Banks that sponsor visas for summer internships

Hello everyone,

Recruiting season for summer internships has already started and I'm having enormous trouble to find out which banks in the UK sponsor Non-EU summer interns.
Most of them say something like that:
"To participate in an internship or pre-internship program, you must have the legal right to work in the location to which you will be assigned for the duration of the internship."
I tried to ask for more by email but they always remained vague....
I mean the statement above could be interpreted as "don't even bother to apply bro", but I don't know, like if I apply for a visa and then the banks accepts to sponsor me then I'll have the legal right to work xD
It's just depressing if it's the 1st case because it would mean I can only apply to 4 or 5 banks max....
Any non-EU citizen with a list of banks who sponsor summer interns? :d

Thanks

14 Comments
 

I'm in the same boat. Most are reluctant to sponsor but won't outright state it. I've had phone interviews that ended once they realized I wasn't European.

 

Yeah HSBC fed me this:
"If you require a visa for your role, HSBC will be able to provide guidance and support during your application process but cannot advise you of your work eligibility status. Please note that HSBC’s ability to sponsor visa applications is beyond the control of HSBC and dependent on the relevant legislation of the country you are applying to. Any offer of employment is subject to immigration approval being obtained before your start date."
Very helpful.... JK

 

I don't really care about whether they sponsor or not. I care more about wasting my time applying and completing their Hirevue or Tests only to be rejected for a reason other than my education/ability.

 

Is it for this year's application? Because as far as I know HSBC did sponsor non-EU candidates for the internship but that was 2 years ago.

 
Most Helpful

If you study in the UK, you have the legal right to work full time during the summer (ie, internships) as part of your Tier 4 visa. Me and many other of my non-EU friends had no issues applying and completing internships at banks across the City.

Sponsorship for full-time is also a straightforward process if you are on a Tier 4 visa.

Unless I am understanding incorrectly and you are a non-EU student not studying at a university in the UK (which does change a lot of things), you should go ahead and apply since you do have the right to work.

 

All BBs sponsor for Tier 5 which applies for Summer and Off-Cycle interns, while most of other well-known firms only sponsor for Tier 2 which is for FT

Seems HSBC does not sponsor anymore from this year.

And the likes of PWP, CW, Lazard, Rothschild, never sponsors for Tier 5. If you are non-EU student like me, do not even waste your time on those firms, best of luck on applying for BBs.

 

Yeah but for example the message I copy pasted on my first post comes from Barclays which is a BB.
So should I still apply to Barclays?
What about the likes of Nomura/Macquarie/Jefferies/RBS/RBC etc..?

*Btw are you sure i will need to apply for tier 5 visa? I have read something about having to be enrolled in an approved government authorised exchange scheme.
 

 

I agree with the comment above that BBs are your best bet and they do sponsor non-EU candidates for the internship. With regards to RBC, they have clearly mentioned on their form that they don't sponsor. Jefferies in the past has sponsored non-EU candidates for the internship. Don't know how the situation is now. Never seen non-EU candidates interning on sponsorship at Nomura/RBS/Macquarie so can't say much

 

At et enim molestias placeat aliquid beatae iure. Reprehenderit ut ut deserunt aspernatur quia vitae. Eum laudantium qui magni inventore ea deserunt.

Rerum magnam velit temporibus consequatur in ut. Possimus quod dolore accusantium aperiam dolorem tenetur eum. Modi dicta inventore nesciunt blanditiis quos. Blanditiis et quia minus enim suscipit est. Nihil sed laboriosam odit voluptate ipsam.

Quo earum facere aut eaque. Et culpa est quis dolor accusantium laudantium. Est vitae delectus explicabo accusantium. Iure nihil quia nobis blanditiis. Commodi dicta sed est ut dolorum nihil. Sint voluptatem dolor occaecati quis. Voluptatem aut architecto nostrum aut quidem nesciunt.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (67) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”