Are you looking to apply for visa-sponsored cleaning jobs in the UK in 2026 where salaries range from £21,000 to £35,000 yearly depending on experience, location, and employer payments structures?
This guide walks you through everything you must know to sign up, from immigration steps to retirement benefits, job roles, and how companies in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Oxford, and even Scotland are offering sponsorship to qualified cleaners.
Why Choose Cleaning Jobs with Visa Sponsorship
Visa-sponsored cleaning jobs in the UK in 2026 have become one of the most reliable entry routes for immigrants who want stable jobs with consistent earnings.
Many employers now offer salaries from £10.90 to £17.50 per hour, which means you could earn £1,700 to £2,800 monthly, depending on shifts and overtime payments.
What makes these jobs even more attractive is the speed of application, since most employers hiring cleaners have simplified immigration processes to fill labour shortages in hospitals, hotels, schools, warehouses, care homes, and office buildings.
You are choosing a pathway where relocation is easier because companies already budget for sponsorship costs.
Many cleaners who signed up in 2025 received Tier 2 or Seasonal Worker visas within 4 to 8 weeks, especially for regions like London and Kent where demands are extremely high.
Most contracts also include paid holidays, retirement contributions, uniform allowance, and weekly or monthly salary payments.
Cleaning jobs are also beginner friendly. You do not need a UK degree or expensive certifications. Your willingness to work, follow safety rules, and maintain high hygiene standards automatically puts you ahead.
For people in Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America searching for guaranteed income jobs abroad, UK cleaning roles remain one of the fastest routes to start earning immediately after arrival.
Types of Cleaning Jobs in the UK
In 2026, cleaning jobs in the UK with visa sponsorship cover a variety of sectors, each offering different salaries, shift patterns, and requirements.
Most workers earn between £10.50 and £18 per hour depending on whether they work in hospitals, hotels, industrial settings, or private homes.
These roles are available in major cities like London, Liverpool, Glasgow, Leeds, Southampton, and Coventry.
Some of the most common cleaning jobs in the UK include:
- Residential cleaner jobs with salaries from £21,000 to £27,000 yearly
- Commercial office cleaning jobs paying £11 to £15 per hour
- Hotel housekeeping jobs earning £10.90 to £14 per hour
- Hospital cleaning jobs paying between £12 and £17.50 per hour
- Industrial or warehouse cleaning roles with salaries from £24,000 to £32,000 yearly
- School and university cleaner positions averaging £20,500 to £26,000 yearly
- Deep cleaning specialist jobs paying £13 to £20 per hour depending on experience
- Janitorial and maintenance cleaning jobs starting from £23,000 yearly
Each type comes with its unique responsibilities but most employers offer full training. Many companies also include bonuses for night shifts, weekend shifts, punctuality, and overtime.
Whether you want full time, part time, morning, evening, or rotational shifts, there is always a structure that fits your schedule.
In 2026, cleaning companies in the UK are actively signing up foreigners because the industry is experiencing over 70,000 unfilled vacancies. This creates a huge opportunity for immigrants looking to apply for visa-sponsored jobs quickly.
High Paying Cleaning Jobs with Visa Sponsorship in the UK
If your goal is to apply, relocate, and start earning higher salaries on arrival, the UK offers several high paying cleaning roles that come with visa sponsorship.
Many hospitals, universities, airports, aviation companies, warehouse organizations, luxury hotels, and private facility management companies now offer cleaning roles with salaries ranging from £28,000 to £38,000 yearly.
The best part is that high paying cleaning roles often include housing support, transportation allowance, uniform allowance, and structured payments for overtime.
In cities like London, Cambridge, Reading, Edinburgh, and Milton Keynes where living expenses are slightly higher, employers compensate by paying between £14 and £20 per hour for specialist cleaners.
Some high earning categories include:
- Aircraft cleaning jobs paying £14 to £19 per hour
- Deep cleaning and disinfection specialist jobs paying up to £20 per hour
- Industrial machinery cleaning jobs paying £29,000 to £36,000 yearly
- Hospital infection-control cleaning roles paying £12.50 to £18 per hour
- Cleanroom or laboratory cleaning positions paying £30,000 to £40,000 yearly
High paying cleaning jobs are in high demand because they require reliability, teamwork, and attention to detail.
With proper training, even beginners can qualify for these roles and receive visa sponsorship. Employers prefer foreigners who are consistent, available for shifts, and committed to long term employment.
Salary Expectations for Cleaners
One of the biggest motivations for signing up for UK cleaning jobs in 2026 is the salary structure. Cleaners earn between £10.50 and £20 per hour depending on the location, job type, experience, shift selection, and employer policies.
This translates to £1,700 to £3,200 monthly on average. Some specialist cleaning positions even exceed £40,000 annually.
