HGV Driver Jobs with UK Visa Sponsorship
Heavy goods vehicle drivers were temporarily added to the UK shortage list during the 2021-2022 logistics crisis, and while sponsorship remains possible, the landscape has changed significantly.
Visa Sponsorship Overview
Visa Route
Skilled Worker
Salary Threshold
From £24,000/year
Immigration Salary List
No
Skill Level
RQF Level 3
SOC Code
8211
HGV Driver Jobs from Visa Sponsors
Live listings from employers on the Home Office Register of Licensed Sponsors.
HGV Driver (Class 1 / CE) Plymouth
Pertemps Ltd · Plymouth, South West England · £44,595 – £51,105
Class 2 HGV Lorry Driver - Bangor
Haldane Fisher Ltd · County Down, Northern Ireland · £35,108 – £35,108
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What Visa Sponsorship Means for HGV Drivers
HGV driving was added to the Shortage Occupation List as a temporary measure during the severe UK driver shortage of 2021-2022, which caused widely reported disruptions to supply chains and fuel distribution. The temporary addition has since expired, and HGV drivers are no longer on the Immigration Salary List. Sponsorship remains technically possible under the standard Skilled Worker visa, but the number of employers actively sponsoring HGV drivers has decreased considerably.
The going rate is approximately £24,000 per year, but market salaries for experienced HGV drivers often exceed this — particularly for Class 1 (articulated) drivers and those with ADR certification for hazardous goods. The standard Skilled Worker visa fees and Immigration Health Surcharge apply.
A full Category C (rigid vehicles over 3.5 tonnes) or Category CE (articulated vehicles) driving licence is essential. International licence holders must convert their licence to a UK equivalent, which involves applying to the DVLA and may require taking the UK driving test depending on the country of origin. A valid Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC) is also required for commercial driving in the UK and involves 35 hours of periodic training every five years.
The logistics industry's sponsorship appetite has cooled since the immediate crisis passed, with many companies preferring domestic recruitment or agency workers. However, specialist driving roles — refrigerated transport, tanker driving, oversized loads — still see some sponsorship activity, particularly from larger logistics firms with established sponsor licences.
Salary Overview
Based on 13 listings with salary data (17 outliers excluded):
Low
£27,254
Median
£38,628
High
£65,520
The visa sponsorship going rate for this role is £24,000/year. Listings below this threshold cannot be sponsored.
Employers Who Sponsor HGV Drivers
These employers appeared in current listings and are on the Home Office Register of Licensed Sponsors.
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Salary thresholds, Immigration Salary List status, and visa rules are subject to change. Always check GOV.UK for the latest requirements. Job listings are provided by Adzuna and refreshed daily.