SOC 2020 code 8111Not eligible
Food, drink and tobacco process operatives: Skilled Worker visa salary
Food, drink and tobacco process operatives (SOC 8111) jobs cannot be sponsored for a Skilled Worker, Global Business Mobility or Scale-up visa, whatever the salary.
What this covers
Job titles in SOC 8111 include: Baker (food products mfr), Bakery assistant, Factory worker (food products mfr), Meat processor (meat packing), Process worker (brewery), Process worker (dairy).
Questions about SOC 8111
- What salary do food, drink and tobacco process operatives need for a UK Skilled Worker visa?
- Food, drink and tobacco process operatives (SOC 8111) jobs cannot be sponsored for a Skilled Worker, Global Business Mobility or Scale-up visa, whatever the salary.
- Who decides which occupation code a job uses?
- Your sponsor chooses the SOC 2020 code when it assigns your certificate of sponsorship. It must match the job's actual duties, not just its title.
Related occupations
Source: Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Occupations and the Temporary Shortage List on GOV.UK, as of 13 October 2026. A guide, not immigration advice: PhD discounts, the Immigration Salary List and pre-April-2024 transitional rates aren't covered.