Appendix Skilled Occupations is the part of the UK Immigration Rules that lists occupation codes, job examples, skill classifications and salary benchmarks used for sponsored work routes such as the Skilled Worker visa. In simple terms, it helps decide whether a job is eligible for sponsorship and what salary rules apply to that occupation.
It is not a visa route by itself, and it is not a guarantee that an application will be approved. A role may appear in Appendix Skilled Occupations, but the applicant must still meet the relevant sponsorship, salary, English language, financial, suitability and genuineness requirements.
The rules and occupation tables change regularly. At the time of writing, the official Appendix Skilled Occupations page was last updated on 8 October 2026, and the Skilled Worker eligible occupations publication had been updated on 22 July 2025. Applicants and sponsors should always check the current rules before assigning a code or submitting an application.
If you are unsure whether a job offer has been correctly matched to an occupation code, Immigration UK can help review the role, salary and sponsorship position before you take the next step.
What Appendix Skilled Occupations Means
Appendix Skilled Occupations is an official framework used by the Home Office to classify jobs for certain UK work visa routes. It uses Standard Occupational Classification 2020 codes, often called SOC 2020 codes, to group roles by their main duties rather than by job title alone.
The Appendix contains occupation codes, related job titles, going rates, skill classifications, national pay scale information for some healthcare and education roles, transitional provisions and tables of occupations that are generally ineligible. It is used mainly for sponsored work routes, including Skilled Worker, some Global Business Mobility provisions and the Scale-up route.
The key point is that Appendix Skilled Occupations is not simply a list of attractive job titles. The Home Office looks at whether the selected code genuinely reflects the work the person will be doing. A polished title on a contract will not fix a mismatch if the daily duties point to a different occupation.
How SOC 2020 Occupation Codes Work
A SOC 2020 occupation code is a four-digit code used to classify a job by the nature of the work. For immigration purposes, that code matters because it affects whether the role is eligible, whether it is higher skilled or medium skilled, and what going rate salary applies.
Job titles can be misleading. Two people with the title "consultant" may do completely different jobs, while two people with different titles may fall under the same occupation code. A sponsor should start with the actual job description, identify the duties that take up most of the working time, and then select the closest matching code.
GOV.UK gives useful examples in the construction sector: some skilled trades such as bricklayers, roofers and carpenters may fall within eligible occupations, while construction labourers are treated differently. The lesson is simple: the label is helpful, but the substance of the work is what matters.
Where the code is uncertain, the employer should normally review the job description carefully and may use official coding tools and tables. Applicants with a job offer should ask the sponsor which occupation code will be used on the Certificate of Sponsorship.
What the Appendix Contains
The Appendix is organised into tables. Different tables apply depending on the route, application date, skill level, salary option and whether transitional arrangements are relevant. That is one reason older online articles can be confusing: the correct answer may depend on whether someone is a new applicant or an existing sponsored worker.
- Tables 1 and 2 generally cover eligible higher skilled occupations and salary data.
- Tables 1a and 2aa contain certain transitional lower skilled occupations for specified existing Skilled Workers.
- Tables 2a and 2b deal with older transitional provisions, including some pre-4 April 2024 and Global Business Mobility cases.
- Tables 3 and 3a cover certain healthcare and education roles that use national pay scales.
- Tables 4 and 5 set out salary rates for healthcare and education roles by nation, band or role.
- Table 6 lists occupations that are generally ineligible for the relevant routes.
The current official tables can be checked in the Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Occupations. Because the tables change, it is safer to check the live version rather than rely on a downloaded copy or an old screenshot.
Is Appendix Skilled Occupations the Same as a Skilled Worker Visa?
No. Appendix Skilled Occupations helps answer one important question: whether the role and occupation code can support a sponsored work application. The Skilled Worker visa is the immigration route itself, with its own full set of requirements.
To qualify under the Skilled Worker route, an applicant usually needs an eligible job, an approved sponsor, a valid Certificate of Sponsorship, the required salary, English language ability and compliance with the wider Immigration Rules. If you are comparing routes, Immigration UK's page on UK work visa options gives a useful overview of work-based immigration categories.
Appendix Skilled Occupations is also different from the sponsor licence system, the Certificate of Sponsorship, the Immigration Salary List and the Temporary Shortage List. These concepts often overlap, but they do different jobs. Think of them as separate pieces of the same immigration puzzle, not as interchangeable labels.
Higher Skilled, Medium Skilled and Ineligible Roles
The current general position is that many new Skilled Worker applications need an occupation skilled to RQF level 6 or above, subject to specified exceptions and transitional arrangements. RQF level 6 broadly corresponds to graduate-level skill, although the applicant does not necessarily need a degree for every role.
Examples of higher skilled occupations can include software development professionals, engineers, doctors, nurses, teachers, accountants and architects, depending on the exact code and duties. These examples are not exhaustive, and a role must still meet the relevant salary and sponsorship requirements.
Medium skilled roles need more careful checking. A job being described as medium skilled does not automatically mean it is open to a new Skilled Worker applicant. Some medium skilled occupations may only be available through specific lists, temporary shortage arrangements or transitional provisions for people already in the route.
Some occupations are listed as ineligible. In those cases, the role may not meet the required skill level for the relevant sponsored work route, or it may need a different immigration route entirely. A sponsor licence does not make every vacancy eligible for sponsorship.
