Sports and leisure assistants (SOC 6211, also written as job code 6211) does not currently qualify for UK Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. The government considers it below the skill level required for the Skilled Worker route. There are closely related roles that do qualify, listed further down.
Not sure if SOC 6211 applies to your situation?
The answer above is the general rule. Your case can be different if you already hold a visa and are extending or switching, if you were sponsored before a rule change, or depending on your salary. Our AI assistant can explain the full rules from gov.uk guidance.
Ask AI about SOC 6211Sports and leisure assistants, provide and maintain facilities for sporting and recreational activities and supervise their use, maintain the continuity of entertainment and social events, offer odds and accept bets on the result of sporting and other events, control gambling activities, work behind the scenes in production and broadcasting enterprises in a supporting role to ensure operations run smoothly.
There are no formal academic entry requirements, although some employers may require GCSEs/S grades. A variety of vocational qualifications are available in Sports and Recreation and Leisure and Tourism.
UK market salary · ASHE 2025
How visa salary requirements compare to what employers pay.
Most sports and leisure assistants in the UK earn between £25,116 and £29,536 in basic pay.
All figures are before tax. Calculate your take-home pay.
Comparing with an offer back home? Try the UK vs home country calculator.
Roles classified under SOC 6211 fall below the RQF Level 6 skill threshold required for new Skilled Worker visa applications. Employers cannot sponsor new overseas workers for this specific occupation code.
If you're interested in this field, you have a few options:
Not under SOC 6211. Sports and leisure assistants is classified as Ineligible, 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.
Job code 6211, SOC code 6211 and occupation code 6211 all refer to the same thing: the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC 2020) unit group covering sports and leisure assistants. The Home Office uses this 4-digit code on a Certificate of Sponsorship to check Skilled Worker visa eligibility and to set the going rate salary threshold for the role.
SOC 6211 covers a range of sports and leisure assistants roles, including: Bookmakers, Croupiers, Film and television runners, Leisure and recreation assistants, Lifeguards, Museum and heritage assistants, and 1 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 6211 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.