SOC Codes for UK Visa Applications: Employer Guide (UK 2024–2025)

If you’re sponsoring a worker under the UK immigration system, choosing the correct SOC code is one of the most critical steps in the entire visa application. The SOC code you select decides the worker’s eligibility, salary requirements, and whether the Home Office accepts your sponsorship. After helping different UK employers through sponsor licence processes and Skilled Worker visa applications, I’ve learned that most mistakes happen not because employers ignore the rules but because SOC codes can be confusing if you haven’t used them before. This guide explains everything clearly, just as I would explain it to a new employer starting sponsorship for the first time.

What SOC Codes Are and Why Employers Must Get Them Right

SOC codes (Standard Occupational Classification codes) are job categories used by the Home Office to decide if a role is skilled enough for the Skilled Worker visa, Senior or Specialist Worker visa, or other work routes. Each SOC code comes with:

• A job description

• Eligible job titles

• Minimum salary thresholds

• Skill level requirements

When you assign the wrong SOC code, the visa will likely be refused because the Home Office checks whether the job description matches the code. The salary must also meet the correct threshold for that specific SOC code. This is why choosing the right SOC code is essential for HR teams, recruiters and employers sponsoring international talent in the UK.

How Employers Should Choose the Correct SOC Code

The best way to choose the right SOC code is to match the role’s daily duties, not the job title. I’ve seen many employers pick codes based on job titles alone, and this is where most refusals begin. The correct method is simple:

1. Read the role’s duties.

2. Compare them with the Home Office SOC code descriptions.

3. Match the role based on the closest description and skill level. For example, a “Software Engineer” might fit SOC 2136, but a “Web Developer” might align with SOC 2137 depending on duties. Using the wrong one can change the salary threshold significantly.

SOC Codes Under the Skilled Worker Visa

Most employers use SOC codes when hiring under the Skilled Worker visa. Some of the most common SOC codes include:

• 2136: Programmers & Software Development Professionals

• 2137: Web Design & Development Professionals

• 2211: Medical Practitioners

• 3545: Sales Accounts & Business Development Managers

• 2423: Management Consultants & Business Analysts

• 5215: Welding Trades

• 5432: Chefs

Each SOC code has a “going rate” salary and a minimum general threshold. Employers must meet the higher of the two.

Understanding the 2024 Salary Changes

In 2024, the UK government updated the immigration rules, which also included an increase in salary thresholds for most of the SOC codes. However, this update confused multiple employers because, according to them, the uplift was substantial. The salary compliance is now checked with more strictness, making the SOC code accuracy even more critical.

Sector-Based Examples

• Tech Sector: Software engineers, IT analysts and cybersecurity specialists usually fall under SOC 21xx codes. 

• Healthcare Sector: Doctors, nurses and pharmacists have SOC codes, often with mandatory registration requirements.

• Finance Sector: Accountants, financial managers and investment analysts fall under 24xx or 35xx ranges depending on seniority.

• Engineering & Construction: Civil engineers, mechanical engineers and electrical technicians each fall under specific SOC codes with very different salary thresholds.

• Hospitality: Chefs and restaurant managers have designated codes that many employers misinterpret, which leads to visa delays.

Common SOC Code Mistakes Employers Make

Over the years, I’ve seen the same errors repeatedly:

• Picking a code because of the job title instead of the job duties

• Selecting a lower-salary SOC code hoping it will still pass (it won’t)

• Creating duties that don’t match the SOC description

• Offering a salary below the going rate for the chosen code

• Using outdated SOC tables from before the 2024 updates

• Avoiding these mistakes protects both the employer and the sponsored worker.

How MSD Solicitors Help Employers With SOC Codes

SOC codes can be confusing, and most employers just want someone who can look at the job and say, “Yes, this is the right one.” MSD Solicitors help in an efficient, down-to-earth way:

• They go through the job duties with you and point you toward the SOC code that actually fits the role

• They check whether the salary you’re offering meets the correct Home Office requirements

• They help you put the Certificate of Sponsorship together, so nothing is missed

• They guide you through the Skilled Worker visa process from the employer side

• They explain what HR teams need to keep on file so the company stays compliant

• If the Home Office ever asks questions or carries out an audit, they step in and support you through it

In simple terms, they make sure everything lines up properly; the duties, the SOC code, the salary and the paperwork, so you’re not left dealing with avoidable refusals or compliance problems.

SOC Code Reference Table

SOC Code	Sector	Skill Level	Example Roles	Notes
2136	Tech	High	Software Developers	Higher salary thresholds
2137	Tech	High	Web Developers	Duties must match closely
2211	Healthcare	Very High	Doctors	Requires GMC registration
3545	Sales	Medium-High	Business Development Managers	Salary varies by experience
5432	Hospitality	Medium	Chefs	Must meet experience criteria

How SOC Codes Affect Compliance

Choosing the wrong SOC code can trigger:

• Visa refusals

• Sponsor licence downgrades

• Compliance audits

• Civil penalties

 I’ve personally seen companies lose their sponsorship privileges simply because the SOC code didn’t match the duties listed in the job offer. Once a mistake is made, fixing it is slow and complicated, which is why SOC accuracy should be checked from the start.

Conclusion

SOC codes are at the heart of every UK Skilled Worker visa application, and employers must understand how each code affects eligibility, salary, and compliance. By choosing the right SOC code, matching duties correctly and staying aware of the 2024 rule changes, employers avoid refused visas and protect their sponsor licence. With the right guidance and clear job descriptions, the process becomes much simpler. Firms like MSD Solicitors help employers navigate these rules confidently so every application meets Home Office standards.

FAQs

Q1: How do I know which SOC code is correct for the job?

Match the job duties with the SOC description, not the job title. This is the method the Home Office uses.

Q2: What happens if I choose the wrong SOC code?

The visa may be refused, and the employer may face compliance issues.

Q3: Do salary thresholds vary by SOC code?

Yes. Each SOC code has its own “going rate,” and employers must meet the higher of the going rate or the general threshold.

Q4: Can employers change the SOC code after assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship?

Not usually. You should correct it before issuing the CoS.

Q5: Are SOC codes different for Skilled Worker and Global Talent visas?

Skilled Worker visas rely heavily on SOC codes; Global Talent visas do not, except in specific endorsement categories.

Q6: Can MSD Solicitors help me choose the correct SOC code?

Yes. They can review job descriptions, confirm eligibility and guide you through the entire sponsorship process.

Q7: Do the 2024 rule changes affect all SOC codes?

Most Skilled Worker salary thresholds increased, so employers need to check the updated tables.