Shortage List (standard rate £39,300) until 31 December 2026. A licensed employer can sponsor the job only while the code is on that list and the pay meets the rate. A sponsor licence is not a promise of sponsorship for any job.

29 jobs live right now. Free to browse and free to apply; we never charge candidates, and we never promise a job.

Maintenance engineer in a blue hard hat and orange hi-vis checking breakers inside an outdoor electrical cabinet

Checked 28 October 2026

Rules at a glance, checked 28 October 2026

These are the Skilled Worker rules that matter for this trade. They change, so read GOV.UK before you act. This is not immigration advice.

  • General salary threshold: £41,700 a year, or the going rate for the occupation code if that is higher.
  • Lower threshold: £33,400 if you are under 26, a current or recent UK student or Graduate visa holder, or in professional training (70% of the going rate).
  • Skill level: since 22 July 2025 the route generally needs a job at degree level (RQF level 6). Medium-skilled jobs qualify only if they are also on the Temporary Shortage List or the Immigration Salary List and meet the salary rules.
  • English: level B2 for new applicants (since 8 January 2026).
  • Source: Skilled Worker visa: your job, GOV.UK (opens in a new tab); when you can be paid less (opens in a new tab)

Occupation codes for this trade

Occupation codes (SOC), skill level and Temporary Shortage List status, standard rate for a 37.5 hour week
SOCJob typeSkill levelShortage list
5223Metal working production and maintenance fittersMediumOn list, £39,300

The Temporary Shortage List has 52 occupations and expires on 31 December 2026. The Migration Advisory Committee's report of 23 July 2026 recommends 28 occupations for 18 months more. The government had not decided when we checked, so we update this page when it does.

Source: Temporary Shortage List, GOV.UK (opens in a new tab); MAC Stage 2 report (opens in a new tab).

Two things to remember

  • A sponsor licence is not a promise of sponsorship for this job. The employer decides that for each role, and the Home Office decides the visa.
  • You should never pay an employer or agent for a job or for sponsorship. Check any employer on the Home Office register before you share documents.

29 jobs: from licensed sponsors or offering sponsorship

29 of these are from a licensed visa sponsor or say sponsorship is offered. A licence does not mean a particular job is sponsored: ask the employer. How the tags work.

Search more mechanical fitter jobs

Where the mechanical fitter jobs are

  • Basingstoke (2)
  • Leicester (2)
  • Bassingbourn (1)
  • Chesterfield (1)
  • Craigavon (1)
  • Croft (1)
  • Goole (1)
  • Hilderstone (1)
  • Leighton (1)
  • London (1)

Places named in today's adverts. A city link opens all automation and maintenance jobs within about 25 miles.

Employers hiring

  • Holcim UK (4)
  • Johnson Matthey Plc (2)
  • Nicholas Associates (2)
  • Noble Foods Limited (2)
  • WES (2)
  • Wienerberger (2)
  • Anglian Water Services (1)
  • Brett Martin Limited (1)

Employers with the most live jobs here, not counting recruitment agencies.

Job alerts

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Checked 28 October 2026

Pay and demand, with sources and dates

FAQ

Questions people ask

Is mechanical fitter on the Temporary Shortage List?

Metal working production and maintenance fitters (SOC 5223) are on the list, with a standard rate of £39,300 for a 37.5 hour week, when we checked on 28 October 2026. The list expires on 31 December 2026. The Migration Advisory Committee recommended keeping 5223 for 18 months more, but the government had not decided when we checked.

What salary does a sponsored mechanical fitter need?

The general threshold is £41,700 a year or the going rate for the code if higher. A shortage-list job is paid at the list's rate instead: £39,300 standard rate for 5223. For comparison, the median for the occupation was £41,942 (ONS ASHE 2026), so many fitter jobs pay below the threshold. Check the certificate of sponsorship (checked 28 October 2026).

Can I be sponsored as a millwright?

Millwrights are usually coded as fitters, so the same rules apply, but the code depends on the duties and the employer chooses it. Ask the employer in writing which code the job would use. Searches for millwright jobs also return Canada, so check the job is in the UK.

Will an employer sponsor a fitter with no UK experience?

It can happen, but the employer needs a licence, an eligible code and the right pay, and it must be willing to sponsor someone who has not worked in the UK. A sponsor licence is not a promise of sponsorship for this job. You should never pay an employer or agent for a job or for sponsorship.

Related

Next steps

Sponsorship labels come from the advert's own words, the employer's own statement or the Home Office register of licensed sponsors. They are not a promise of a visa, and EDWartens does not sponsor visas.

UK employers must check that you have the right to work in the UK before you start. Ask the employer what it needs from you.

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