Can you get a Skilled Worker visa for a job in “police officers (sergeant and below)”?
Usually no. New applicants cannot get a UK Skilled Worker visa for a job in “police officers (sergeant and below)” (SOC 3312). It is only open to people who already had a Skilled Worker visa before 22 July 2025 and have kept it without a break.
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
- 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
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 3312 (Police officers (sergeant and below)) is Medium Skilled (RQF level 3–5). It is listed in Table 1a of Appendix Skilled OccupationsT1a · 29 Oct 26: only for people granted Skilled Worker permission under the rules before 22 July 2025 who have held it continuously since, unless the job is on the Immigration Salary List (option D) or the Temporary Shortage List.
Source: Appendix Skilled Occupations and eligible occupations and codes, GOV.UK.| Occupation | Police officers (sergeant and below) |
|---|---|
| Skilled Worker eligibility | Medium Skilled |
| Going rate | £46,900 a year (£24.05 an hour)T1a |
| Appendix table(s) | Table 1a, Table 2aa |
| Immigration Salary List | No |
| Temporary Shortage List | No |
| Eligible for PhD points | No |
| Equivalent SOC 2010 code(s) | 3312 |
| SOC 2020 group | 33 Protective service occupations › 331 Protective service occupations |
Going rates for 3312 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 1aOnly for people granted Skilled Worker permission under the rules before 22 July 2025 who have held it continuously since, unless the job is on the Immigration Salary List (option D) or the Temporary Shortage List. | £46,900 £24.05/hr | n/a | n/a | £33,400 £17.13/hr |
| Table 2aaFor applicants using options F–J who were granted Skilled Worker permission before 22 July 2025 and have held it continuously, unless option I (Immigration Salary List) or the Temporary Shortage List applies. Not eligible for Global Business Mobility or Scale-up. | £36,700 £18.82/hr | n/a | n/a | £25,700 £13.18/hr |
Salary thresholds that apply to 3312
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 | £46,900 (100%) | £46,900 |
| B | The applicant has a PhD in a subject relevant to the job | £37,500 | Not applicable | – |
| C | The applicant has a PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job | £33,400 | Not applicable | – |
| 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 | £33,400 (70%) | £33,400 |
| Option | Condition | General threshold | Going-rate figure | Higher of the two |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F | Standard | £31,300 | £36,700 (100%) | £36,700 |
| G | The applicant has a PhD in a subject relevant to the job | £28,200 | Not applicable | – |
| H | The applicant has a PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job | £25,000 | Not applicable | – |
| 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 | £25,700 (70%) | £25,700 |
Job titles under SOC 3312
GOV.UK lists these related job titles:
- Police constable
- Police sergeant
- Police officers (sergeant and below) not elsewhere classified
More job titles from the ONS SOC 2020 index (5)
- Detective (police service)
- Police constable
- Police officer
- Sergeant
- Transport police officer
What the job involves
Police officers (sergeant and below) co-ordinate and undertake the investigation of crimes, patrol public areas, arrest offenders and suspects and enforce law and order. Officers of the British Transport Police operate within the specialised police service for the railway network across britain.
Typical tasks
- Receives instructions from senior officers and patrols an assigned area on foot, horseback, motorcycle, motor car or boat to check security and enforce regulations
- Directs and controls traffic or crowds at demonstrations and large public events
- Investigates complaints, crimes, accidents, any suspicious activities or other incidents
- Interviews suspects, takes statements from witnesses and stops, searches and/or arrests suspects
- Attends accidents
- Prepares briefs or reports for senior officers
- Works on station reception desk and or in communications room
- Gives evidence in court cases
Typical entry routes and qualifications
There are no academic requirements for entry to the civilian (Home Office) police although eligibility criteria vary across individual police forces. Entrants must sit an entry test and pass a medical examination. All police officers undergo a two year probationary training period. Residency, nationality and age restrictions apply, and background security checks are carried out in respect of entrants. Entrants may join via the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA).
Description: ONS SOC 2020 Volume 1.
Questions about SOC 3312
Can you get a Skilled Worker visa for a job in “police officers (sergeant and below)”?
Usually no. New applicants cannot get a UK Skilled Worker visa for a job in “police officers (sergeant and below)” (SOC 3312). It is only open to people who already had a Skilled Worker visa before 22 July 2025 and have kept it without a break. SOC 2020 code 3312 (Police officers (sergeant and below)) is Medium Skilled (RQF level 3–5). It is listed in Table 1a of Appendix Skilled Occupations: only for people granted Skilled Worker permission under the rules before 22 July 2025 who have held it continuously since, unless the job is on the Immigration Salary List (option D) or the Temporary Shortage List.
What is SOC code 3312?
3312 is the SOC 2020 code for Police officers (sergeant and below). Police officers (sergeant and below) co-ordinate and undertake the investigation of crimes, patrol public areas, arrest offenders and suspects and enforce law and order. Officers of the British Transport Police operate within the specialised police service for the railway network across britain.
What is the going rate for SOC code 3312?
Table 1a of Appendix Skilled Occupations gives a going rate of £46,900 a year (£24.05 an hour) for 3312, based on a 37.5-hour week. It must be pro-rated for other working hours.
What job titles use SOC code 3312?
GOV.UK lists: Police constable, Police sergeant, Police officers (sergeant and below) not elsewhere classified.
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.