Work permits by country for employers
How to sponsor a work permit in the UK, Canada, Australia, the United States, UAE and Singapore: process, timelines, employer duties, in-house or partner.
Sponsoring a hire abroad, compared
Every country that admits sponsored workers runs the same four tests in a different order: is the occupation eligible, does the salary clear the threshold, is the employer licensed or registered to sponsor, and what right-to-work evidence must be held after the start date. The table below puts the current answers side by side so HR teams can compare routes before an offer letter is drafted. Figures are taken from the authority's published rules and are re-verified when they change; the detail page for each country explains the process step by step with a guaranteed filing date and the published processing window.
Country comparison
| Country | Route | Salary threshold | Employer licence | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Skilled Worker visa | £41,700 or the going rate | Sponsor licence required (8 weeks, £611 to £1,682) | 3 weeks outside the UK, 8 weeks inside |
| Canada | LMIA-based work permit / Global Talent Stream | Provincial median wage or higher | LMIA from ESDC unless exempt (CUSMA, ICT, GTS) | 2 weeks (GTS) to 4 months (standard LMIA) |
| Australia | Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) | AUD 79,423 Core Skills Income Threshold (from 1 July 2026) | Standard Business Sponsorship (approx. 2 to 4 weeks) | About 30 days after nomination |
| United States | H-1B specialty occupation | Prevailing wage for the occupation and area | Registered petitioner; H-1B lottery each March | Lottery in March, start 1 October; premium processing 15 days |
| United Arab Emirates | Employment visa and work permit (MOHRE) | No statutory minimum; salary drives family sponsorship | Company establishment card and MOHRE registration | 5 to 10 working days end to end |
| Singapore | Employment Pass | SGD 5,600 minimum, higher with age and in finance | COMPASS points framework (40 points needed) | 10 business days online |
How Vistolane handles a sponsored hire
- Role check. The occupation, salary and employer standing are tested against the current rules before the offer is made.
- Case file. The candidate's documents are validated against the authority's list; missing items are chased automatically.
- Filing. A licensed processing partner lodges the petition, books biometrics and quotes the guaranteed filing date to HR and the candidate.
- Compliance. Start date, reporting duties and permit expiry are tracked on the employee record for the life of the permit.
Questions, answered
Which country is fastest for a sponsored work permit?
The UAE and Singapore typically decide in weeks; the United Kingdom and Australia in one to three months from a complete filing; Canada and the United States depend on the specific programme and can run to several months. The comparison table shows the current window for each.
Does the employer always need a licence?
In the United Kingdom and Australia a sponsor licence or approved sponsorship is required before a petition can be filed. Canada, the United States, the UAE and Singapore register the employer per application or through a labour-market or quota process instead.
What happens if the salary is below the threshold?
The application is refused or needs a listed exemption. Thresholds change at least yearly, so the figure is checked on the day the offer is drafted and again at filing.
Who pays the government fees?
Government fees are paid by the applicant or the employer depending on the route and the employer's policy; Vistolane's platform and processing fees are separate and quoted in advance.
What is a work permit sponsorship?
An employer applies to its government for permission to hire a foreign worker, meets a salary threshold and holds a licence or registration, then the worker applies for the visa.
How long does employer sponsorship take?
From a few weeks (UK Skilled Worker with a licence in place) to several months (Canada LMIA, US H-1B lottery). Each country page lists the current window.
Does Vistolane file work permits?
Work permits run on the specialist track: a licensed immigration partner files, while Vistolane prepares the documents, tracks the case and keeps employer, agency and worker on one record.
What are the employer's duties after approval?
Right-to-work checks, record keeping, reporting changes of role or salary and, in most countries, paying the published minimum salary for the role.