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Appendix Expert Occupations is the official Dwelling Workplace doc that defines that are the job roles that qualify for UK work visa sponsorship. It lists eligible occupations by Customary Occupational Classification (SOC) 2020 codes, required talent ranges, and minimal wage thresholds. Employers should reference this appendix when sponsoring staff beneath routes just like the Expert Employee visa, World Enterprise Mobility (GBM), Scale-Up visa, and Well being & Care pathways.
This appendix shouldn’t be a static checklist. The Dwelling Workplace updates it usually to replicate labour market calls for, wage inflation, and coverage shifts. For 2025, key modifications embrace larger wage thresholds, stricter skill-level necessities, and expanded tables for the well being and schooling sectors.
Understanding Appendix Expert Occupations is important. With out it, employers danger visa refusals or sponsor licence compliance motion. Candidates, in the meantime, can not safe sponsorship if their function lacks an eligible SOC code or fails to fulfill wage benchmarks.
The appendix serves because the gateway to UK work immigration. Right here’s why it’s essential:
1. Determines Visa Eligibility
Not all jobs qualify for sponsorship. Solely roles listed within the appendix with legitimate SOC codes can assist a visa utility. Routine or lower-skilled positions—equivalent to common labourers or unqualified assist workers—are explicitly excluded in Desk 6.
2. Units Wage and Ability Benchmarks
Every SOC code has a “going charge” derived from Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) knowledge. Employers should meet this charge or the overall wage threshold for the visa route, whichever is larger. For 2025, the usual Expert Employee threshold is £38,700, rising to £41,700 from 22 July 2025.
Moreover, most roles require RQF Stage 6+ (graduate-level) qualification alignment. Decrease-skilled roles (RQF 3-5) face tighter restrictions and should solely qualify if on the Immigration Wage Listing or beneath transitional provisions.
3. Protects In opposition to Non-Compliance
Choosing the fallacious SOC code or underpaying a sponsored employee triggers Dwelling Workplace compliance motion. This can lead to sponsor licence suspension, visa refusals, or monetary penalties. The appendix offers the readability employers want to remain compliant.
4. Helps the Factors-Based mostly System
Underneath the Expert Employee route, candidates should rating 70 factors. A sound job supply in an eligible occupation (as per the appendix) awards 20 factors. With out it, the appliance fails earlier than wage or English language standards are even assessed.
The appendix is organised into a number of tables, every serving a definite goal. Understanding which desk applies to your function is step one in figuring out eligibility.
| Desk | Description | Relevant Routes | Ability Stage | Wage Foundation |
| Desk 1 | SOC 2020 codes expert to RQF 6+; common occupations | Expert Employee, GBM, Scale-Up | RQF 6+ | Median ASHE going charges |
| Desk 2 | Well being and care sector codes | Expert Employee Well being & Care | RQF 3+ (for some roles) | twenty fifth percentile ASHE |
| Desk 3 | Well being and schooling roles with nationwide pay scales | Expert Employee, GBM, Scale-Up | RQF 6+ | NHS Agenda for Change, instructing scales |
| Desk 6 | Ineligible SOC codes (low talent degree, excluded occupations) | Not eligible for any route | Beneath RQF 3 or explicitly excluded | N/A |
Please Be aware – Desk 2 contains subtables 2/2a/2aa for various classes. Desk 2aa covers UK-based expert staff (pre-April 2024) eligible to increase/change. Please learn beneath to grasp intimately.
Desk 1: Basic Expert Occupations
That is the biggest desk. It contains roles throughout IT, engineering, finance, advertising, HR, and extra. Examples:
- SOC 2135: IT enterprise analysts, architects, and methods designers
- SOC 2111: Chemical scientists
- SOC 2425: Actuaries, economists, and statisticians
Every entry lists the going charge (e.g., £38,700 or the occupation-specific median, whichever is larger). Employers should match job duties—not simply titles—to the right code.
Desk 2: Well being and Care
Desk 2 is split into three elements (2, 2a, 2aa) to replicate main modifications that took impact in 2024-2025. Right here’s what every covers and why it issues to you:
Desk 2: Graduate-level well being and care roles (RQF 6+) accessible to all candidates. Makes use of the twenty fifth percentile ASHE wage threshold, which is commonly decrease than common expert employee charges—designed to match NHS and care sector pay buildings.
