The UK government has published a comprehensive list of 307 occupations eligible for the Skilled Worker visa in 2026. This list covers roles across various sectors, including healthcare, engineering, education, construction, and the creative industries. Each occupation on the list is assigned a Standard Occupational Classification code and categorized as either Higher Skilled or Medium Skilled.
The classification codes were revised on April 4, 2024, and applicants are advised that some reference numbers may differ from those used in previous applications. Workers unable to locate their specific job title are encouraged to search using related terms or the occupation code directly, using complete words such as "laboratory" rather than abbreviated forms.
The Higher Skilled category contains a broad range of professional and managerial positions. Senior leadership roles such as chief executives and senior officials, financial managers and directors, information technology directors, and marketing, sales and advertising directors are all included. Engineering professionals feature prominently, with civil, mechanical, electrical, electronics, aerospace, and production engineers all qualifying.
IT roles such as programmers and software development professionals, cyber security professionals, IT business analysts, and IT network professionals are also listed under the Higher Skilled category. Healthcare occupations represent another significant grouping, with generalist and specialist medical practitioners, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, pharmacists, and optometrists all listed.
Scientists across disciplines, including chemical, biological, biochemical, biomedical, and physical scientists, are similarly eligible. Other notable Higher Skilled occupations include conservation and environment professionals, senior police officers, senior officers in fire, ambulance and prison services, health services managers, and managers and directors in the creative industries.
The Medium Skilled category covers a wide range of management and proprietorship roles across various industries. Eligible positions include managers and directors in retail and wholesale, hotel and accommodation managers, restaurant and catering establishment managers, and leisure and sports managers. Further roles under this category include health care practice managers, residential and domiciliary care managers, property and housing managers, and logistics and warehousing managers.
The full register, which contains considerably more occupations beyond those highlighted, is available through the UK government's official Skilled Worker visa occupations page. This list provides opportunities for skilled workers to apply for the Skilled Worker visa and potentially work in the UK.
Key points
- The UK government has published a list of 307 occupations eligible for the Skilled Worker visa in 2026.
- The occupations are categorized as either Higher Skilled or Medium Skilled and are assigned a Standard Occupational Classification code.
- The classification codes were revised on April 4, 2024, and applicants should be aware of potential changes in reference numbers.
