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Are you an international student or professional looking to build a career in the UK? While many people focus on private-sector jobs, a role in one of the UK’s councils could be your best-kept secret to securing visa sponsorship. With 316 councils in total and 138 of them holding a sponsorship license, there’s a world of opportunity waiting for you in finance, IT, digital, and more!
Below, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about UK council jobs with visa sponsorship, plus share the 138-council list so you can jumpstart your job search today.
Diverse Roles
Councils aren’t just about administrative tasks. They need finance experts, IT specialists, digital marketing professionals, and data analysts to serve their communities effectively. This diversity often translates into plenty of vacancies with different skill requirements.
Stable Career Paths
Compared to many private companies, councils often offer structured progression routes, training opportunities, and comprehensive benefits. If you’re looking for a long-term, stable career, councils are an excellent bet.
Visa Sponsorship Potential
If a council holds a sponsorship license, they can legally sponsor eligible candidates for a work visa (Skilled Worker Visa). This is a critical factor for international students who need long-term work authorization in the UK.
Keep in mind that visa sponsorship hinges on meeting certain salary thresholds set by the UK government. Roles in finance, IT, and digital often come with competitive salaries that can meet (or exceed) the minimum requirements. Always confirm the exact salary and band in the job listing or by speaking with the hiring manager.
| Council Name | Website | LinkedIN Employees | Category | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham City Council | http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Metropolitan districts | Birmingham |
| Coventry City Council | https://www.coventry.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Metropolitan districts | Coventry |
| Leeds City Council | https://www.leeds.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Metropolitan districts | Leeds |
| Liverpool City Council | https://liverpool.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Metropolitan districts | Liverpool, Merseyside |
| Manchester City Council | https://www.manchester.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Metropolitan districts | Greater Manchester |
| Bath and North East Somerset | https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Unitary authorities | Bath |
| Bedford Borough Council | https://www.bedford.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Unitary authorities | Bedford |
| Blackpool Council | https://www.blackpool.gov.uk/Home.aspx | 1000+ | Unitary authorities | Blackpool |
| bournemouth christchurch and poole council | https://www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Unitary authorities | Bournemouth, Dorset |
| Bracknell Forest Borough Council | https://www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Unitary authorities | Bracknell, Berkshire |
| Bristol City Council | https://www.bristol.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Unitary authorities | Bristol |
| Cornwall Council | https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Unitary authorities | Truro, Cornwall |
| Cumberland Council | https://www.cumberland.gov.uk/ | 500-1000 | Unitary authorities | Carlisle |
| Durham County Council | https://www.durham.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Unitary authorities | Durham, Durham |
| Dorset Council | https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Unitary authorities | Dorchester, Dorset |
| East Riding of Yorkshire Council | https://www.eastriding.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Unitary authorities | Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire |
| Herefordshire Counc | https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Unitary authorities | Hereford |
| Hull City Council | https://www.hull.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Unitary authorities | Hull, England |
| Leicester City Council | https://www.leicester.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Unitary authorities | Leicester |
| Luton Borough Council | https://m.luton.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Unitary authorities | Luton, Bedfordshire |
| Medway Council | https://www.medway.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Unitary authorities | Chatham |
| Milton Keynes Council | https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Unitary authorities | Central Milton Keynes |
| North East Lincolnshire Council | https://www.nelincs.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Unitary authorities | Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire |
| North Somerset Council | https://n-somerset.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Unitary authorities | Weston-super-Mare |
| North Yorkshire Council | https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Unitary authorities | Northallerton, North Yorkshire |
| Northumberland County Council | https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/Home.aspx | 1000+ | Unitary authorities | Morpeth, Northumberland |
| Nottingham City Council | https://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Unitary authorities | Nottingham |
| Peterborough City Council | https://www.peterborough.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Unitary authorities | Peterborough |
| Plymouth City Council | https://www.plymouth.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Unitary authorities | Devon |
| Reading Borough Council | https://www.reading.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Unitary authorities | Berkshire |
| Rutland County Council | https://www.rutland.gov.uk/ | 250-500 | Unitary authorities | Oakham, Rutland |
| Slough Borough Council | https://www.slough.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Unitary authorities | Slough, Berkshire |
| Somerset Council | https://www.somerset.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Unitary authorities | Somerset |
| Southampton City Council | https://www.southampton.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Unitary authorities | Southampton |
| Southend-on-Sea Borough Council | https://www.southend.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Unitary authorities | Essex |
| Stoke-on-Trent City Council | https://www.stoke.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Unitary authorities | Staffordshire |
