Skilled Worker Visa for Accountants: Codes and Salary
Accounting is a well-established profession in the UK with strong demand for skilled professionals. This guide covers how accountants can obtain a Skilled Worker visa, the salary requirements, professional body registration, and career progression.
- Section
- Skilled Worker Visa
- Reading time
- 10 min
- Last checked
- 2 September 2026
- Source
- The published Immigration Rules and GOV.UK guidance, linked throughout this guide.
- Rowan does not
- Look at your own case, tell you which route to choose, or say what the Home Office will decide. This guide shows the published rules and where to read them.
In short
- Accounting roles are eligible for the Skilled Worker visa.
- Salary must meet both the general threshold and the going rate.
- UK professional qualifications (ACCA, ICAEW, CIMA) are valued but not required for the visa.
- Overseas qualifications may earn exemptions from UK professional exams.
- The path from Skilled Worker to ILR takes 5 years.
Accountants are eligible for the UK Skilled Worker visa under several SOC codes. The role must meet the skill level and salary requirements. While UK professional qualifications are not mandatory for the visa, they are important for career progression.
Eligible Accounting Roles
Several accounting roles qualify for the Skilled Worker visa. These are classified under SOC codes that include chartered and certified accountants (code 2421, going rate £49,200 a year), management consultants and business analysts (code 2431, £50,200) and taxation experts (code 2423, £48,500). Check the eligible jobs list for your specific role.
Since 22 July 2025 a new Skilled Worker job must be at RQF level 6 (degree level) unless its code is on the Immigration Salary List or the Temporary Shortage List. Book-keepers, payroll managers and wages clerks (code 4122, going rate £33,400) and financial and accounting technicians (code 3533, going rate £48,700) are below level 6 but are on the Temporary Shortage List, so they can still be sponsored while they stay on it. A worker sponsored in a Temporary Shortage List job cannot bring a partner or children as new dependants, apart from the exceptions listed on GOV.UK.
Salary Requirements
Your salary must meet the general salary threshold and the going rate for your occupation code, whichever is higher. The salary calculation is based on your guaranteed basic gross pay, excluding bonuses and overtime. The going rates on this page are from Appendix Skilled Occupations, version of 3 August 2026.
If you hold a PhD relevant to accounting or finance, you may be able to claim PhD tradeable points to meet a lower salary threshold.
Professional Registration
The UK has several major accounting professional bodies:
- ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants)
- ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales)
- CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants)
- ICAS (Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland)
While professional registration is not legally required to work as an accountant in the UK (accounting is not a regulated profession), holding a recognised qualification significantly improves your career prospects and earning potential.
Most professional bodies offer exemptions from some of their exams for holders of recognised overseas qualifications. Check with the specific body for your country's qualification.
Finding a Sponsor
You need an employer with a sponsor licence who is willing to assign you a Certificate of Sponsorship. Major accounting firms (Big Four and mid-tier) regularly sponsor overseas accountants. Smaller firms may also hold sponsor licences.
Check the register of licensed sponsors on GOV.UK to verify potential employers.
Career Progression
The typical progression for an overseas accountant in the UK:
- Arrive on a Skilled Worker visa.
- Work towards UK professional qualifications alongside your role.
- Progress through roles: junior accountant, senior accountant, manager, director/partner.
- Apply for ILR after 5 years.
- Apply for British citizenship after 12 months of ILR.
Next Steps
Identify eligible roles, check salary requirements for your specific SOC code, and find a sponsoring employer. If you plan to pursue UK professional qualifications, research exemptions available for your overseas credentials.
Related guides:
Questions and answers
Can accountants get a Skilled Worker visa?
Yes. Accounting roles such as chartered accountants, management accountants, and tax advisers are eligible for the Skilled Worker visa. The role must be at RQF Level 6 (degree level) and meet the salary threshold.
What salary do accountants need for the Skilled Worker visa?
Accountants must meet both the general salary threshold and the going rate for their specific SOC code. The going rate varies by role. Check the Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Occupations for the current figures.
Do I need to be a qualified accountant?
You do not need UK professional qualifications to get the visa, but many employers prefer candidates with recognised qualifications. Your overseas qualifications may earn exemptions from UK professional exams (ACCA, ICAEW, CIMA).
Can accountants get ILR?
Yes. After 5 years on the Skilled Worker visa (or a combination of qualifying routes), accountants can apply for ILR provided they meet salary, absence, and other requirements.
This guide is general information about published immigration rules. It is not advice about an individual application under s.82 Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, and Rowan is not regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority. Immigration rules change several times a year. For advice on a particular situation, contact an adviser authorised by the Immigration Advice Authority or an immigration solicitor. Always check GOV.UK for the authoritative current rules.