Business development manager jobs with UK visa sponsorship
What business development manager 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 business development manager job usually has to pay at least £55,200 a year: the going rate for SOC 3556 (sales accounts and business development managers), which is above the £41,700 general salary threshold. A new entrant can be paid from £38,600. Figures from the Home Office going-rate tables, updated 11 November 2025.
Business development managers find and win new customers and partners, then grow the accounts they already have.
Worked example: SOC 3556
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 £55,200 (going rate) | £55,200 |
| New entrant | The higher of £33,400 (new-entrant minimum) and £38,600 (70% of the going rate) | £38,600 |
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.
Codes with restrictions
SOC 3552 Business sales executives Temporary Shortage List
Some business development manager jobs are coded under SOC 3552 (business sales executives), a medium-skilled code. This code is in Table 1a of Appendix Skilled Occupations and on the Temporary Shortage List. The Immigration Rules only count it as on the list where the application uses a certificate of sponsorship issued before 31 December 2026. Outside the list, Table 1a codes are only open to people who were granted permission as a Skilled Worker under the rules in place before 22 July 2025 and have held Skilled Worker permission ever since.
For a new application while the code is on the Temporary Shortage List, the standard salary rules apply: at least £41,700 for an experienced hire (the higher of £41,700 and the £36,700 going rate), or £33,400 for a new entrant. People first granted Skilled Worker permission before 4 April 2024, and continuously since, can have lower, transitional salary rules for applications made before 4 April 2030 (Appendix Skilled Worker SW 4.2, with the going rates in Table 2aa).
Read the published rules on gov.uk: the Temporary Shortage List; Immigration Rules, Appendix Skilled Worker; Appendix Skilled Occupations, Table 1a.
How many visas were granted for these occupation codes?
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SOC 3556 Sales accounts and business development managers
In the year to June 2026, the Home Office granted 918 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: Information and Communications (288); Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities (136); and Financial and Insurance Activities (127).
The most common nationalities among them: United States (185), India (102) and France (64).
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SOC 3552 Business sales executives
In the year to June 2026, the Home Office granted 252 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: Information and Communications (78), Other Service Activities (27) and Manufacturing (25).
The most common nationalities among them: India (32), Germany (23) and France (20).
| Occupation code | Jul to Sep 2025 | Oct to Dec 2025 | Jan to Mar 2026 (provisional) | Apr to Jun 2026 (provisional) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOC 3556 | 286 | 212 | 228 | 192 |
| SOC 3552 | 104 | 51 | 45 | 52 |
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 business development manager jobs
SOC 3556 (sales accounts and business development managers) is on the Home Office table of graduate-level occupations (RQF level 6 and above), which is open to new Skilled Worker applications.
For sales accounts and business development managers (SOC 3556), the going rate of £55,200 is above the £41,700 general threshold, so the going rate is the bar for an experienced hire: at least £55,200 a year. A new entrant can be paid from £38,600.
The Home Office lists these job titles under 3556: Business development managers, Sales accounts and business development managers (other), Brand managers and Sales account managers.
What sponsors look for in business development manager hires
Sales accounts and business development managers share a code that also covers brand managers. It is on the graduate-level table, with a going rate above the general threshold.
Sales roles vary a lot in pay structure. Commission and bonuses generally do not count towards the salary threshold, so look at the guaranteed basic salary when you compare an offer with the rate.
Business development managers often start in sales or account roles before moving up. Interviews tend to look for evidence that you can open conversations, manage a pipeline and close.
Rules change: always check gov.uk for the current thresholds, and when you can be paid less.
The evidence on every job in Visavi
AI VERDICT
Strong apply
Your profile fits, and the advert says they can sponsor.
UK SPONSOR REGISTER
- Organisation
- Northbank Analytics
- Town
- London
- Type and rating
- Worker (A rating)
- Route
- Skilled Worker
FROM THIS ADVERT
"We welcome applications from candidates who require visa sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route."
WHAT THIS MEANS
The advert says they can sponsor. Those are their words, not a promise they will sponsor you.
Questions people ask
What is the minimum salary for a business development manager on a Skilled Worker visa?
Usually the higher of £41,700 and the going rate for the occupation code. For SOC 3556 that is £55,200 a year, and a new entrant can be paid from £38,600. 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 business development manager job?
The employer chooses the code from the duties of the job, not the title. Visavi maps business development manager roles to SOC 3556 (sales accounts and business development managers). Job titles the Home Office lists under 3556 include Business development managers, Sales accounts and business development managers (other), Brand managers and Sales account managers. Some jobs are coded under SOC 3552 (business sales executives), which only some applicants can use: see the codes with restrictions above.
Can a graduate business development manager 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 3556 the new-entrant rate is £38,600. 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 business development manager jobs use?
In the year to June 2026, the Home Office granted these numbers of Skilled Worker entry clearance visas to main applicants applying from outside the UK: SOC 3556 (sales accounts and business development managers), 918; and SOC 3552 (business sales executives, a code with restrictions), 252.
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 Skilled Worker (salary options and health and care jobs)