Skilled Worker Visa for Finance Professionals

Finance Roles and the Skilled Worker Visa

London is a global financial centre, and the City of London and Canary Wharf host many of the world's largest banks, asset managers, and fintech firms. If you work in financial services, the Skilled Worker visa is usually your main route into the UK.

This guide is for finance and banking professionals: financial analysts, investment bankers, fund and portfolio managers, actuaries, risk specialists, fintech staff, compliance officers, and traders. If you are an accountant, read the dedicated Skilled Worker visa for accountants guide instead, as the qualifications and SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) codes differ.

To qualify, you need a job offer from a UK employer that holds a sponsor licence, a role at the required skill level, a salary that meets the rules, and English at the required level. Check the full Skilled Worker requirements before you apply.

Eligible Roles and SOC Codes

Each job maps to a SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code, and each code has a going rate. The main codes for finance professionals are:

• SOC 2422— Finance and investment analysts and advisers (going rate around £52,000 in 2026). This covers analysts, investment bankers, fund and portfolio managers, and many trading roles.
• SOC 2425— Actuaries, economists, and statisticians (going rate around £52,000 in 2026). This covers actuaries, quantitative analysts, and economists.
• SOC 2429— Business and financial project management and other business and financial roles, which can cover some risk and compliance positions.
• SOC 2421— Chartered and certified accountants (going rate around £45,200 in 2026). This is the accountants' code, covered in the accountants guide.

The going rates above are approximations for 2026 only. Your employer chooses the code that best matches your duties. Confirm the current figure for your role on the going rate page and on GOV.UK, because the published rates change. You can also check the eligible jobs list for your specific title.

Salary Thresholds (and Why Finance Usually Clears Them)

You must meet two figures: the general salary threshold of £38,700 a year, and the going rate for your SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code. You need whichever figure is higher.

For most finance professionals, salary is rarely the obstacle. Financial services roles in London tend to pay well above both figures. A mid-level analyst, associate, or actuary in the City often earns more than the going rate on basic salary alone.

One detail matters. The salary calculation is based on your guaranteed basic gross pay. Bonuses, which are common in finance, generally do not count towards the threshold. So check that your guaranteed base salary clears the rules, not your expected total package.

If you hold a PhD relevant to your role, you may be able to claim PhD tradeable points towards a lower salary figure, though most finance professionals will not need this.

Professional Qualifications

Finance has many respected professional qualifications. The most common are:

• CFA(Chartered Financial Analyst) — common for analysts and portfolio managers.
• ACCA(Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) — valued in finance and accounting roles.
• FRM(Financial Risk Manager) — common for risk professionals.
• Actuarial qualificationsfrom the IFoA (Institute and Faculty of Actuaries) — required to practise as a UK actuary.

These qualifications help your career and make you more attractive to employers, but they are not Skilled Worker visa requirements. The visa depends on your job, your sponsor, your salary, and your English. If you trained overseas, check the recognition of foreign qualifications and whether any UK professional registration applies to your role.