Learn how overseas construction workers can relocate to the UK in 2026 with visa sponsorship, realistic salaries up to €80,000 equivalent, relocation packages, eligible roles, requirements, and step-by-step application tips.

 

Get Paid €80,000 (Equivalent) to Relocate to the UK Through Construction Visa Jobs in 2026

Let’s be straight: the UK pays in GBP, not euros. So when people say “€80,000 to relocate,” what they usually mean is a UK construction role whose annual pay can reach the GBP amount that converts to around €80,000, plus possible extras like accommodation support, travel, or initial settling-in help.

That’s not fantasy—but it’s not entry-level either.

If you target the right roles (project leadership, site management, specialist engineering, commissioning, HSE, commercial, planning), and you focus on licensed sponsors offering Skilled Worker sponsorship, you can realistically land a package that reaches that level—especially on high-value projects in London, the South East, energy, rail, major civils, or complex commercial builds.

This guide breaks down what’s legit, what’s exaggerated, and how to approach UK construction visa jobs the smart way in 2026.

 

What “€80,000 to Relocate” Looks Like in Real Life

In most genuine cases, the “€80,000” headline comes from one of these scenarios:

1. High salary in GBP
   Senior roles can pay well above average UK wages, and some can approach the “€80k equivalent” zone depending on role and location.
2. Salary + package value
   Even when base salary isn’t huge, the total value can rise if the employer provides:
   • Temporary accommodation or housing allowance
   • Flights (one-way or return for first entry)
   • Tools, PPE, certifications
   • Per diem for travel-to-site
   • Overtime, night shift premiums
   • Bonus, car allowance, fuel card
   • Paid professional memberships (role-dependent)
3. Long-hour / rotation work
   Certain site roles with overtime or rotation patterns can push earnings higher—especially when the project is time-critical.

The key is this: the UK doesn’t pay foreign workers extra “because you’re relocating.” You’re paid for the role, the risk, the responsibility, and the project demands.

 

The Main Visa Route for Construction Jobs in the UK (2026)

For most sponsored construction roles, the core route is the Skilled Worker visa.

What the UK usually requires (in plain English)

You generally need:

• A job offer from a UK employer that is an approved licensed sponsor 
• A job that matches an eligible occupation code
• Pay that meets the minimum salary rules (this is where many people fail)
• Proof of English (unless exempt)

The salary reality you must understand

The Skilled Worker rules typically require pay of at least the standard threshold or the going rate for the occupation—whichever is higher. Government guidance shows the standard threshold at £41,700 for usual cases.

There is also an Immigration Salary List (ISL) that can allow lower salary thresholds for certain shortage roles, but it depends on the exact occupation code and situation.

Important: Not every construction job qualifies, and not every employer is willing to sponsor—even if they’re hiring.

 

Construction Roles Most Likely to Reach a “€80k Equivalent” Salary

To get close to that earnings level, you’ll usually be looking at mid-to-senior positions. Here are examples that often have higher pay ceilings:

1) Project & Site Leadership (Highest earning potential)

• Construction Manager / Senior Construction Manager
• Project Manager / Senior Project Manager
• Site Manager / Senior Site Manager
• Contracts Manager
• Project Controls Lead (on large programmes)

Real-world salary tracking shows construction managers averaging around £62k (and higher for top earners), with reported top ranges reaching close to £97k in some datasets.

2) Commercial & Cost (very sponsor-friendly on major projects)

• Quantity Surveyor (QS) / Senior QS
• Commercial Manager
• Cost Engineer (major projects)

3) Planning & Project Controls (often overlooked, often well paid)

• Planner (Primavera P6 / MS Project)
• Project Controls Engineer
• Delay Analyst (claims support)

4) Specialist Technical & Engineering (big money when scarce)

• Temporary Works Engineer / Coordinator
• Commissioning roles (MEP-heavy projects)
• HSE Managers with strong track records
• BIM Manager (on complex builds)

Reality check: General labourer-style roles rarely qualify under Skilled Worker rules and usually won’t reach that earnings level through sponsorship. The “€80k equivalent” target is typically for people who can own outcomes—safety, programme, budget, delivery.

 

Salary Structure: What You Can Expect (UK Construction, 2026)

Below is a practical way to think about earnings. (Figures vary by region, project type, and your exact responsibilities.)

A) Base Salary (GBP)

• Experienced Site/Project roles: often cluster between £45,000–£75,000
• Construction Manager averages: around £51k–£62k depending on dataset and location
• Top-end earners (senior/major projects): can reach the £90k+ zone in some cases

If your base salary lands in the upper bands, the euro equivalent can approach €80,000 depending on exchange rates.