How Appendix Skilled Occupations Affects Salary
Each eligible occupation usually has a going rate. This is the occupation-specific salary benchmark used alongside the general salary threshold. In many cases, the applicant must meet both the relevant general threshold and the going rate, with the higher applicable figure being decisive.
GOV.UK currently presents the standard Skilled Worker salary option as usually requiring at least £41,700 or the applicable going rate, whichever is higher, although lower salary options and exceptions may apply in specific circumstances. Because salary rules are detailed and change over time, it is important to check the exact option being relied on. For a fuller discussion of the route, see Immigration UK's Skilled Worker visa guidance.
Going rates are generally based on a 37.5-hour working week and may need to be pro-rated if the role has different contracted hours. For example, if an occupation's annual going rate is based on 37.5 hours and the worker is contracted for more hours, the required going rate may increase proportionately. The general salary threshold is not normally pro-rated in the same way, so part-time work needs careful calculation.
Healthcare and education roles can be different because some use national pay scales. Those scales may vary between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. That does not mean the UK has four separate Skilled Worker systems, but it does mean the correct national pay scale may matter.
What Changed on 22 July 2025?
From 22 July 2025, the general skill threshold for new Skilled Worker applications moved to RQF level 6, subject to exceptions. This made occupation coding even more important because some jobs that appeared eligible under older guidance may not be available to new applicants in the same way.
Existing Skilled Workers with continuous permission may be able to rely on transitional arrangements in some circumstances. However, transitional provisions are technical. They can depend on the person's previous permission, application timing, occupation code and whether the relevant table permits that route.
This is also why SOC 2010 references in older documents should be treated with caution. The relevant framework now uses SOC 2020. Some Appendix tables include older equivalent SOC 2010 codes to help with comparison, but sponsors should not simply copy an old code into a new application.
How to Check Whether a Job May Qualify
A practical check should start with the job duties, not the title. If a sponsor picks a code because it looks convenient, has a lower going rate or makes the application appear stronger, that can create serious problems.
- Identify the main duties the worker will actually perform.
- Ask the sponsor which SOC 2020 code they intend to use.
- Check whether the code appears in an eligible table or another permitted provision.
- Confirm whether the role is higher skilled, medium skilled, restricted or ineligible.
- Check the going rate and the general salary threshold.
- Review weekly hours and whether salary pro-rating is needed.
- Confirm the employer is licensed and can issue a valid Certificate of Sponsorship.
- Check English language, financial, suitability and dependant rules.
For example, a software developer role should be checked against the actual technical duties, not merely the word "developer". A care role should be checked against the precise occupation code, current route restrictions, sponsor obligations and any dependant limitations. Where sponsorship is unfamiliar, Immigration UK's explanation of visa sponsorship in the UK may help put the occupation code in context.
What If the Wrong Occupation Code Is Used?
An incorrect occupation code can affect the entire application. The salary may be assessed against the wrong going rate, the role may appear more skilled than it really is, or the Home Office may question whether the vacancy is genuine.
The sponsor should choose the code that most closely matches the real duties, especially the duties taking up most of the worker's time. The job description, Certificate of Sponsorship, employment contract and supporting evidence should be consistent. If the Home Office believes a code has been selected to make an ineligible role appear eligible, the application may be refused and the sponsor may face compliance concerns.
Does Appendix Skilled Occupations Affect Dependants and Settlement?
Appendix Skilled Occupations can indirectly affect dependants because some roles, including certain care worker and medium skilled cases, may have restrictions on whether partners and children can apply. Applicants should check the current dependant rules before assuming family members can join or remain with them.
Skilled Worker permission can lead to settlement, but occupation eligibility is only one part of that journey. Settlement normally involves separate requirements, including continuous residence, salary, sponsor confirmation, absences, suitability, Life in the UK and English language rules. Salary reductions that may apply at the initial visa stage do not always apply in the same way at settlement.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
The most common errors are usually practical rather than dramatic. Applicants and sponsors often rely on a job title, use an old SOC 2010 code, overlook the going rate, or assume that being on a list means the visa will automatically be granted.
Other mistakes include confusing the Immigration Salary List with the Temporary Shortage List, treating medium skilled work as automatically eligible, counting uncertain overtime or benefits as guaranteed salary, and ignoring transitional restrictions. A careful check at the start can save a great deal of trouble later.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Appendix Skilled Occupations?
It is the part of the UK Immigration Rules that lists occupation codes, job examples, skill classifications and salary rates used for sponsored work routes such as Skilled Worker. It helps decide whether a role can support an application, but it does not replace the full visa requirements.
Does my exact job title need to appear in the Appendix?
No. The Home Office is more interested in whether the actual duties match the selected SOC 2020 code. Different titles can fall under the same code, and similar titles can belong to different codes.
Who chooses the occupation code?
The sponsor normally selects the occupation code when assigning the Certificate of Sponsorship. The code must accurately reflect the genuine role and should not be chosen simply because it gives a better salary result.
Are medium skilled jobs still eligible for Skilled Worker visas?
Some may be eligible only in limited circumstances, such as transitional arrangements or specified lists. Medium skilled does not automatically mean available to a new Skilled Worker applicant.
Does an eligible occupation guarantee a visa?
No. The applicant must still meet the sponsorship, salary, English language, financial, suitability and genuineness requirements. An eligible occupation is important, but it is only one part of the application.
