5 Tips to Find Your Correct Eligible Occupation Code

The United Kingdom utilizes the SOC 2020 system to categorize every eligible job role for sponsorship purposes. This coding structure determines your minimum salary requirement and the specific skill level your position must meet. Many professionals secure employment through established UK sponsored work visas that align perfectly with these specific codes. Misunderstanding this system often leads to immediate application refusal regardless of your actual salary or experience level.

The transition from the previous coding system has altered the eligibility status of numerous common professional roles. You must verify that your prospective job falls under the eligible occupation codes listed in Table 1. Roles listed in Table 3 are reserved specifically for health and education jobs with national pay scales. The government strictly enforces these categories to ensure only genuinely skilled positions receive valid sponsorship authorization.

Your official job title may not exactly match the specific descriptions found within the government database. Employers often use creative internal titles that do not correspond directly to the standard classification system. You must look beyond the headline title and analyze the core duties described in the official guidance. The Home Office caseworkers scrutinize the detailed responsibilities rather than the label your employer places on the contract.

The Computer Assisted Structured Coding Tool helps applicants identify the most appropriate code based on keywords. This official resource allows you to input your job description to find the closest statistical match. Using this tool provides a strong indication of which code the Home Office expects for your specific role. However, manual verification against the Appendix Skilled Occupations remains necessary to confirm the code is currently eligible for sponsorship.

Selecting a code solely to meet a lower salary threshold constitutes a serious compliance violation today. The authorities will refuse applications where the job description does not genuinely match the selected occupation code. Caseworkers frequently request additional evidence to prove the role exists at the stated level. You must ensure your daily tasks align perfectly with the tasks listed for your chosen SOC code.

A common error involves selecting a code that technically fits but fails the associated salary requirements. Each occupation code carries a unique going rate that must be satisfied alongside the general salary threshold. Navigating the complex UK visa changes requires careful attention to these specific financial intersections. If the going rate is higher than the general threshold, your salary must meet that higher figure. Failing to meet the higher of the two amounts results in an invalid Certificate of Sponsorship.

The Immigration Salary List offers limited salary concessions but is currently in the process of being phased out. You must check if your role still qualifies for any remaining tradeable points under the current rules. Most applicants will now need to meet the full salary requirement without relying on salary discounts. The Temporary Shortage List does not offer salary discounts, only permission to recruit at lower skill levels. Always calculate your hourly rate based on a 37.5-hour week to ensure full compliance with regulations.

The Home Office evaluates whether a role is a genuine vacancy during the occupation code assessment. They investigate if the job description has been exaggerated solely to meet the RQF Level 6 requirement. Caseworkers review your previous experience and qualifications to see if they align with the proposed high-level duties. If the role appears to be administrative but is coded as managerial, the application will likely fail. This scrutiny prevents employers from artificially inflating job titles to bypass the new stricter skill level regulations.

Documentation plays a vital role in proving the validity of your selected occupation code selection. You should retain copies of the job advertisement, interview notes, and the organizational chart showing your position. These documents demonstrate that the role fits the organizational structure and requires the stated skill level. Consistent evidence across all these documents builds a defensible case for your visa application.

Special attention is required for roles that fall under the new Temporary Shortage List for 2026. These positions allow for RQF Level 3-5 sponsorship but come with strict time limitations and review periods. Employers must demonstrate a clear workforce strategy to reduce reliance on overseas labor for these specific roles. The government intends to remove these occupations from eligibility by the end of the year unless reviewed. You must confirm the current status of these codes before submitting any application to the Home Office.

Seeking expert advice on code selection can prevent costly refusals and long delays in your processing timeline. Many legal experts utilize specialized software to cross-reference duties against the complex CoS requirements UK guidelines. This verification step ensures that your application does not trigger a credibility interview or a compliance audit. The cost of professional review is often lower than the financial loss of a rejected visa application. Accurate coding is the foundation upon which the entire validity of your sponsorship certificate rests.

Employers must also take responsibility for assigning the correct code on the Certificate of Sponsorship they issue. If an employer assigns the wrong code, the Home Office may revoke their sponsor licence entirely. You should discuss the code selection with your hiring manager to ensure you both agree on the classification. Transparency at this stage prevents discrepancies between your application form and the employer's official sponsorship record.

Once you have identified the correct code, you must verify the sponsor's ability to issue it. Our platform allows you to search for verified employers and access a comprehensive database of UK sponsor companies. This resource helps you confirm that a potential employer holds the necessary license type for your specific occupation code. You can filter by sector to find companies that frequently sponsor roles within your identified occupational category. Matching your code with a licensed sponsor is the final piece of the eligibility puzzle.

The English language requirement has also increased to level B2 for applications made from January 2026. Your occupation code determines whether you need to meet any additional professional registration requirements before you apply. Certain health and education codes require specific regulatory body registrations to be valid for a visa application. Always cross-reference your code with the specific regulatory requirements listed in the Skilled Worker caseworker guidance.

Correctly matching your job title to the official list is the cornerstone of a successful application. The shift to RQF Level 6 and the SOC 2020 system has fundamentally changed eligibility. You must ensure your salary meets the higher of £38,700 or the specific going rate. The Temporary Shortage List offers a narrow window for lower-skilled roles until late 2026. Precision in this process is not optional; it is a mandatory requirement for approval.

Take the time to validate every aspect of your occupation code before the sponsor assigns the certificate. Use the CASCOT tool and compare the results against the official Appendix Skilled Occupations tables. Ensure your duties are genuine and that your employer understands the compliance risks of incorrect coding. A well-researched code selection significantly increases your chances of securing a visa in this strict landscape. The effort invested now prevents rejection and financial loss later in the process.