Visa sponsorship in MBB SEA

Question

Hi all,

I am a recent PhD graduate from a top London university in a STEM subject, and am looking to join consulting in the near future. I am a British Citizen, however my partner is from South East Asia (Thailand/Malaysia/Singapore). I am considering where I should apply for roles - I am open to the prospect of relocating to SEA however am not sure whether MBB firms in the region typically sponsor work visas. Could anyone please clarify?

For context, I am familiar with the local language spoken in that country.

Thanks

Answer 1

Hi,

Short answer --> "If you land an MBB offer, you can rest assured that the respective firm will almost always sponsor your visa" (except in exceptionally extraordinary circumstances).

MBB firms usually go so far as to even let you start at another office or another country sometimes where it might be easier to get a work sponsorship, until your actual paperwork gets resolved etc. if needed (have seen cases like this too at McKinsey e.g., starting at Istanbul office while waiting for US office paperwork to come through etc.).

Consulting firms have extensive experience hiring top-talent from across the world, and therefore are very well-versed in the admin work around this and do this extensively.

Having said that, Singapore usually has quite tight work sponsorship visa regulations in general, so sponsoring of work visas for Singapore is usually on the lower side. But this just means, MBB firms also try to recruit less internationally and more locally for such offices.

But that does not negate your question - so, if you do land an offer with an MBB firm for a specific office, yes they will almost definitely sponsor your visa!

Hope that helps.

Good luck!

Answer 2

At an associate level: Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam certainly does !

Singapore will be a very tough sell.

Answer 3

Yes, MBB offices in Southeast Asia do sponsor visas, but it depends on the country.

The good news is, if you get an MBB offer, the firm will almost always handle your visa. They hire people from all over the world and deal with visa paperwork all the time. In some cases, they'll even let you start at a different office while your target location paperwork gets sorted out.

Markets like Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam tend to hire locally at junior levels, so they're harder to break into from outside. At senior levels, it gets easier. If you're bringing specialized expertise or a strong track record, firms are more willing to sponsor.

For Singapore, the bar to get hired might be higher since they have strong local talent. But if you land the offer, the visa won't be a problem.

Applying to London or the Middle East at the same time is a smart move. You can join there first and transfer to SEA later once you're in the firm.

When you apply, clearly explain:

Your long-term interest in the region
Any language skills or regional exposure
Why you want to build your career there, not just take any role

Firms prefer candidates who show genuine commitment, not just opportunistic applications.

Your PhD, language skills, and personal connection to the region are all working in your favor. Apply broadly and good luck.