Can you get a Skilled Worker visa as a senior officer in fire, ambulance, prison or related services?
Yes. You can get a UK Skilled Worker visa as a senior officer in fire, ambulance, prison or related services (SOC 1163) if you meet the requirements below.
What you need
You must have:
- a job offer from a UK employer that's allowed to sponsor visas (check the sponsor list)
- a "certificate of sponsorship" from that employer: a reference number with details of your job
- a salary of at least £61,600 a year
- English at level B2: you can usually prove it with an approved test or a degree taught in English (ways to prove it)
- £1,270 in savings, unless your employer covers your first month or you've been in the UK for 12 months or more
You can be paid less than £61,600 in some cases:
- £43,100 a year if you’re a new entrant
- £55,400 a year with a PhD relevant to the job
- £49,200 a year with a science, technology, engineering or maths (STEM) PhD relevant to the job
You're a new entrant if, for example, you're under 26, recently finished studying in the UK, or are working towards a professional qualification. Check who counts as a new entrant.
How much it costs
| Visa fee, applying from outside the UK | £819 for up to 3 years £1,618 for more than 3 years |
|---|---|
| Visa fee, applying from inside the UK | £943 for up to 3 years £1,865 for more than 3 years |
| Healthcare surcharge | usually £1,035 a year |
| Savings to show (if needed) | £1,270 |
For example, a 3-year visa from outside the UK costs £819 plus £3,105 for the healthcare surcharge: £3,924 in total. Your partner and children pay too if they come with you. Full fees.
How long it takes
- You'll usually get a decision within 3 weeks if you apply from outside the UK.
- It's usually 8 weeks if you apply from inside the UK.
- Your visa can last up to 5 years. You can extend it.
- After 5 years you may be able to apply to settle in the UK.
How to apply
- Get a job offer from a licensed sponsor and ask for this job's occupation code (1163).
- Get your certificate of sponsorship reference number from your employer.
- Prove your English and get your documents ready (documents list).
- Apply online on GOV.UK: apply from outside the UK. You'll pay the fee and the healthcare surcharge.
- Prove your identity, using the ID Check app or at a visa application centre.
Things to check
- Do make sure the job description matches the work you'll actually do. The occupation code must fit the job.
- Do check your employer is on the licensed sponsor list.
- Don't apply before you have a certificate of sponsorship. You need a confirmed job offer first.
- Don't count overtime, bonuses or allowances. Only guaranteed basic pay counts towards the salary.
- Don't change job or employer without updating your visa.
Based on the UK Immigration Rules and the Skilled Worker visa guide on GOV.UK. This is a summary, not advice about your own situation.
The rules in detail
SOC 2020 code 1163 (Senior officers in fire, ambulance, prison and related services) is Higher Skilled (RQF level 6 or above) and is listed in Table 1 of Appendix Skilled OccupationsT1 · 29 Oct 26 with a going rate of £61,600 a year (£31.59 an hour). Under points option A the salary must also be at least £41,700 a year.
Source: Appendix Skilled Occupations and eligible occupations and codes, GOV.UK.| Occupation | Senior officers in fire, ambulance, prison and related services |
|---|---|
| Skilled Worker eligibility | Higher Skilled |
| Going rate | £61,600 a year (£31.59 an hour)T1 |
| Appendix table(s) | Table 1, Table 2 |
| Immigration Salary List | No |
| Temporary Shortage List | No |
| Eligible for PhD points | Yes |
| Equivalent SOC 2010 code(s) | 1173 |
| SOC 2020 group | 11 Corporate managers and directors › 116 Senior officers in protective services |
Going rates for 1163 in Appendix Skilled Occupations
A code can appear in more than one table. Each table applies to different applicants. Rates are per year for a 37.5-hour week and must be pro-rated for other hours.
| Table and who it applies to | Going rate | 90% | 80% | 70% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Table 1The main table for Skilled Worker applications. Going rates are based on median earnings (ASHE). | £61,600 £31.59/hr | £55,400 £28.41/hr | £49,200 £25.23/hr | £43,100 £22.10/hr |
| Table 2Rates based on 25th-percentile earnings. Used for Health and Care ASHE salary jobs, and for people granted Skilled Worker permission before 4 April 2024 who have held it continuously and apply before 4 April 2030. Also the rates for Global Business Mobility and Scale-up. | £50,000 £25.64/hr | £45,000 £23.08/hr | £40,000 £20.51/hr | £35,000 £17.95/hr |
Salary thresholds that apply to 1163
Under Appendix Skilled Worker, the salary must equal or exceed both the general threshold and the going-rate figure for the points option used. This table puts the two figures side by side for each option. It does not say which option applies to any person. See salary thresholds for the conditions on each option.