| Swindon Borough Council | https://www.swindon.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Unitary authorities | Swindon, Wiltshire |
| Torbay Council | https://www.torbay.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Unitary authorities | Torquay, Devon |
| Warrington Borough Council | https://www.warrington.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Unitary authorities | Warrington |
| West Northamptonshire Council | https://www.westnorthants.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Unitary authorities | Northampton |
| Wiltshire Council | https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Unitary authorities | Trowbridge, England |
| Wokingham Borough Council | https://www.wokingham.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Unitary authorities | Wokingham, Berkshire |
| Cambridgeshire County Council | https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | County councils | Alconbury Weald, Huntingdon |
| Essex County Council | https://www.essex.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | County councils | County councils |
| Gloucestershire County Council | http://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | County councils | Gloucester, Gloucestershire |
| Hampshire County Council | https://www.hants.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | County councils | Winchester, Hants |
| Hertfordshire County Council | https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/home.aspx | 1000+ | County councils | Hertford, Hertfordshire |
| Kent County Council | https://www.kent.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | County councils | MAIDSTONE, Kent |
| Leicestershire County Council | https://www.leicestershire.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | County councils | Leicester |
| Lincolnshire County Counci | https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | County councils | Lincoln |
| Norfolk County Council | https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | County councils | Norwich, Norfolk |
| Nottinghamshire County Council | https://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | County councils | NOTTINGHAM, Nottinghamshire |
| Oxfordshire County Council | https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | County councils | Oxford, Oxfordshire |
| Staffordshire County Council | https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Homepage.aspx | 1000+ | County councils | Stafford, Staffordshire |
| Warwickshire County Council | https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | County councils | Warwick, Warwickshire |
| West Sussex County Council | https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | County councils | Chichester, England |
| Worcestershire County Council | https://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | County councils | Worcester, Worcestershire |
| Ashford Borough Council | https://www.ashford.gov.uk/ | 250-500 | District councils | Kent |
| Basingstoke & Deane Borough | http://www.basingstoke.gov.uk/ | 250-500 | District councils | Basingstoke, England |
| Bassetlaw District Council | https://www.bassetlaw.gov.uk/ | 100-250 | District councils | Worksop, Nottinghamshire |
| Brentwood Borough Council | https://www.brentwood.gov.uk/ | 100-250 | District councils | Brentwood, Essex |
| Cambridge City Council | https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/ | 500-1000 | District councils | Cambridge, Cambridgeshire |
| Cherwell District Council | https://www.cherwell.gov.uk/ | 250-500 | District councils | Banbury, Oxfordshire |
| Chorley Borough Council | https://chorley.gov.uk/ | 100-250 | District councils | Chorley, Lancashire |
| Dacorum Borough Council | https://www.dacorum.gov.uk/ | 250-500 | District councils | Hemel Hempstead, Herts |
| Dover District Council | https://www.dover.gov.uk/Home.aspx | 100-250 | District councils | Dover, England |
| East Devon District Council | https://eastdevon.gov.uk/ | 250-500 | District councils | Heathpark Way, Honiton, Devon |
| East Suffolk Council | https://www.eastsuffolk.gov.uk/ | 250-500 | District councils | Melton, Suffolk |
| Gedling Borough Council | https://www.gedling.gov.uk/ | 100-250 | District councils | Arnold |
| Hyndburn Borough Council | https://www.hyndburnbc.gov.uk/ | 100-250 | District councils | Lancshire |
| Maidstone Borough Council | https://maidstone.gov.uk/ | 250-500 | District councils | Maidstone, Kent |
| Mid Devon District Council | http://www.middevon.gov.uk/ | 100-250 | District councils | Tiverton, Devon |
| Pendle Borough Council | https://www.pendle.gov.uk/ | 100-250 | District councils | Nelson, Lancashire |
| Rother District Council | http://www.rother.gov.uk/ | 100-250 | District councils | Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex |
| Rushmoor Borough Council | https://www.rushmoor.gov.uk/ | 100-250 | District councils | Farnborough, England |
| South Ribble Borough Council | http://www.southribble.gov.uk/ | 100-250 | District councils | Leyland |
| Watford Borough Council | https://www.watford.gov.uk/ | 250-500 | District councils | Watford, Hertfordshire |
| London Borough Haringey | https://www.haringey.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | London Borough | London |
| London Borough of Barking & Dagenham | http://www.lbbd.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | London Borough | London |
| Barnet Council | https://www.barnet.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | London Borough | London |
| London Borough of Bexley | https://www.bexley.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | London Borough | Bexleyheath, London |
| Bromley | https://www.bromley.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | London Borough | London |
| Camden Council | https://www.camden.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | London Borough | London |
| Ealing Council | https://www.ealing.gov.uk/site/ | 1000+ | London Borough | Enfield, Middlesex |
| Enfield Council | http://www.enfield.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | London Borough | London |
| Hackney Council | https://hackney.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | London Borough | london |
| London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham | https://www.lbhf.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | London Borough | London |
| London Borough of Harrow | https://www.harrow.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | London Borough | London |
| London Borough of Havering | https://www.havering.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | London Borough | London |