Desk 2a: Roles that closed to new abroad candidates in April 2024, however you may nonetheless use these should you held Expert Employee permission earlier than that date and are staying with the identical sponsor.
Desk 2aa: Beneath-graduate well being and care roles (RQF 3-5), together with care staff (SOC 6135) and senior care staff (SOC 6136). Since July 2025, no new abroad purposes are allowed for these roles. Nevertheless, should you already held permission earlier than July 22, 2025, you may lengthen or change employers till July 22, 2028, sustaining the required minimal wage or going charge (whichever is larger).
Key compliance notice: Care employers in England should be registered with the Care High quality Fee (CQC) to sponsor staff, efficient from March 2024. Employees granted permission earlier than March 11, 2024, are exempt from this requirement when extending with the identical employer.
Desk 3: Nationwide Pay Scales
Covers NHS scientific roles (nurses, medical doctors, allied well being professionals) and instructing positions (certified academics, headteachers). Salaries align with nationwide frameworks like NHS Agenda for Change or the College Academics’ Pay and Circumstances Doc. This desk simplifies wage verification for public sector employers.
Desk 6: Ineligible Roles
Lists SOC codes that can not be sponsored. Examples embrace:
- SOC 9260: Shelf fillers
- SOC 9120: Elementary building occupations
- SOC 8211: Massive items car drivers (until on Immigration Wage Listing beneath particular circumstances)
In case your function seems right here, sponsorship shouldn’t be doable until distinctive circumstances apply (e.g., transitional provisions for present visa holders).
Step 1: Establish the Right SOC Code
Don’t depend on job titles alone. The Dwelling Workplace assesses duties, obligations, and talent degree. Use the CASCOT occupation coding instrument to seek out your function’s SOC code by answering questions on every day duties.
Instance:
A “Advertising Govt” would possibly map to SOC 3543 (Advertising affiliate professionals) or SOC 2473 (Promoting accounts managers), relying on seniority and duties. Selecting the fallacious code can result in refusal.
Step 2: Examine the Appendix Desk
Verify your SOC code seems in Desk 1, 2, or 3. Be aware the going charge and talent degree. If it’s in Desk 6, cease—you can’t sponsor beneath customary routes.
Step 3: Confirm Wage Compliance
Evaluate your supply in opposition to:
- The SOC-specific going charge (from the appendix), and
- The final threshold (£38,700 in 2025; £41,700 from 22 July 2025)
Pay the larger of the 2. Professional-rata applies for part-time roles however should nonetheless meet the minimal annual equal.
Step 4: Verify Ability Stage Necessities
Most roles require RQF 6+ (bachelor’s diploma degree). Some transitional codes (sponsored earlier than latest rule modifications) could settle for RQF 3-5, however solely till their closing date. Examine the appendix notes for any caveats.
Step 5: Assign a Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS)
As soon as verified, assign a CoS by way of the Sponsorship Administration System (SMS). Enter the right SOC code, wage, and job duties. Errors right here set off automated rejection or compliance opinions.
1. Mismatched Job Duties and SOC Codes
Employers typically select a code based mostly on a desired title quite than precise obligations. The Dwelling Workplace compares the CoS job description in opposition to the SOC code’s customary duties. Misalignment ends in refusal.
Resolution: Draft an in depth job description. Map duties to the SOC code’s official descriptor (accessible within the ONS SOC 2020 quantity). If duties span a number of codes, select the one reflecting nearly all of the function.
2. Wage Calculation Errors
Widespread errors embrace:
- Excluding assured allowances (which rely towards wage)
- Together with discretionary bonuses (which don’t rely)
- Miscalculating pro-rata for part-time work
- Ignoring regional variations (going charges are UK-wide; London weighting doesn’t change the edge)
Resolution: Use gross annual wage earlier than tax. Embody assured, common funds like shift allowances or on-call dietary supplements. Exclude efficiency bonuses, extra time, or one-off funds.
3. Counting on Outdated Variations
The appendix modifications often. Utilizing an outdated model could checklist an ineligible code or incorrect going charge. This wastes time and dangers refusal.
Resolution: All the time obtain the most recent model from GOV.UK Immigration Guidelines Appendix Expert Occupations. Examine the “final up to date” date earlier than beginning any utility.