B) Common Add-ons (can be worth thousands)

• Overtime / weekend rates (role-dependent)
• Car allowance or company vehicle (common for site leadership)
• Bonus (project completion / company performance)
• Travel support (especially if you’re assigned away from home base)
• Accommodation support (sometimes offered for urgent hires)

C) Relocation Support (what’s realistic)

UK employers sometimes help with:

• Flight to the UK
• Short-term accommodation (1–4 weeks is common when offered)
• Help finding housing (not always financial)
• Visa sponsorship paperwork and employer-side fees (normal for sponsors)

Be careful with anyone promising: “Guaranteed relocation cash” or “free house for a year.” Those claims are often bait.

 

Step-by-Step: How to Secure a Sponsored Construction Job in the UK (2026)

Step 1: Target the right visa pathway (don’t waste time)

If you need sponsorship, your first filter is simple:

• Does the employer sponsor Skilled Workers? (licensed sponsor status matters)
  If they don’t sponsor, it doesn’t matter how perfect your CV is.

Step 2: Pick roles that match sponsorship reality

Aim for roles that:

• Map clearly to eligible occupation codes
• Have salaries that can meet £41,700 or going rate expectations
• Are in project environments with labour gaps (major civils, rail, energy, large housing programmes)

Step 3: Build a UK-ready CV (this changes everything)

Keep it 2 pages, clean layout, achievement-driven.
Include:

• Project type + value (e.g., “£40m commercial build”)
• Team size (direct + subcontractors)
• Schedule results (weeks saved, milestones hit)
• Safety performance (TRIR, near-miss reductions, audit wins)
• Tools: Primavera P6, MS Project, AutoCAD, BIM, QA/QC documentation, RAMS, ITPs

Step 4: Prove you can run UK-style compliance

UK sites are heavy on:

• Method statements / RAMS
• Toolbox talks
• Permit-to-work culture
• Inspection and testing plans
• Evidence-based HSE management
  If you can’t speak this language in interviews, you’ll lose to someone who can.

Step 5: Nail the interview (they’re testing risk)

Expect questions like:

• “Talk me through how you recovered a slipping programme.”
• “How do you control subcontractor performance?”
• “What’s your approach to temporary works coordination?”
• “How do you enforce safety without slowing progress?”

Answer with numbers, not vibes.

Step 6: Confirm sponsorship details before you celebrate

Before you resign your current job:

• Confirm the employer will issue a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) through their sponsor system (this is the backbone of Skilled Worker applications)
• Confirm the salary offered meets the visa rules (threshold + going rate)
• Make sure your job title and job duties match the occupation code they plan to use

Never rely on verbal promises like “we’ll sort the visa later.”

 

Costs You Should Plan For (Applicant Side)

Even when an employer sponsors, you may still pay some costs yourself depending on company policy. Plan for:

• Visa application fee
• Immigration Health Surcharge
• English test (if required)
• TB test (depending on country)
• Certifications or upskilling (CSCS pathway, SMSTS/SSSTS, First Aid, etc.)

Some employers reimburse part of these; many do not. Always ask, and get it written into the offer.

 

How to Spot Scams and Bad Offers (Protect Your Name and Money)

A legit sponsor process has a clear structure. Red flags include:

• “Pay us first so we can secure your CoS”
• “No interview needed, just send passport”
• “We guarantee visa approval”
• “We’ll change your job title after you arrive”
• Offers far below the stated Skilled Worker threshold but claiming “it’s fine”

If you want longevity in the UK, start clean.

 

Practical Shortlist: What to Do This Week (Action Plan)

1. Choose one target role (e.g., Site Manager, Planner, QS, Construction Manager)
2. Rewrite your CV for that role with UK keywords and measurable outcomes
3. Collect proof documents: certificates, references, project summaries
4. Apply only to employers that clearly sponsor (or are known sponsors)
5. In interviews, push on: salary, CoS, start date, relocation support, project location

 

FAQs (Quick, Honest Answers)

1) Can I truly earn “€80,000” in UK construction with sponsorship?
Yes—for the right senior roles and high-demand specialisms, it’s realistic as a euro-equivalent of a strong GBP salary, sometimes boosted by allowances.

2) Is £41,700 the salary requirement for everyone?
Not always. It’s a common standard threshold for usual Skilled Worker cases, but you must also meet the going rate for your occupation code, and there are exceptions/discounts in certain scenarios (including roles on the Immigration Salary List).

3) Do construction trades qualify for sponsorship?
Some do, many don’t—eligibility depends on the exact occupation code, skill level, and salary. Don’t assume “construction = eligible.”

4) Will the employer pay relocation costs?
Sometimes. Many sponsors cover sponsorship admin and may support flights or short-term accommodation, but it varies widely. Get it in writing.

5) What’s the fastest way to improve my chances?
Stop applying broadly. Apply narrowly to sponsor-capable employers and roles that can meet the salary rules, and present a CV that proves delivery, safety, and programme control.