| Option | Condition | General threshold | Going-rate figure | Higher of the two |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Standard | £41,700 | £61,600 (100%) | £61,600 |
| B | The applicant has a PhD in a subject relevant to the job | £37,500 | £55,400 (90%) | £55,400 |
| C | The applicant has a PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job | £33,400 | £49,200 (80%) | £49,200 |
| D | The applicant is being sponsored for a job on the Immigration Salary List (this code is not on the list) | £33,400 | Not applicable | – |
| E | The applicant is a new entrant at the start of their career | £33,400 | £43,100 (70%) | £43,100 |
| Option | Condition | General threshold | Going-rate figure | Higher of the two |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F | Standard | £31,300 | £50,000 (100%) | £50,000 |
| G | The applicant has a PhD in a subject relevant to the job | £28,200 | £45,000 (90%) | £45,000 |
| H | The applicant has a PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job | £25,000 | £40,000 (80%) | £40,000 |
| I | The applicant is being sponsored for a job on the Immigration Salary List (this code is not on the list) | £25,000 | Not applicable | – |
| J | The applicant is a new entrant at the start of their career | £25,000 | £35,000 (70%) | £35,000 |
Job titles under SOC 1163
GOV.UK lists these related job titles:
- Senior officers in ambulance services
- Senior officers in fire services
- Senior officers in immigration services
- Senior officers in prison services
- Senior officers in revenue and customs
More job titles from the ONS SOC 2020 index (4)
- Chief immigration officer (HM Revenue and Customs)
- Fire service officer (government)
- Prison governor
- Station officer (ambulance service)
What the job involves
Fire officers plan, organise, direct and co-ordinate the activities and resources of a specific physical or functional area of a statutory or private fire brigade/service and the resources necessary for the protection of property at fires within a salvage corps area. Ambulance officers plan, organise, direct and co-ordinate the resources necessary for the provision of ambulance services. Prison officers (principal officer and above) plan, organise, direct, and co-ordinate the activities and resources necessary for the running of a prison, remand or detention centre. Customs officers plan and direct the work of customs, excise and immigration staff in the monitoring and inspection of goods and persons crossing national borders.
Typical tasks
- Liaises with other senior officials and/or government departments to determine staffing, financial and other short- and long-term needs
- Prepares reports for insurance companies, the Home Office, Scottish Home and Health Department, and other bodies as necessary
- Advises on the recruitment, training and monitoring of staff
- Fire officers plan, direct and co-ordinate an operational plan for one or more fire stations, attend fires and other emergencies to minimise danger to property and people, arrange for the salvaging of goods, immediate temporary repairs and security measures for fire damaged premises as necessary
- Ambulance officers plan, organise, direct and co-ordinate the activities of ambulance personnel and control room assistants, for the provision of ambulance services for emergency and non-emergency cases
- Prison officers interview prisoners on arrival and discharge/departure, receive reports on disciplinary problems and decide on appropriate action, make periodic checks on internal and external security, and provide care and support to prisoners in custody
- Revenue and customs, excise and immigration officers advise on the interpretation of regulations concerning taxes, duties and immigration requirements and enforce these regulations through monitoring of premises, examining goods entering the country to ensure correct duty is paid and establishing that passengers have the necessary authorisation for crossing national borders
Typical entry routes and qualifications
The position of senior fire officer is achieved by internal promotion. Entry to senior positions within the prison service and revenue and customs is either by internal promotion or by open competition; both organisations operate accelerated promotion schemes available to internal and external applicants. Entry to the prison and fire services are subject to age restrictions, and both the prison service and revenue and customs impose nationality conditions. Entry to senior positions within the ambulance service is largely by internal promotion from supervisory roles.
Description: ONS SOC 2020 Volume 1.
Questions about SOC 1163
Can you get a Skilled Worker visa as a senior officer in fire, ambulance, prison or related services?
Yes. You can get a UK Skilled Worker visa as a senior officer in fire, ambulance, prison or related services (SOC 1163) if you meet the requirements: a job offer from a licensed sponsor, a certificate of sponsorship, the minimum salary, and English at level B2. SOC 2020 code 1163 (Senior officers in fire, ambulance, prison and related services) is Higher Skilled (RQF level 6 or above) and is listed in Table 1 of Appendix Skilled Occupations with a going rate of £61,600 a year (£31.59 an hour). Under points option A the salary must also be at least £41,700 a year.
What is SOC code 1163?
1163 is the SOC 2020 code for Senior officers in fire, ambulance, prison and related services. Fire officers plan, organise, direct and co-ordinate the activities and resources of a specific physical or functional area of a statutory or private fire brigade/service and the resources necessary for the protection of property at fires within a salvage corps area. Ambulance officers plan, organise, direct and co-ordinate the resources necessary for the provision of ambulance services. Prison officers (principal officer and above) plan, organise, direct, and co-ordinate the activities and resources necessary for the running of a prison, remand or detention centre. Customs officers plan and direct the work of customs, excise and immigration staff in the monitoring and inspection of goods and persons crossing national borders.
What is the going rate for SOC code 1163?
Table 1 of Appendix Skilled Occupations gives a going rate of £61,600 a year (£31.59 an hour) for 1163, based on a 37.5-hour week. It must be pro-rated for other working hours.
What job titles use SOC code 1163?
GOV.UK lists: Senior officers in ambulance services, Senior officers in fire services, Senior officers in immigration services, Senior officers in prison services, Senior officers in revenue and customs.
Sources
- Skilled Worker visa: eligible occupations and codes (GOV.UK, updated 29 April 2026)
- Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Occupations (GOV.UK, updated 29 October 2026)
- Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Worker (GOV.UK, updated 29 October 2026)
- ONS SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions of unit groups
Compiled by SWC Editorial Team from the sources above. An information summary, not immigration advice. Report an error on this page.