4. Ignoring Ability Stage Transitions
From 22 July 2025, roles at RQF 3-5 face tighter restrictions. Employers who sponsored at RQF 3 earlier than this date could proceed beneath transitional guidelines, however new hires at RQF 3-5 should meet extra standards (e.g., Immigration Wage Listing inclusion).
Resolution: Assessment your sponsor licence historical past. If you happen to’ve beforehand sponsored at RQF 3-5, verify whether or not transitional provisions apply to your sector. Plan recruitment timelines across the July 2025 cut-off.
SOC 2020 Migration (April 2024)
The Dwelling Workplace switched from SOC 2010 to SOC 2020 codes. This reclassified a whole lot of roles. Some occupations merged, others break up, and several other modified talent ranges. Employers needed to re-code present sponsored roles by 6 April 2024.
Affect: Job titles like “Internet Designer” moved from SOC 2137 to SOC 2139. Going charges modified for a lot of codes. Employers who didn’t replace confronted compliance motion.
Wage Threshold Will increase
- April 2024: Basic threshold rose from £26,200 to £38,700
- 22 July 2025: Additional rise to £41,700 for normal Expert Employee purposes
Going charges within the appendix additionally elevated to replicate 2023 and 2024 ASHE knowledge. Some occupations noticed rises of £3,000–£5,000.
Well being & Care Desk Enlargement
Desk 2 was launched to supply tailor-made going charges for care roles, utilizing the twenty fifth percentile ASHE quite than the median. This lowered wage limitations for care staff, senior care staff, and care coordinators. Nevertheless, from April 2025, sponsors should maintain CQC (Care High quality Fee) registration to make use of Desk 2.
RQF 6+ Requirement (July 2025)
Most new sponsorships from 22 July 2025 require RQF Stage 6 or above. Decrease-skilled roles (RQF 3-5) stay eligible provided that:
- The function is on the Immigration Wage Listing, or Non permanent Scarcity Listing (TSL), or
- The applicant already holds depart in that occupation code (extensions/switches), or
- Transitional provisions apply (for sponsors who used the code earlier than the cut-off)
What’s the distinction between ISL and TSL?
- Immigration Wage Listing (ISL): Allows you to meet a decrease wage threshold (80% of the same old charge) for scarcity roles. Covers each graduate and a few below-graduate positions. Being phased out by finish of 2026.
- Non permanent Scarcity Listing (TSL): Created particularly for medium-skilled roles (RQF 3-5) that might in any other case be ineligible.
Necessary: TSL roles don’t get wage reductions, and you can’t carry dependents with you. That is additionally ending in December 2026.
This alteration goals to prioritise graduate-level migration and cut back dependency on lower-skilled overseas labour.
Instructing and Schooling Updates
Desk 3 expanded to incorporate extra instructing roles and clearer steering on nationwide pay scales. Headteachers, deputy heads, and certified academics in state-funded colleges now have streamlined wage verification by way of the College Academics’ Pay and Circumstances Doc.
Licensed Sponsors
Employers with a sound sponsor licence use the appendix every day. HR groups, immigration compliance officers, and recruitment managers depend on it to:
- Display candidate eligibility earlier than making job provides
- Assign CoS precisely
- Audit present sponsored staff for compliance
- Plan workforce methods round visa-eligible roles
Potential Sponsors
Corporations making use of for a sponsor licence should show they perceive the appendix. The Dwelling Workplace expects candidates to establish real vacancies, assign right SOC codes, and meet going charges. Failure to take action ends in licence refusal.
Visa Candidates
International nationals verify the appendix to verify their job supply qualifies. They confirm the SOC code matches their duties and the wage meets thresholds. Candidates typically rent immigration advisers to audit CoS accuracy earlier than making use of.
Immigration Attorneys and Advisers
Authorized professionals use the appendix to:
- Problem incorrect refusals (e.g., Dwelling Workplace misinterpreted duties)
- Advise purchasers on SOC code choice
- Construction job descriptions to align with eligible codes
- Navigate transitional provisions and sector-specific guidelines
Instance 1: Software program Developer (SOC 2136)
Job Provide: £45,000 per 12 months, full-time, duties embrace coding, testing, and deploying purposes.
