Paralegal jobs with UK visa sponsorship
What paralegal 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 paralegal job usually has to pay at least £41,700 a year: the general salary threshold, which is above the £33,400 going rate for SOC 2419 (legal professionals not elsewhere classified). A new entrant can be paid from £33,400. Figures from the Home Office going-rate tables, updated 11 November 2025.
Paralegals do legal work under supervision: research, drafting, case preparation and managing documents.
Worked example: SOC 2419
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 £33,400 (going rate) | £41,700 |
| 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.
Codes with restrictions
SOC 3520 Legal associate professionals Temporary Shortage List
Some paralegal jobs are coded under SOC 3520 (legal associate professionals), 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 £33,400 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 2419 Legal professionals not elsewhere classified
In the year to June 2026, the Home Office granted 248 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 (170); Financial and Insurance Activities (22); and Information and Communications (15).
The most common nationalities among them: United States (35), Italy (27) and Australia (25).
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SOC 3520 Legal associate professionals
In the year to June 2026, the Home Office granted 16 Skilled Worker entry clearance visas to main applicants applying from outside the UK for this occupation code.
| Occupation code | Jul to Sep 2025 | Oct to Dec 2025 | Jan to Mar 2026 (provisional) | Apr to Jun 2026 (provisional) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOC 2419 | 90 | 47 | 52 | 59 |
| SOC 3520 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
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 paralegal jobs
SOC 2419 (legal professionals not elsewhere classified) is on the Home Office table of graduate-level occupations (RQF level 6 and above), which is open to new Skilled Worker applications.
For legal professionals not elsewhere classified (SOC 2419), the going rate of £33,400 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.
The Home Office lists these job titles under 2419: Paralegals, Conveyancers, Litigation executives, Patent and trademark attorneys and Legal professionals (other).
What sponsors look for in paralegal hires
Paralegals are named in legal professionals not elsewhere classified, alongside conveyancers and litigation executives. The going rate in the table sits below the general threshold, so the general threshold or the new-entrant rate usually sets the minimum.
Many paralegal salaries are below those figures, which is why sponsored paralegal roles are less common than the title suggests. Check the salary against the threshold before you apply.
Paralegal roles are a common stepping stone into law, especially alongside the SQE. Firms look for accuracy, organisation and good writing; experience in a legal setting helps.
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 paralegal on a Skilled Worker visa?
Usually the higher of £41,700 and the going rate for the occupation code. For SOC 2419 that is £41,700 a year, and 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 paralegal job?
The employer chooses the code from the duties of the job, not the title. Visavi maps paralegal roles to SOC 2419 (legal professionals not elsewhere classified). Job titles the Home Office lists under 2419 include Paralegals, Conveyancers, Litigation executives and Patent and trademark attorneys. Some jobs are coded under SOC 3520 (legal associate professionals), which only some applicants can use: see the codes with restrictions above.
Can a graduate paralegal 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 2419 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 paralegal 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 2419 (legal professionals not elsewhere classified), 248; and SOC 3520 (legal associate professionals, a code with restrictions), 16.
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)