London cleaners earn the highest salaries because employers add cost-of-living payments. Cities like Manchester, Sheffield, Newcastle, Cardiff, Leicester, and Birmingham also offer competitive salaries between £11 and £16 per hour.
Night shift cleaners in warehouses and hospitals can earn up to £18.50 per hour including bonuses. Cleaners working full time often enjoy annual leave pay, retirement pension contributions, and weekly payments depending on the company.
Below is a salary breakdown by job type:
| JOB TYPE | ESTIMATED SALARY |
| Residential Cleaner | £21,000 to £27,000 |
| Office Cleaner | £22,000 to £28,000 |
| Hotel Housekeeper | £20,000 to £25,000 |
| Hospital Cleaner | £25,000 to £32,000 |
| Industrial Cleaner | £24,000 to £36,000 |
| School Cleaner | £20,500 to £26,000 |
| Deep Cleaning Specialist | £28,000 to £40,000 |
| Airport or Aircraft Cleaner | £27,000 to £34,000 |
Eligibility Criteria for Cleaners
To apply for visa-sponsored cleaning jobs in the UK in 2026, you must meet certain eligibility criteria that employers consider before offering sponsorship.
Most cleaning companies, hospitals, airports, universities, and hotel groups are open to hiring foreigners, especially when they can verify your work ethic, ability to follow instructions, and willingness to work full time.
Salaries for eligible applicants typically range from £22,000 to £32,000 yearly depending on the cleaning job category and the region you wish to relocate to.
Employers want cleaners who can work shifts, stand for long hours, and maintain high hygiene standards. You do not need advanced degrees to meet the eligibility criteria.
Even applicants with secondary school certificates or vocational training can qualify. Skilled cleaning roles in laboratories and industrial environments sometimes pay £30,000 to £40,000 per year because they require special attention to detail.
You must also meet immigration guidelines. This includes demonstrating that you can communicate in basic English, understand safety instructions, and follow UK workplace regulations.
Cleaners who already have experience working in hotels, hospitals, office facilities, restaurants, or large international companies often receive faster approvals because they are seen as reliable candidates.
Some employers in London, Bristol, Milton Keynes, Birmingham, Leeds, and Glasgow prefer applicants with at least one year of experience. However, beginners can still apply, since many companies provide paid training.
Meeting the eligibility criteria increases your chances of receiving sponsorship, better salaries, stable payments, and long term job security in the UK.
Requirements for Cleaners
Cleaning jobs in the UK in 2026 come with specific requirements that help employers choose the most suitable candidates for sponsorship.
Salaries differ based on the type of cleaning job, but most positions pay between £10.90 and £18 per hour.
Meeting these requirements strengthens your application, speeds up the interview process, and convinces employers that you are ready for relocation.
Most employers require:
- A valid international passport
- Basic English communication ability
- Willingness to work full time or shift patterns
- Medical fitness to handle physical tasks
- Clean background checks
- Proof of previous work experience where applicable
- Ability to follow safety procedures and cleaning instructions
- Availability to start work immediately after visa approval
Cleaner roles in hospitals, universities, airports, or technology labs usually have higher requirements because they involve infection control or working in controlled environments.
These roles often pay between £28,000 and £40,000 yearly, especially for 2026 applicants with documented experience.
Some employers also request short training videos from applicants demonstrating cleaning techniques, safe handling of chemicals, or time management skills. This helps them evaluate your readiness for relocation.
Requirements vary slightly across regions, but London, Cardiff, Birmingham, Liverpool, Nottingham, and Southampton remain among the most competitive areas.
If you meet most of these requirements, you increase your chances of securing UK employment, monthly payments, promotion opportunities, and long term immigration benefits.
Visa Options for Cleaners
In 2026, cleaners applying for UK jobs with sponsorship have multiple visa options.
These visa types allow immigrants from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Caribbean, and South America to relocate legally, work full time, receive salaries ranging from £22,000 to £35,000 yearly, and even secure permanent residency after several years.
The most common visa options for UK cleaners include:
- Skilled Worker Visa for cleaning supervisors and specialized roles earning £26,000 to £35,000 yearly
- Temporary Worker Visa for seasonal cleaning jobs which usually pay £10.50 to £14 per hour
- Health and Care Worker Visa for cleaning roles in hospitals and care facilities paying £25,000 to £32,000 yearly
- Charity Worker Visa for those working in non-profit cleaning projects
- Hospitality Worker Visa categories offered by some hotel chains with salaries from £20,000 to £28,000 yearly
The Skilled Worker Visa remains the most reliable route for full time cleaning jobs because it offers a 5-year work permit, relocation rights, retirement contributions, and opportunities to sign up for permanent residency.
Many employers offer sponsorship certificates quickly because cleaning roles are listed among labor shortage occupations.