Appendix Examine:
- SOC Code: 2136 (Programmers and software program growth professionals)
- Going Charge: £41,000 (as of 2025 appendix)
- Basic Threshold: £38,700 (rising to £41,700 in July 2025)
- Ability Stage: RQF 6+
Consequence: Eligible. Wage exceeds each the going charge and common threshold. Duties align with SOC 2136 descriptor.
Instance 2: Care Employee (SOC 6145)
Job Provide: £26,000 per 12 months, full-time, offering private care in a residential residence.
Appendix Examine:
- SOC Code: 6145 (Care staff and residential carers)
- Desk: Desk 2 (Well being & Care)
- Going Charge: £23,600 (twenty fifth percentile ASHE)
- Basic Threshold: £38,700 (however Desk 2 permits decrease charge)
- Ability Stage: RQF 3
Consequence: Eligible provided that the sponsor holds CQC registration (obligatory from April 2025) and the function was sponsored earlier than July 2025 (transitional provisions). New sponsorships from July 2025 require RQF 6+ until the function is on the Immigration Wage Listing.
Instance 3: Advertising Assistant (SOC 3543)
Job Provide: £30,000 per 12 months, full-time, duties embrace social media administration and occasion coordination.
Appendix Examine:
- SOC Code: 3543 (Advertising affiliate professionals)
- Going Charge: £31,000
- Basic Threshold: £38,700
- Ability Stage: RQF 3
Consequence: Not eligible from July 2025. Wage falls beneath common threshold, and RQF 3 roles not qualify until on Immigration Wage Listing or beneath transitional provisions. Employer should both increase wage to £38,700+ and reclassify to RQF 6+ function, or use a unique route.
These are distinct however associated lists:
| Function | Appendix Expert Occupations | Immigration Wage Listing |
| Function | Lists all eligible roles by SOC code, talent degree, and wage | Lists scarcity occupations with decrease wage thresholds |
| Wage Profit | Customary going charge applies | 20% wage low cost (e.g., £30,960 as a substitute of £38,700) |
| Scope | Covers all visa routes (Expert Employee, GBM, Scale-Up, Well being & Care) | Applies solely to Expert Employee route |
| Ability Stage | RQF 6+ (with some RQF 3-5 beneath transitional guidelines) | Usually RQF 6+, however some RQF 3-5 roles included |
| Updates | Frequent (displays ASHE knowledge, coverage modifications) | Reviewed yearly by Migration Advisory Committee |
Key Level: A task should first seem in Appendix Expert Occupations to be eligible. The Immigration Wage Listing is a subset providing wage concessions for scarcity roles (e.g., SOC 2113 – Bodily scientists in particular sectors, SOC 6146 – Senior care staff).
1. CASCOT Occupation Coding Instrument
The CASCOT instrument asks questions on your job duties and suggests SOC codes. It’s free and takes 5-10 minutes. Nevertheless, it’s not definitive—all the time cross-check with the appendix.
2. ONS SOC 2020 Quantity
The Workplace for Nationwide Statistics publishes detailed descriptions of each SOC code. Obtain the SOC 2020 Quantity to match your duties in opposition to official descriptors.
3. Dwelling Workplace Steerage
The Expert Employee steering explains the right way to interpret the appendix, calculate salaries, and keep away from widespread errors.
4. Immigration Adviser
If not sure, seek the advice of a regulated immigration adviser (IAA-registered or solicitor). They will audit your job description, verify SOC codes, and advise on wage structuring.
For Employers:
- Visa Refusal: Incorrect SOC code or underpayment results in computerized refusal. You lose the CoS allocation (non-refundable).
- Compliance Motion: Dwelling Workplace audits could lead to sponsor licence downgrade (from A-rating to B-rating) or revocation. You can’t sponsor new staff throughout this era.
- Civil Penalties: The Dwelling Workplace elevated unlawful working fines in 2024. Employers now resist £45,000 for a primary breach and as much as £60,000 for repeat breaches in the event that they make use of somebody with out legitimate permission to work.
- Reputational Harm: Publicly listed compliance breaches hurt your skill to draw expertise and purchasers.
For Candidates:
- Wasted Charges: Visa utility charges (£719–£1,500+) and Immigration Well being Surcharge (£1,035 per 12 months) are non-refundable if refused.
- Profession Disruption: Refusal could pressure you to depart the UK or delay profession development.
- Future Purposes: A refusal in your immigration historical past requires rationalization in future visa purposes, even for different international locations.
What are Appendix Expert Occupations?
