Can you get a UK Skilled Worker visa for a job in “mobile machine drivers and operatives not elsewhere classified”?
No. You cannot get a UK Skilled Worker visa for a job in “mobile machine drivers and operatives not elsewhere classified” (SOC 8229).
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 8229 (Mobile machine drivers and operatives not elsewhere classified) 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 | Mobile machine drivers and operatives not elsewhere classified |
|---|---|
| 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 › 822 Mobile machine drivers and operatives |
Job titles under SOC 8229
GOV.UK lists these related job titles:
- Agricultural machinery operators
- Mobile machine drivers and operatives not elsewhere classified
More job titles from the ONS SOC 2020 index (8)
- Agricultural machinist
- Digger driver
- Dredger
- Excavator driver
- JCB driver
- Plant operator
- Rig operator
- Tractor driver (agriculture)
What the job involves
Job holders in this unit group supervise and undertake the operation of machines to transport, excavate, grade, level, and compact sand, earth, gravel and similar materials, drive piles into the ground and lay surfaces of asphalt, concrete and chippings, clear and cultivate land, to sow and harvest plants and crops, and operate other mobile machines not elsewhere classified in minor group 822: Mobile machine drivers and operatives.
Typical tasks
- Fixes any necessary extensions onto machine and loads machine with asphalt, concrete, bitumen, tar, stone chippings or any other required materials
- Manipulates levers, pedals and switches to manoeuvre vehicle, regulate angle and height of blades, buckets and hammers and starts conveyor, suction or water spraying system
- Watches operation and removes any likely obstacle or obstructions
- Directs refilling of machine hopper and repeats operations as necessary
- Operates tractors, combine harvesters or other farm vehicles, attaches plough, cultivator or other implements and adjusts depth, speed and height to requirements
- Drives and operates machinery to plough, fertilise, plant, cultivate or harvest crops
- Cleans, oils and greases machine and carries out minor repairs
Typical entry routes and qualifications
No academic qualifications are required. On-the-job training is provided. The appropriate current driving licence will be required for driving on public highways.
Description: ONS SOC 2020 Volume 1.
Questions about SOC 8229
Can you get a UK Skilled Worker visa for a job in “mobile machine drivers and operatives not elsewhere classified”?
No. You cannot get a UK Skilled Worker visa for a job in “mobile machine drivers and operatives not elsewhere classified” (SOC 8229). SOC 2020 code 8229 (Mobile machine drivers and operatives not elsewhere classified) 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 8229?
8229 is the SOC 2020 code for Mobile machine drivers and operatives not elsewhere classified. Job holders in this unit group supervise and undertake the operation of machines to transport, excavate, grade, level, and compact sand, earth, gravel and similar materials, drive piles into the ground and lay surfaces of asphalt, concrete and chippings, clear and cultivate land, to sow and harvest plants and crops, and operate other mobile machines not elsewhere classified in minor group 822: Mobile machine drivers and operatives.
What job titles use SOC code 8229?
GOV.UK lists: Agricultural machinery operators, Mobile machine drivers and operatives 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.