| Hillingdon Council | https://www.hillingdon.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | London Borough | London |
| London Borough of Hounslow | https://www.hounslow.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | London Borough | London |
| Islington Council | https://www.islington.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | London Borough | London |
| London Borough of Lambeth | https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | London Borough | London |
| Lewisham Council | https://lewisham.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | London Borough | London |
| Merton Council | https://www.merton.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | London Borough | Morden, London |
| Newham Children Council | https://www.newham.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | London Borough | London |
| Redbridge | https://www.redbridge.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | London Borough | London |
| London Borough of Richmond upon Thames | https://www.richmond.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | London Borough | London |
| Sutton | https://sutton.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | London Borough | London |
| Tower Hamlets Council | https://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/Home.aspx | 1000+ | London Borough | London |
| London Borough of Waltham Forest | https://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | London Borough | London |
| Wandsworth Boroughs Councill | https://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | London Borough | London |
| London Boroughs Richmond upon Thames | https://www.richmond.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | London Borough | London |
| Thurrock Borough Council | https://www.thurrock.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Unitary authorities | Grays, Essex |
| Bury Council | https://www.bury.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Metropolitan districts | Bury, England |
| Bradford Council | https://www.bradford.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Metropolitan districts | Bradford |
| Gateshead Council | https://www.gateshead.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Metropolitan districts | Gateshead |
| Knowsley Council | https://www.knowsley.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Metropolitan districts | Knowsley |
| North Tyneside Council | https://my.northtyneside.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Metropolitan districts | North Tyneside |
| Rochdale Borough Council | https://www.rochdale.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Metropolitan districts | Rochdale Borough |
| Rother District Council | https://www.rother.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Metropolitan districts | Rother District |
| Sheffield City Council | https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Metropolitan districts | Sheffield City |
| Salford City Council | https://www.salford.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Metropolitan districts | Salford City |
| Solihull Council | https://www.solihull.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Metropolitan districts | Solihull |
| South Tyneside Council | https://www.southtyneside.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Metropolitan districts | South Tyneside |
| St.Helens Council | https://www.sthelens.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Metropolitan districts | St.Helens |
| Stockport Council | https://www.stockport.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Metropolitan districts | Stockport |
| Wakefield Council | https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Metropolitan districts | Wakefield |
| Walsall Council | https://go.walsall.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Metropolitan districts | Walsall |
| Wirral Council | http://www.wirral.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Metropolitan districts | Wirral |
| Oldham Council | https://www.oldham.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Metropolitan districts | Oldham |
| Buckinghamshire Council | https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Unitary authorities | Buckinghamshire |
| Cheshire East Borough Council | https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/home.aspx | 1000+ | Unitary authorities | Sandbach, Cheshire |
| South Gloucestershire Council | https://www.southglos.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Unitary authorities | Yate, South Gloucestershire |
| Stockton on Tees Borough Council | https://www.stockton.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Unitary authorities | Thornaby, Stockton-on-Tees, |
| Westmorland & Furness Council | https://www.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/ | 500-1000 | Unitary authorities | Kendal, Barrow and Penrith, Cumbria |
| West Berkshire District Council | https://www.westberks.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | Unitary authorities | Berkshire |
| Devon County Council | https://www.devon.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | County Council | Exeter |
| East Sussex County Council | http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | County Council | Lewes, East Sussex |
| Lancashire County Council | http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/ | 1000+ | County Council | Preston, Lancashire |
| Suffolk County Council | http://www.suffolk.gov.uk/careers | 1000+ | County Council | Ipswich, Suffolk |
| Surrey County Council | https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/jobs | 1000+ | County Council | Surrey |
| Derbyshire County Council | https://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/home.aspx | 1000+ | County Council | Matlock, Derbyshire |
| Basildon Borough Council | https://www.basildon.gov.uk/ | 500-1000 | District councils | Basildon, Essex |
| Castle Point Borough Council | https://www.castlepoint.gov.uk/ | 100-250 | District councils | Benfleet, Essex |
| Colchester Borough Council | https://www.colchester.gov.uk/ | 250-500 | District councils | Colchester, England |
| Eastbourne Borough Council | https://www.lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk/ | 250-500 | District councils | Eastbourne, East Sussex |
| Swale Borough Council | https://swale.gov.uk/ | 250-500 | District councils | Sittingbourne, Kent |
Working for a UK council can open doors to rewarding, community-focused roles while helping you stay in the country longer through visa sponsorship. With 138 councils holding sponsorship licenses, your next big career move could be just around the corner.