Appendix Expert Occupations is the official Dwelling Workplace checklist of job roles eligible for UK work visa sponsorship. It specifies SOC 2020 codes, talent ranges (often RQF 6+), and minimal salaries (going charges) for routes like Expert Employee, World Enterprise Mobility, and Scale-Up visas.
Which jobs are expert jobs within the UK?
Expert jobs usually require RQF Stage 6 or above (bachelor’s diploma equal). Examples embrace engineers, IT professionals, healthcare staff, academics, and finance specialists. The appendix lists these by SOC code. Roles at RQF 3-5 (e.g., some care staff, technicians) had transitional eligibility however face tighter restrictions from July 2025.
What’s occupation code 8215?
SOC code 8215 covers “Metallic making and treating course of operatives.” This function includes working furnaces, casting metallic, and monitoring manufacturing. Examine the appendix to verify present eligibility, as some industrial roles moved to Desk 6 (ineligible) beneath SOC 2020 updates.
How do I show my job matches a SOC code?
Present an in depth job description itemizing every day duties, obligations, and required {qualifications}. Evaluate these in opposition to the official SOC 2020 descriptor (from ONS). The Dwelling Workplace assesses alignment throughout visa processing. Misalignment results in refusal.
Can I sponsor a employee if their job isn’t within the appendix?
No. Solely roles listed in Tables 1, 2, or 3 qualify. In case your function is in Desk 6 or absent completely, you can’t sponsor beneath customary work routes. Discover various routes (e.g., World Expertise, Innovator Founder) or restructure the function to suit an eligible code.
What occurs if the going charge modifications after I submit a CoS?
Going charges apply on the date of CoS task. If charges enhance after you assign however earlier than the applicant applies, the unique charge on the CoS stands. Nevertheless, for extensions, the brand new charge applies. All the time verify for updates earlier than assigning a CoS.
How typically is Appendix Expert Occupations up to date?
The Dwelling Workplace updates it as wanted, usually 2-4 occasions per 12 months. Main updates align with coverage modifications (e.g., wage threshold rises). All the time use the most recent model from GOV.UK.
Do part-time roles qualify?
Sure, if pro-rata wage meets each the going charge and common threshold. E.g., An element-time job of 30 hours per week would nonetheless pay the full-time equal of £38,700+ yearly (or the going charge, whichever is larger).
What if my job spans a number of SOC codes?
Choose the code that applies to the best proportion of (over 50%) duties. In case of similar splitting, select the code with larger talent proficiency. Scribe this materials in job description by which the selection might be supported by Dwelling Workplace assessment.
- Obtain the Newest Model: Go to GOV.UK Appendix Expert Occupations and save the present appendix.
- Audit Your Roles: Assessment all sponsored positions. Verify SOC codes, salaries, and talent ranges align with 2025 necessities. Replace any mismatches earlier than your subsequent compliance audit.
- Practice Your HR Staff: Guarantee hiring managers perceive the right way to use the CASCOT instrument, interpret the appendix, and construction job provides accurately.
- Plan for July 2025 Adjustments: If you happen to sponsor RQF 3-5 roles, assess whether or not transitional provisions apply. Contemplate upskilling roles to RQF 6+ or exploring the Immigration Wage Listing for scarcity occupations.
- Seek the advice of an Skilled: If you happen to’re not sure about SOC code choice, wage calculations, or compliance dangers, e book a session with a regulated immigration adviser.
Last Ideas
Appendix Expert Occupations is the muse of UK work visa sponsorship. It determines who qualifies, what they need to earn, and the way employers keep compliant. With 2025 bringing larger thresholds, stricter skill-level necessities, and expanded tables for well being and schooling, staying present is non-negotiable.
Employers who grasp the appendix achieve a aggressive edge in world expertise recruitment. Candidates who perceive it keep away from pricey refusals. Each events profit from readability, accuracy, and proactive compliance.
Able to sponsor expert staff or verify your visa eligibility? Contact our immigration group at A Y & J Solicitors right this moment for a complete SOC code audit and tailor-made sponsorship technique.
Disclaimer: This text offers common steering on Appendix Expert Occupations as of November 2025. Immigration guidelines change often. All the time seek the advice of the official Dwelling Workplace steering and search skilled recommendation in your particular circumstances. This content material doesn’t represent authorized recommendation.
