OpenThe UK’s construction and property maintenance sectors are short on skilled painters and decorators, and the government has responded by keeping this trade on its official list of occupations eligible for visa sponsorship, even as most other trade roles have been squeezed out of the system. If you’re a qualified painter or decorator looking to work in the UK, here’s an accurate, up-to-date breakdown of how sponsorship works in 2026.
The Rules Changed in 2025–2026
Before anything else, you need to understand this: on 22 July 2025, the UK raised the general skill threshold for the Skilled Worker visa to degree level (RQF Level 6), which knocked over 100 trade and mid-skilled occupations out of standard eligibility. Painting and decorating survived, but only because it’s specifically listed on a separate mechanism called the Temporary Shortage List (TSL), confirmed directly on the UK government’s official site.
This TSL is time-limited and currently scheduled to expire on 31 December 2026, pending a government review. This means the window to apply under current rules is real but not indefinite, don’t delay if this is your route to the UK.
The Visa You Need: Skilled Worker Visa (via the Temporary Shortage List)
Occupation code: SOC 5323 (Painters and decorators)
Current minimum salary (going rate), confirmed on gov.uk:
- £33,400/year (£17.13/hour): standard rate, for workers whose first Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is issued from 4 April 2024 onward
- £27,800/year (£14.26/hour): lower rate, only for those who held a Skilled Worker visa continuously since before 4 April 2024
These figures are pro-rated for a 37.5-hour week and adjusted based on your actual contracted hours.
Visa duration: Up to 5 years, extendable, with a route to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after 5 continuous years, subject to meeting the requirements at that time.
Important restriction: Because painting and decorating sits on the Temporary Shortage List (a medium-skilled, RQF 3–5 route) rather than the standard graduate-level tables, dependants (partner/children) are not permitted to accompany TSL visa holders under current rules. This is a real trade-off worth knowing before you apply.
Eligibility Requirements
1. A genuine job offer from a UK-licensed sponsor
- Your employer must hold a valid Home Office Sponsor Licence. No licence, no sponsorship and this is non-negotiable, regardless of how attractive the job posting looks.
2. A Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)
- Issued by your employer once they’ve confirmed the role and salary meet Home Office rules.
3. The correct occupation code and salary
- Your role must be genuinely classified as SOC 5323, and you must be paid at least the going rate above, base salary only; bonuses and allowances don’t count toward the threshold.
4. English language proficiency
- From 8 January 2026, the requirement rose from CEFR B1 to CEFR B2 across all four skills (reading, writing, speaking, listening) for new applicants. This is a meaningful jump, budget time to prepare for and pass an approved test (e.g., IELTS for UKVI) if English isn’t your first language.
5. Financial requirement
- You’ll usually need to show you have at least £1,270 in savings (held for 28 days), unless your employer confirms they’ll cover this on the CoS.
6. Health and character checks
- Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) payment, currently £1,035/year
- Criminal record certificate, depending on the role and country
- TB test, if applying from a country on the UK’s required list
7. Age
- No general age limit for the Skilled Worker visa itself.
Benefits of a Sponsored UK Painting Job
- Legal, stable route to work in the UK with a defined pathway to settlement after 5 years
- Competitive pay: many advertised roles pay well above the £33,400 minimum, especially in London, the South East, and specialist commercial/industrial painting
- NHS access once you’ve paid the Immigration Health Surcharge
- Career progression: supervisory roles (SOC 5330, Construction and building trades supervisors) also sit on the shortage list, with a higher going rate of £41,800
- Reduced fees in some cases: TSL roles avoid the higher graduate-level thresholds that now apply to most other sponsored jobs
- Experience that counts toward future settlement and, eventually, British citizenship eligibility
Where to Find Legitimate Sponsored Painting Roles
Only apply through verified employer channels. Reliable starting points:
- Indeed UK: search “painter decorator visa sponsorship”
- Reed
- CV-Library
- Direct applications to established painting/decorating contractors, facilities management firms, and hotel groups (e.g., regional hotel maintenance teams, commercial property maintenance contractors) that explicitly advertise sponsorship
Official government resources (bookmark these):
- Skilled Worker visa overview
- Temporary Shortage List (official, live table with SOC 5323)
- Register of licensed sponsors (verify any employer before applying)
- CASCOT occupation coding tool (check your job’s SOC code)
How to Apply
- Confirm your occupation matches SOC 5323 using the CASCOT tool.
- Search and apply for painter/decorator roles at UK-licensed sponsors on Indeed, Reed, and CV-Library.
- Verify the employer’s sponsor licence on the official government register before accepting any offer or paying any fees.
- Secure your job offer and Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), your employer issues this once they confirm the role and pay meet Home Office rules.
- Take an approved English test if required, and get results before applying.
- Apply online for the Skilled Worker visa via GOV.UK, you can apply up to 3 months before your job start date.
- Submit supporting documents: passport, CoS reference number, English test results, financial evidence, and pay the visa fee plus Immigration Health Surcharge.
- Attend biometrics appointment and await your decision.
- Travel and start work once your visa is granted.
Tips for a Successful Application
- Act before the TSL deadline: With the Temporary Shortage List currently set to expire 31 December 2026 (pending review), apply well ahead of that date rather than assuming an extension will happen.
- Double-check the SOC code on your job offer: A wrongly classified role is one of the most common reasons for refusal, make sure your actual duties genuinely match “painter and decorator,” not a broader or vaguer job title.
- Prepare for B2 English early: This is now a real hurdle for many applicants, start test preparation months in advance if you’re not confident.
- Confirm base salary, not total package, meets the threshold: Bonuses, overtime, and allowances don’t count, only guaranteed basic pay does.
- Always verify the sponsor licence yourself on the official GOV.UK register before paying any recruitment or “processing” fees, legitimate employers and the Home Office never ask candidates to pay for sponsorship itself.
- Understand the dependants restriction if you have family who’d want to join you: Under current TSL rules, this route doesn’t currently allow dependants to accompany you, unlike RQF Level 6+ roles.
- Keep evidence of your trade experience and qualifications (certifications, references, portfolio of work), strong evidence supports both your job search and any future visa extension or ILR application.
- Use a regulated adviser if unsure: If your situation is complex, consult an adviser registered with the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) rather than an unregulated “agent.”
Conclusion
Painting and decorating remains one of the few trade occupations still open to UK visa sponsorship in 2026, thanks to its place on the government’s Temporary Shortage List, but the landscape has tightened considerably since mid-2025, with higher English requirements, no dependants under this route, and a firm expiry date on the horizon. If you’re a qualified painter or decorator considering this path, the practical priorities are clear: secure a genuine offer from a licensed sponsor, confirm your salary meets the £33,400 going rate, get your English proficiency sorted early, and move before the shortage list window closes at the end of 2026.
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