Inspectors of standards and regulations (SOC 3581) does not currently qualify for UK Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. It is classified as medium skilled and would need to be added to the Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage Occupation List before employers could sponsor for it. There are closely related roles that do qualify, listed further down.
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.
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.
UK market salary · ASHE 2025
How visa salary requirements compare to what employers pay.
Most inspectors of standards and regulations in the UK earn between £31,668 and £44,200 in basic pay. For Skilled Worker visa holders, the minimum salary (going rate) for this role is £34,400 (SOC 3581), sitting at the 36th percentile of what UK employers pay and £3,404 below the median. Since this falls below the general salary threshold, sponsors must pay at least £41,700.
All figures are before tax. Calculate your take-home pay.
SOC 3581 is classified as medium skilled but does not currently appear on the Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage List, so it's not currently eligible for new sponsorship.
If you're interested in this field, you have a few options:
Not under SOC 3581. Inspectors of standards and regulations is classified as Medium Skilled, which doesn't meet the requirements for Skilled Worker sponsorship right now. That said, some closely related occupation codes in the same field are eligible, so have a look at the related codes section on this page.
SOC 3581 covers a range of inspectors of standards and regulations roles, including: Animal health inspectors and officers, Building control officers, Driving examiners, Health and safety inspectors, Housing and planning inspectors, Licensing officers, and 5 more. Keep in mind that the Home Office matches jobs by duties rather than title alone. Two roles with the same title can fall under different SOC codes depending on the actual work involved.
SOC 3581 itself doesn't qualify, but that doesn't mean you're out of options. The most common workaround is finding a closely related role that falls under an eligible SOC code. We've listed any eligible alternatives further up this page. It's also worth looking into visa routes that aren't tied to a specific occupation, like the Global Talent visa, Graduate visa, or High Potential Individual visa.
This information is provided as guidance only and should not be treated as legal advice. Eligibility criteria and salary thresholds are based on the latest published government data. Always verify with the official UK government guidance or seek professional immigration advice.