Chapter 2 of 7 · 5 checks · 3 min
Check the offer and the sponsoring employer
A job offer is the foundation of most work visas. Make sure the employer can sponsor you and the offer says what you need it to say.
Confirm the employer is allowed to sponsor workers, where a register existsMust
Why it matters and how to check
Some countries publish lists of employers approved to sponsor foreign workers. The UK, for example, publishes a register of licensed sponsors for the Worker and Temporary Worker routes, and updates it frequently.
If your destination has such a register, search it for the exact legal name of the company that will employ you. If it does not, ask the employer which route they will use and whether they have sponsored people before.
Check it: you have found the employer on the official sponsor register, or have written confirmation from the employer of the route and their eligibility to use it.
Do
- Search the register for the employer's legal entity name
Avoid
- Accepting a sponsored offer from a company you cannot find on an official register where one exists
Get the offer in writing with title, salary, location and start dateMust
Why it matters and how to check
A written offer should name the legal employer, your job title, salary and currency, work location, start date, contract length, probation and notice period. Visa applications often depend on these details, such as the occupation and salary.
Compare the written offer with what was agreed verbally, and ask for corrections before signing. Make sure the job title and duties match the occupation the employer will use on your visa.
Check it: you have a signed offer that lists every item above, and the job details match what the employer will put on your visa application.
Do
- Check the job title matches the occupation on the visa paperwork
Avoid
- Relying on a verbal offer or a chat message
Clarify which visa and relocation costs the employer pays, and any repayment clauseShould
Why it matters and how to check
Employers differ widely in what they cover: visa application costs, health surcharges, flights, temporary housing, shipping and a relocation allowance. Some contracts require you to repay relocation costs if you leave within a set period.
Get the relocation terms in writing, including what is paid upfront and what is reimbursed later, and read any clawback clause carefully.
Check it: you have a written list of what the employer pays, how, and under what conditions you would have to repay it.
Do
- Ask whether costs are paid directly or reimbursed
Avoid
- Signing a repayment clause you have not read
Know what happens if the visa is refused or delayedMust
Why it matters and how to check
Most sponsored offers are conditional on getting the visa. Ask what happens to the offer if the application is refused or the start date moves, and whether you could start working remotely from home in the meantime.
This also decides when you should resign. Resigning before your visa is approved leaves you without income if something goes wrong.
Check it: you know the employer's plan for a refusal or delay, and you will not resign from your current job until your visa is approved, unless you have planned for the risk.
Do
- Ask about a remote start if the visa takes longer
Avoid
- Resigning before your visa is approved
Compare the salary with the real cost of living in that cityShould
Why it matters and how to check
A salary that looks large after conversion into your home currency may be ordinary where you are going. Rent, transport, health insurance, taxes and social contributions can take a large share of it.
Use the city's local rental listings, public transport prices and an official tax calculator where one exists, and build a monthly budget before accepting.
Check it: you have a monthly budget for the new city based on local prices and estimated take-home pay, and it leaves room to save.
Do
- Estimate take-home pay after tax and social contributions
Avoid
- Judging the salary only by converting it into your home currency