Biologist jobs with UK visa sponsorship
What biologist roles pay against the Skilled Worker going rate, and who can sponsor.
Checked against gov.uk on
The short answer
For a Skilled Worker visa, a biologist job usually has to pay at least £40,300 a year while SOC 2112 (biological scientists) is on the Immigration Salary List: for jobs on the list, the published rules set the bar at the higher of £33,400 and the going rate (£40,300). The list only counts where the certificate of sponsorship is issued before 31 December 2026. Otherwise the usual bar is the higher of £41,700 and the going rate. A new entrant can be paid from £33,400. Figures from the Home Office going-rate tables, updated 11 November 2025.
Biologists study living things, working in labs, in the field and in industry on medicines, crops and ecosystems.
Worked example: SOC 2112
The rule on gov.uk is whichever figure is higher. Here is the sum for this occupation code.
| Who | How it is worked out | At least |
|---|---|---|
| Experienced hire | The higher of £41,700 (general salary threshold) and £40,300 (going rate) | £41,700 |
| Immigration Salary List job | The higher of £33,400 (Immigration Salary List minimum) and £40,300 (going rate), for certificates of sponsorship issued before 31 December 2026 | £40,300 |
| New entrant | The higher of £33,400 (new-entrant minimum) and £33,400 (70% of the going rate) | £33,400 |
Who counts as a new entrant is set out on gov.uk: for example, people under 26, or people on (or recently on) a Student visa at degree level or a Graduate visa. The total stay on new-entrant rates cannot be more than 4 years, including time on a Graduate visa. Read when you can be paid less on gov.uk.
How many visas were granted for these occupation codes?
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SOC 2112 Biological scientists
In the year to June 2026, the Home Office granted 115 Skilled Worker entry clearance visas to main applicants applying from outside the UK for this occupation code.
The industries sponsors gave most often for these visas: Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities (78); and Education (18).
The most common nationalities among them: United States (16), India (15) and China (11).
| Occupation code | Jul to Sep 2025 | Oct to Dec 2025 | Jan to Mar 2026 (provisional) | Apr to Jun 2026 (provisional) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOC 2112 | 44 | 27 | 28 | 16 |
Visas applied for from outside the UK only: switches inside the UK, for example from a Student or Graduate visa, are not counted. The sponsor chooses the occupation code and the industry. A small number of grants that could not be matched to a certificate of sponsorship are not included. Figures for January to June 2026 are provisional. Source: Home Office, Sponsored work entry clearance visas by occupation and industry (SOC 2020), year ending June 2026 (published 27 August 2026). Immigration system statistics data tables.
What the rules say for biologist jobs
SOC 2112 (biological scientists) is on the Home Office table of graduate-level occupations (RQF level 6 and above), which is open to new Skilled Worker applications.
For biological scientists (SOC 2112), the going rate of £40,300 is below the £41,700 general threshold, so the general threshold is the bar for an experienced hire: at least £41,700 a year. A new entrant can be paid from £33,400.
SOC 2112 is on the Immigration Salary List for all jobs in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, where the certificate of sponsorship is issued before 31 December 2026. gov.uk: "You must be paid at least £33,400 per year if you are being sponsored for a job on the immigration salary list. You must still be paid at least the standard going rate for your job."
The Home Office lists these job titles under 2112: Biologists, Agricultural scientists, Botanical and horticultural scientists, Microbiologists and bacteriologists, Pathologists and Pharmacologists.
What sponsors look for in biologist hires
Biological scientists include microbiologists, pharmacologists and agricultural scientists. The going rate sits below the general threshold, but while the code is on the Immigration Salary List the lower list threshold applies, as set out above.
Life sciences companies, research institutes and universities are the main employers. Research posts at universities can fall under different codes, so check the code on any academic offer.
Graduate biologists join research, quality control or applied science teams. Practical lab skills and experience with data analysis tools strengthen an application. Roles in industry often sit inside regulated quality systems, so experience of good laboratory practice or careful record keeping is worth mentioning on a CV.
Rules change: always check gov.uk for the current thresholds, and when you can be paid less.
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Questions people ask
What is the minimum salary for a biologist on a Skilled Worker visa?
While SOC 2112 is on the Immigration Salary List (certificates of sponsorship issued before 31 December 2026), the higher of £33,400 and the going rate: £40,300 a year. Otherwise, usually the higher of £41,700 and the going rate: £41,700. A new entrant can be paid from £33,400. The figures come from the Home Office tables updated 11 November 2025; check gov.uk before you rely on them.
Which occupation code is a biologist job?
The employer chooses the code from the duties of the job, not the title. Visavi maps biologist roles to SOC 2112 (biological scientists). Job titles the Home Office lists under 2112 include Biologists, Agricultural scientists, Botanical and horticultural scientists and Microbiologists and bacteriologists.
Can a graduate biologist be paid the new-entrant rate?
Yes, if they count as a new entrant under the published rules: for example, people under 26, or people on (or recently on) a Student visa at degree level or a Graduate visa. For SOC 2112 the new-entrant rate is £33,400. It can be used for up to 4 years in total, including time on a Graduate visa. Check when you can be paid less on gov.uk.
How many Skilled Worker visas were granted for the occupation codes biologist jobs use?
In the year to June 2026, the Home Office granted 115 Skilled Worker entry clearance visas to main applicants applying from outside the UK for SOC 2112 (biological scientists).
Sources
- Appendix Skilled Occupations (going rates) Updated 11 November 2025
- Skilled Worker visa: your job
- Skilled Worker visa: when you can be paid less
- Home Office: sponsored work visas by occupation and industry Sponsored work entry clearance visas by occupation and industry (SOC 2020), year ending June 2026, published 27 August 2026
- Appendix Immigration Salary List