Can you get a Skilled Worker visa for a job in “fire service officers (watch manager and below)”?
Usually no. New applicants cannot get a UK Skilled Worker visa for a job in “fire service officers (watch manager and below)” (SOC 3313). 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 3313 (Fire service officers (watch manager 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 | Fire service officers (watch manager and below) |
|---|---|
| Skilled Worker eligibility | Medium Skilled |
| Going rate | £42,100 a year (£21.59 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) | 1173, 3313 |
| SOC 2020 group | 33 Protective service occupations › 331 Protective service occupations |
Going rates for 3313 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. | £42,100 £21.59/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. | £37,600 £19.28/hr | n/a | n/a | £26,300 £13.49/hr |
Salary thresholds that apply to 3313
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 | £42,100 (100%) | £42,100 |
| 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 | £37,600 (100%) | £37,600 |
| 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 | £26,300 (70%) | £26,300 |
Job titles under SOC 3313
GOV.UK lists these related job titles:
- Firefighters
- Fire service crew managers
- Watch managers
- Fire service officers (watch manager and below) not elsewhere classified
More job titles from the ONS SOC 2020 index (4)
- Fire engineer
- Fire safety officer
- Firefighter
- Watch manager (fire service)
What the job involves
Fire service officers (watch manager and below) co-ordinate and participate in firefighting activities, provide emergency services in the event of accidents or bomb alerts, and advise on fire prevention.
Typical tasks
- Inspects premises to identify potential fire hazards and to check that firefighting equipment is available and in working order and that statutory fire safety regulations are met
- Arranges fire drills and tests alarm systems and equipment
- Travels to fire or other emergency by vehicle and locates water mains if necessary
- Operates hose pipes, ladders, chemical, foam, gas or powder fire extinguishing appliances
- Rescues people or animals trapped by fire or other emergency situations such as flooding and administers first aid
- Removes goods from fire damaged premises, clears excess water, makes safe any structural hazards and takes any other necessary steps to reduce damage to property
- Attends and deals with bomb alerts and accidents involving spillage of hazardous substances
- Advises on fire safety measures in new buildings
- Supervises a watch
Typical entry routes and qualifications
There are no formal academic requirements, although applicants to fire control roles must demonstrate basic literacy and numeracy, keyboard and communication skills. Applicants to fire-fighter roles must pass psychological, physical and medical tests. Some Fire and Rescue Services operate direct entry recruitment processes to managerial operational roles. There is a minimum age limit of 18 years for entry to fire-fighter and control operator roles and DBS checks can be required.
Description: ONS SOC 2020 Volume 1.
Questions about SOC 3313
Can you get a Skilled Worker visa for a job in “fire service officers (watch manager and below)”?
Usually no. New applicants cannot get a UK Skilled Worker visa for a job in “fire service officers (watch manager and below)” (SOC 3313). 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 3313 (Fire service officers (watch manager 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 3313?
3313 is the SOC 2020 code for Fire service officers (watch manager and below). Fire service officers (watch manager and below) co-ordinate and participate in firefighting activities, provide emergency services in the event of accidents or bomb alerts, and advise on fire prevention.
What is the going rate for SOC code 3313?
Table 1a of Appendix Skilled Occupations gives a going rate of £42,100 a year (£21.59 an hour) for 3313, based on a 37.5-hour week. It must be pro-rated for other working hours.
What job titles use SOC code 3313?
GOV.UK lists: Firefighters, Fire service crew managers, Watch managers, Fire service officers (watch manager 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.