Visa approval time is typically 3 to 8 weeks depending on the applicant’s location, payment confirmation, and document completeness.
You must meet all immigration criteria to qualify, including English language requirements, employer sponsorship, and salary thresholds.
Documents Checklist for Cleaners
Before applying for UK visa-sponsored cleaning jobs in 2026, you must prepare all required documents. Having complete documents increases your chances of quick approval, especially as salaries for cleaners range from £22,000 to £36,000 a year and employers do not want delays during recruitment.
Document accuracy is crucial because immigration offices in London, Manchester, and Edinburgh must verify your identity and qualifications before issuing a visa.
Essential documents include:
- Valid international passport with at least 2 years remaining
- Updated CV written for UK cleaning jobs
- Passport photograph in UK format
- Certificate of Sponsorship from the employer
- Police clearance certificate
- Medical fitness report including TB test for certain countries
- English proficiency proof where required
- Employment reference letters
- Signed job contract showing salary, payments schedule, and role details
- Proof of accommodation arrangement if required by employer
Some companies in the UK also request proof of previous salaries, especially when applying for high paying cleaning jobs in industrial environments. Ensure all your documents are scanned clearly before applying.
A well organized document checklist makes your visa process smooth, reduces errors, and improves your chances of landing a job in top-paying cities like London, Aberdeen, Reading, and Liverpool.
How to Apply for Cleaning Jobs in the UK
Applying for UK cleaning jobs with visa sponsorship in 2026 is straightforward if you follow the correct steps. Salaries for cleaners remain competitive, ranging from £10.90 to £19 per hour, which motivates thousands of foreigners to sign up every month.
To increase your chances, you must apply early, use verified job platforms, and target employers who actively sponsor visas.
Follow these steps to apply:
- Prepare a UK-standard CV that highlights cleaning skills, experience, and certifications
- Search on trusted job websites such as Indeed, Reed, Gov.UK, LinkedIn, and Glassdoor
- Use keywords like “visa sponsorship cleaning jobs UK 2026”
- Apply directly to companies offering Tier 2 or Skilled Worker sponsorship
- Submit all required documents including your passport, CV, and reference letters
- Attend virtual interviews through Zoom, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams
- Request a Certificate of Sponsorship after passing the interview
- Pay your visa application fees and immigration health surcharge where applicable
- Track your visa progress using the UKVI portal
- Relocate once your visa is approved and start earning immediately
Most employers respond within 1 to 3 weeks depending on the volume of applications. Applying early increases your chances of being selected, especially for higher paying roles like hospital cleaning, industrial cleaning, and laboratory sanitation roles paying £27,000 to £40,000 yearly.
Top Employers & Companies Hiring Cleaners in the UK
In 2026, several top employers across the UK are actively hiring and sponsoring foreign cleaners because of ongoing labour shortages.
These organizations offer competitive salaries ranging from £22,000 to £36,000 yearly depending on the location, shift schedule, and job role.
Many also offer performance bonuses, overtime payments, and retirement benefits. Companies based in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Oxford, Brighton, and Newcastle continue to lead in recruitment.
Some of the best employers hiring cleaners include:
- NHS Trust Hospitals paying £25,000 to £32,000 yearly
- Marriott, Hilton, IHG, and Accor Hotels offering £21,000 to £27,000 yearly
- Amazon, ASDA, Tesco warehouses paying £26,000 to £34,000 yearly
- Universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, Manchester, and Glasgow paying £22,000 to £28,000 yearly
- Airport companies like Heathrow, Gatwick, and Manchester Airport offering £14 to £19 per hour
- Industrial cleaning firms like Mitie, ISS UK, GSA Facilities, OCS Group, and Churchill Group paying £24,000 to £40,000 yearly
These companies prefer applicants who can start quickly after visa approval. They provide uniforms, paid training, mental health support, pension contributions, consistent salary payments, and structured work schedules.
Applicants who apply early and meet basic requirements often get interview invitations within two to three weeks. If you want dependable UK employment in 2026, these employers should be on your priority list.
Where to Find Cleaning Jobs in the UK
Finding visa-sponsored cleaning jobs in the UK is easy in 2026 now that more companies are offering sponsorship due to workforce shortages.
Salaries remain competitive, ranging between £10.90 and £19 per hour depending on the region, making it an attractive opportunity for immigrants.
London, Milton Keynes, Aberdeen, Bristol, Liverpool, and Sheffield are among the top destinations where thousands of new vacancies are posted monthly.
You can find cleaning jobs with visa sponsorship on:
- Gov.UK
- Indeed UK
- Reed
- Glassdoor
- TotalJobs
- Jooble UK
- NHS Jobs
- Individual company career pages like OCS, Mitie, ISS, and Churchill Group
Most job seekers who consistently apply receive responses within 7 to 21 days. Using the right keywords, such as “UK cleaning jobs with visa sponsorship 2026”, improves your chances of landing interviews quickly.
