Occupational Therapist Jobs with UK Visa Sponsorship
Occupational therapists help people regain independence in daily living and work — a distinct discipline from physiotherapy with its own strong demand for international recruits across NHS and community settings.
Visa Sponsorship Overview
Visa Route
Health and Care Worker
Salary Threshold
From £28,000/year
Immigration Salary List
Yes — reduced threshold
Skill Level
RQF Level 6
Registration
Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
SOC Code
2222
Occupational Therapist Jobs from Visa Sponsors
Live listings from employers on the Home Office Register of Licensed Sponsors.
Occupational Therapist
Priory · Annesley, Nottingham · £24,999 – £30,432
Occupational Therapist
Priory · Bassingbourn, Royston · £31,249 – £38,040
Occupational Therapist
Witherslack Group · Weald, Bampton · £40,207 – £40,207
Occupational Therapist
Witherslack Group · Wheatley, Oxford · £42,078 – £42,078
Occupational Therapist - Full Time
Priory · Muirend, Glasgow · £31,249 – £38,040
Occupational Therapist
Academics · West Hampstead, North West London · £50,600 – £50,600
Occupational Therapist
Academics · Yiewsley, West Drayton · £50,600 – £50,600
Occupational Therapist
Exemplar Health Care · Lairdside Technology Park, Birkenhead · £34,875 – £34,875
Specialist Occupational Therapist
Hampshire County Council · Hampshire, South East England · £50,564 – £56,219
Senior Occupational Therapist
Exemplar Health Care · Tindale Crescent, Bishop Auckland · £41,030 – £41,030
Want these in your inbox? Set up daily alerts for occupational therapist jobs — free, no account needed to browse.
What Visa Sponsorship Means for Occupational Therapists
Occupational therapy (OT) is often confused with physiotherapy, but the disciplines differ fundamentally. While physiotherapy focuses on movement and physical rehabilitation, OT focuses on enabling people to participate in meaningful daily activities — from dressing and cooking to returning to work after illness or injury. This distinction carries through to the types of roles available: OTs work in hospitals, community teams, mental health services, schools, prisons, and corporate occupational health departments.
Registration with the HCPC is required, following the same process as physiotherapy: evidence of a qualifying BSc in Occupational Therapy (or equivalent), clinical practice hours, and English language proficiency (IELTS 7.0 or OET Grade B). The going rate for sponsorship is approximately £28,000, aligned with NHS Band 5.
Mental health occupational therapy is a particularly underserved specialism in the UK, with persistent vacancies in community mental health teams and inpatient psychiatric services. OTs with experience in mental health assessment, therapeutic group facilitation, or vocational rehabilitation may find faster recruitment pathways and, in some trusts, recruitment incentives.
The Health and Care Worker visa applies with reduced fees and IHS exemption. Like other HCPC-regulated professions, OTs are not subject to the March 2024 dependant restrictions. Career progression follows NHS banding (5 to 8), with advanced practitioner and consultant OT roles emerging as the profession expands its scope of practice.
Salary Overview
Based on 47 listings with salary data (2 outliers excluded):
Low
£23,477
Median
£43,942
High
£93,600
The visa sponsorship going rate for this role is £28,000/year. Listings below this threshold cannot be sponsored.
Employers Who Sponsor Occupational Therapists
These employers appeared in current listings and are on the Home Office Register of Licensed Sponsors.
Search for More Occupational Therapist Jobs
Explore occupational therapist jobs across UK cities, filter by salary and contract type, and check visa sponsorship status in real time.
Search on Atlas →Related Roles
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.