Can you get a UK Skilled Worker visa as a taxi or cab driver or chauffeur?
No. You cannot get a UK Skilled Worker visa as a taxi or cab driver or chauffeur (SOC 8213).
You might be able to work in the UK on a different visa. Compare UK work visas.
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 8213 (Taxi and cab drivers and chauffeurs) is listed as not eligible for the Skilled Worker, Global Business Mobility and Scale-up routes in Table 6 of Appendix Skilled OccupationsT6 · 29 Oct 26.
Source: Appendix Skilled Occupations and eligible occupations and codes, GOV.UK.| Occupation | Taxi and cab drivers and chauffeurs |
|---|---|
| Skilled Worker eligibility | Ineligible |
| Going rate | Not applicable |
| Appendix table(s) | Table 6 |
| Immigration Salary List | No |
| Temporary Shortage List | No |
| SOC 2020 group | 82 Transport and mobile machine drivers and operatives › 821 Road transport drivers |
Job titles under SOC 8213
GOV.UK lists these related job titles:
- Taxi and cab drivers and chauffeurs
More job titles from the ONS SOC 2020 index (5)
- Carriage driver
- Chauffeur
- Mini cab driver
- Taxi driver
- Taxi owner
What the job involves
Taxi and cab drivers and chauffeurs drive motor cars for private individuals, government departments and industrial and commercial organisations, drive taxis for public hire, drive new cars to delivery points and drive motorcycles and other motor vehicles.
Typical tasks
- Checks tyres, brakes, lights, oil, water and fuel levels and general condition of vehicle before start of journey
- Drives passenger-carrying motor cars, taxis and other motor cars and motorcycles, complying with road and traffic regulations
- Collects passengers when hailed or in response to telephone/radio message and helps them to secure their luggage
- Conveys passenger to destination and helps unload luggage
- Cleans, services and maintains vehicle or motorcycle
Typical entry routes and qualifications
No academic qualifications are required but most entrants require a clean, current driving licence and a medical examination. Local authorities typically set their own tests of local knowledge and additional driving tests before awarding licences.
Description: ONS SOC 2020 Volume 1.
Questions about SOC 8213
Can you get a UK Skilled Worker visa as a taxi or cab driver or chauffeur?
No. You cannot get a UK Skilled Worker visa as a taxi or cab driver or chauffeur (SOC 8213). SOC 2020 code 8213 (Taxi and cab drivers and chauffeurs) is listed as not eligible for the Skilled Worker, Global Business Mobility and Scale-up routes in Table 6 of Appendix Skilled Occupations.
What is SOC code 8213?
8213 is the SOC 2020 code for Taxi and cab drivers and chauffeurs. Taxi and cab drivers and chauffeurs drive motor cars for private individuals, government departments and industrial and commercial organisations, drive taxis for public hire, drive new cars to delivery points and drive motorcycles and other motor vehicles.
What job titles use SOC code 8213?
GOV.UK lists: Taxi and cab drivers and chauffeurs.
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.