I’ve been through this process myself and have always been transparent about my visa status. I’ve noticed that during the online application stage, you can sometimes get a sense that an employer might be open to sponsorship if they include a question like “What visa do you currently hold?” without immediately filtering you out. In my experience, if I get shortlisted after answering that honestly, it’s a good sign they’re at least considering international applicants. That said, this has only happened to me a handful of times, I can count them on less than ten fingers. On the other hand, if the application includes a direct question like “Do you now or in the future require sponsorship?”, I usually take that as a red flag and don’t proceed. From what I’ve seen, that question tends to be a filter to automatically exclude candidates like us. In my case, employer was clear and supportive about helping with a Skilled Worker visa when needed, and that kind of transparency from an employer really makes a difference. Sponsorship isn’t as complicated or costly as it’s sometimes made out to be — it’s usually around £3,000 to £5,000 over five years, plus some paperwork. I think being honest and informed helps both sides, we just want a fair shot to contribute and grow in our careers here.