These platforms offer job alerts, allowing you to sign up and get immediate notifications for new vacancies, which is crucial when applying for high salary jobs.
Consistency matters. Apply to at least 30 to 50 employers weekly because UK companies receive thousands of applications from abroad.
With proper CV preparation, document organization, and early applications, you can secure a cleaning job that offers competitive payments, relocation assistance, and long term immigration pathways.
Working in the UK as Cleaners
Working as a cleaner in the UK in 2026 offers stability, career growth, and consistent salary payments. Many cleaners earn £1,700 to £3,200 monthly depending on shifts, overtime, and employer policies.
Cities like London, Manchester, Cardiff, Cambridge, and Edinburgh offer higher salaries due to demand and cost of living support. UK workplaces are known for their safety standards, structured breaks, pension contributions, and opportunities for professional development.
Cleaners typically work between 35 and 45 hours per week depending on contract agreements. Many companies offer night shift bonuses that range from £1.50 to £3 extra per hour.
Cleaners in hospitals, airports, industrial plants, and laboratories often receive additional allowances because their roles involve critical sanitation and infection control.
Employers also provide paid holidays, uniform allowances, training stipends, and performance bonuses.
Working in the UK also exposes you to immigration opportunities. After five years on a Skilled Worker Visa, many cleaners become eligible to apply for permanent residency.
Others progress to supervisory roles with salaries between £28,000 and £40,000 yearly. The environment is supportive, and immigrants from Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Caribbean find UK cleaning jobs highly rewarding.
Why Employers in the UK Want to Sponsor Cleaners
UK employers are actively sponsoring cleaners in 2026 because the demand for sanitation, hygiene, and facility management has increased across hospitals, hospitality, education, transportation, and retail industries.
Salaries for cleaners have risen to £22,000 to £36,000 yearly, yet there are still not enough local workers to fill these roles. Employers in London, Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, and Glasgow now rely heavily on foreign workers to maintain operational efficiency.
Sponsorship allows companies to hire committed, reliable staff who can work full time. Immigration sponsorship also gives employers long term stability since foreign workers usually stay longer, reducing frequent staff turnover.
Cleaners who relocate under sponsorship agreements typically receive structured payments, retirement benefits, medical coverage, and stable monthly income, making them extremely valuable.
Foreign cleaners are also known for strong work ethic, consistency, and reliability. Many UK employers report that sponsored workers show higher retention rates, improved teamwork, and stronger dedication to shift duties.
Companies offering sponsorship also benefit from tax incentives and government workforce support schemes, making international recruitment a cost-effective solution.
Providing sponsorship also helps employers maintain compliance with UK hygiene laws, especially in hospitals and industrial environments where cleanliness affects safety and productivity.
This is why sponsorship continues to increase each year, making 2026 one of the best years for immigrants to sign up and apply for UK cleaning jobs.
FAQ about Cleaning Jobs in the UK
What qualifications do I need for cleaning jobs in the UK?
You do not need a university degree. Employers accept applicants with secondary school certificates, basic English ability, and willingness to work. Salaries still range from £22,000 to £32,000 yearly even for entry level roles.
Can foreigners really get visa sponsorship for cleaning jobs in 2026?
Yes. Thousands of foreigners receive sponsorship yearly because cleaning roles are facing shortages. Many employers in London, Manchester, Leeds, and Birmingham sponsor cleaners with salaries from £10.90 to £19 per hour.
How long does it take to get a UK cleaning job visa?
Most applicants receive a decision within 3 to 8 weeks depending on document completeness, employer speed, and UKVI processing timelines.
Do UK cleaners get paid overtime?
Yes. Many cleaners earn £2 to £4 extra per hour for overtime, night shifts, and weekend shifts. This helps increase annual income to between £27,000 and £40,000 yearly.
Are accommodation and meals provided for cleaners?
Some employers in hospitality, healthcare, and industrial sectors provide subsidised accommodation or temporary housing support, especially for new immigrants.
Can cleaners apply for permanent residency?
Yes. Cleaners under the Skilled Worker Visa route can apply for settlement after 5 years.
What cities pay cleaners the highest salaries?
London, Reading, Cambridge, and Edinburgh usually pay the highest. Salaries range from £14 to £20 per hour for specialised cleaning roles.
Is previous experience required?
Not always. Many employers accept beginners and provide paid training. Experienced cleaners, however, may earn higher starting salaries between £26,000 and £36,000 yearly.
Do I need IELTS for cleaning jobs?
Some employers require basic English tests, while others accept alternative proofs. Requirements differ based on visa type.
Can I apply without a recruitment agent?
Yes. Most UK employers prefer direct applications through official job portals and company websites.