Can you get a UK Skilled Worker visa for a job in “protective service associate professionals not elsewhere classified”?
Usually no. New applicants cannot get a UK Skilled Worker visa for a job in “protective service associate professionals not elsewhere classified” (SOC 3319). 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 3319 (Protective service associate professionals not elsewhere classified) 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 | Protective service associate professionals not elsewhere classified |
|---|---|
| Skilled Worker eligibility | Medium Skilled |
| Going rate | £41,100 a year (£21.08 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) | 3319 |
| SOC 2020 group | 33 Protective service occupations › 331 Protective service occupations |
Going rates for 3319 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. | £41,100 £21.08/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. | £33,200 £17.03/hr | n/a | n/a | £25,000 £12.82/hr |
Salary thresholds that apply to 3319
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 | £41,100 (100%) | £41,700 |
| 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 | £33,200 (100%) | £33,200 |
| 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 | £25,000 (70%) | £25,000 |
Job titles under SOC 3319
GOV.UK lists these related job titles:
- Coastguard
- Customs and border control officers
- Fraud investigators (excludes benefit fraud)
- Immigration officers
- Private investigators
- Security consultants and managers (excludes cyber security)
- Protective service associate professionals not elsewhere classified
More job titles from the ONS SOC 2020 index (9)
- Crime scene investigator
- Customs officer
- Immigration officer
- Investigation officer (police service)
- Fingerprint expert
- Fraud analyst
- Operations manager (security services)
- Private investigator
- Security manager
What the job involves
Job holders in this unit group inspect goods to ensure compliance with regulations concerning payment of duty, establish that persons entering and leaving the UK have necessary authorisation for crossing national borders, monitor maritime conditions, undertake search and rescue operations, plan and coordinate services of private detective agencies and security measures for individuals, establishments or organisations, investigates activities such as fraud and other crimes, and perform other security and protective service occupations not elsewhere classified in minor group 331: Protective service occupations.
Typical tasks
- Examines, weighs and counts goods imported by ship or aircraft, ensures that the declared value of goods is satisfactory, and that duties and taxes have been paid
- Examines passports, visas, work permits and other immigration documents, and allows or refuses entry into the UK
- Maintains revenue control at breweries, tobacco factories and other premises where dutiable goods are manufactured, processed or stored
- Visits racecourses, greyhound stadiums and betting shops to ensure compliance with legal requirements
- Broadcasts information on weather and maritime conditions, monitors shipping and provides instruction to navigators
- Receives distress messages, alerts other appropriate rescue services and participates in search and rescue operations
- Photographs, fingerprints and undertakes other forms of forensic examination at the scene of a crime
- Analyses security requirements, advises clients, and develops, monitors and improves security measures
- Supervises and assigns duties to security and detection staff
- Investigates crimes, including fraud, trading practices and the private affairs of individuals
Typical entry routes and qualifications
These posts have varying entry requirements. Some posts require no academic qualifications whereas others require GCSEs/S grades and/or relevant practical experience. Entry to some occupations is followed by periods of assessed probationary training and professional examinations.
Description: ONS SOC 2020 Volume 1.
Questions about SOC 3319
Can you get a UK Skilled Worker visa for a job in “protective service associate professionals not elsewhere classified”?
Usually no. New applicants cannot get a UK Skilled Worker visa for a job in “protective service associate professionals not elsewhere classified” (SOC 3319). 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 3319 (Protective service associate professionals not elsewhere classified) 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 3319?
3319 is the SOC 2020 code for Protective service associate professionals not elsewhere classified. Job holders in this unit group inspect goods to ensure compliance with regulations concerning payment of duty, establish that persons entering and leaving the UK have necessary authorisation for crossing national borders, monitor maritime conditions, undertake search and rescue operations, plan and coordinate services of private detective agencies and security measures for individuals, establishments or organisations, investigates activities such as fraud and other crimes, and perform other security and protective service occupations not elsewhere classified in minor group 331: Protective service occupations.
What is the going rate for SOC code 3319?
Table 1a of Appendix Skilled Occupations gives a going rate of £41,100 a year (£21.08 an hour) for 3319, based on a 37.5-hour week. It must be pro-rated for other working hours.
What job titles use SOC code 3319?
GOV.UK lists: Coastguard, Customs and border control officers, Fraud investigators (excludes benefit fraud), Immigration officers, Private investigators, Security consultants and managers (excludes cyber security), Protective service associate professionals 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.