Rail travel assistants (SOC 6214, also written as job code 6214) 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.
Not sure if SOC 6214 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 6214Rail travel assistants issue, collect and inspect travel tickets, provide information and assistance to railway passengers, operate train doors, and perform a variety of duties on station platforms in connection with the arrival and departure of trains and the movement of goods and passengers, and on trains to ensure the safety and comfort of passengers.
There are no formal academic entry requirements, although entrants are required to take a medical examination and have normal colour vision. Training is provided Off and on-the-job. NVQs/SVQs in Rail Services are available at level 2.
UK market salary · ASHE 2025
How visa salary requirements compare to what employers pay.
Most rail travel assistants in the UK earn between £33,748 and £48,620 in basic pay. For Skilled Worker visa holders, the minimum salary (going rate) for this role is £41,300 (SOC 6214), sitting at the 54th percentile of what UK employers pay and £1,312 above 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.
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SOC 6214 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 6214. Rail travel assistants 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.
Job code 6214, SOC code 6214 and occupation code 6214 all refer to the same thing: the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC 2020) unit group covering rail travel 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 6214 covers a range of rail travel assistants roles, including: Railway station assistants, Revenue protection officers, Train conductors and guards, Rail travel assistants not elsewhere classified.. 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 6214 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.