Can you get a Skilled Worker visa as an inspector of standards or regulations?
Usually no. New applicants cannot get a UK Skilled Worker visa as an inspector of standards or regulations (SOC 3581). 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 3581 (Inspectors of standards and regulations) 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 | Inspectors of standards and regulations |
|---|---|
| Skilled Worker eligibility | Medium Skilled |
| Going rate | £34,400 a year (£17.64 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) | 3565 |
| SOC 2020 group | 35 Business and public service associate professionals › 358 Regulatory associate professionals |
Going rates for 3581 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. | £34,400 £17.64/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. | £30,000 £15.38/hr | n/a | n/a | £25,000 £12.82/hr |
Salary thresholds that apply to 3581
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 | £34,400 (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 | £30,000 (100%) | £31,300 |
| 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 3581
GOV.UK lists these related job titles:
- Animal health inspectors and officers
- Building control officers
- Driving examiners
- Health and safety inspectors
- Housing and planning inspectors
- Licensing officers
- Meat hygiene inspectors
- Nuclear safety inspectors
- Trading standards officers
- Traffic and vehicle examiners and inspectors
- Inspectors of standards and regulations not elsewhere classified
More job titles from the ONS SOC 2020 index (5)
- Building inspector
- Driving examiner
- Housing inspector
- Meat hygiene inspector
- Trading standards officer
What the job involves
Inspectors of standards and regulations undertake investigations and inspections to verify and ensure compliance with acts, regulations and other requirements in respect of: buildings, weights, measures and trade descriptions; the installation and safety of electrical, gas and water supplies and equipment; marine pollution, ships’ structures, equipment and accommodation; the treatment of animals; the operation of commercial vehicles; the welfare, health and safety in factories and all work sites subject to the provisions in the Factory Acts.
Typical tasks
- Examines building plans to ensure compliance with local, statutory and other requirements
- Inspects building structures, facilities and sites to determine suitability for habitation, compliance with regulations and for insurance purposes
- Inspects measuring and similar equipment in factories and visits street traders, shops, garages and other premises to check scales, weights and measuring equipment
- Inspects factories and other work sites to ensure adequate cleanliness, temperature, lighting and ventilation, checks for fire hazards and inspects storage and handling arrangements of dangerous materials
- Visits sites during construction and inspects completed installations of electricity, gas or water supply
- Draws attention to any irregularities or infringements of regulations and advises on ways of rectifying them
- Investigates industrial accidents or any complaints made by the public
- Verifies the weight of commercial vehicles, checks driver’s licence and hours worked
- Samples and tests river water, checks and advises on premises discharging effluent to prevent pollution
- Checks fishing licences and prevents illegal fishing
- Visits premises where animals are kept, advises on animal care and investigates complaints
- Undertakes other inspections including chemicals, drugs, flight operations, etc
- Prepares reports and recommendations on all inspections made and recommends legal action where necessary
Typical entry routes and qualifications
Entrants usually possess A levels/H grades, a degree or equivalent qualification, together with experience gained in employment. Professional qualifications, membership of professional bodies, postgraduate diplomas and NVQs/ SVQs at levels 3 and 4 are available and may be required in some occupations. On-the-job training is available in some areas.
Description: ONS SOC 2020 Volume 1.
Questions about SOC 3581
Can you get a Skilled Worker visa as an inspector of standards or regulations?
Usually no. New applicants cannot get a UK Skilled Worker visa as an inspector of standards or regulations (SOC 3581). 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 3581 (Inspectors of standards and regulations) 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 3581?
3581 is the SOC 2020 code for Inspectors of standards and regulations. Inspectors of standards and regulations undertake investigations and inspections to verify and ensure compliance with acts, regulations and other requirements in respect of: buildings, weights, measures and trade descriptions; the installation and safety of electrical, gas and water supplies and equipment; marine pollution, ships’ structures, equipment and accommodation; the treatment of animals; the operation of commercial vehicles; the welfare, health and safety in factories and all work sites subject to the provisions in the Factory Acts.
What is the going rate for SOC code 3581?
Table 1a of Appendix Skilled Occupations gives a going rate of £34,400 a year (£17.64 an hour) for 3581, based on a 37.5-hour week. It must be pro-rated for other working hours.
What job titles use SOC code 3581?
GOV.UK lists: Animal health inspectors and officers, Building control officers, Driving examiners, Health and safety inspectors, Housing and planning inspectors, Licensing officers, Meat hygiene inspectors, Nuclear safety inspectors, Trading standards officers, Traffic and vehicle examiners and inspectors, Inspectors of standards and regulations 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.