Short answer: It depends
Yes, with a sponsor. Chartered and certified accountants are listed as an eligible occupation for the Skilled Worker Visa. The salary has to meet the higher of the general floor, GBP 41,700/yr (≈ $56,462/yr), and the going rate for the occupation, and accountants are not on the Immigration Salary List, so no discount applies.
The programmes that apply to accountants in the United Kingdom
Fees, salary floors and processing times below come from the official sources in Transita's visa database. Processing is an estimate from the published figure, not a promise.
| Programme | Fee | Salary floor | Processing | Job offer | PR after |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker Visa | $3,290 | GBP 41,700/yr (≈ $56,462/yr) | 1–3 months | Yes | 5 years |
| Graduate Visa (Post-Study Work) | $1,170 | None set | 1–2 months | No | No direct route |
| High Potential Individual Visa | $820 | None set | 1–3 months | No | No direct route |
- Skilled Worker Visa: The main route for qualified accountants with a UK offer. The employer must hold a sponsor licence.
- Graduate Visa (Post-Study Work): Only if you studied in the UK. It lets you work without sponsorship and switch to Skilled Worker later.
- High Potential Individual Visa: For recent graduates of top-ranked universities abroad. No job offer needed, so you can job hunt in the UK.
SOC 2421 and the going rate
The UK sorts jobs by occupation code. Code 2421, chartered and certified accountants, sits in Table 1 of Appendix Skilled Occupations, which means it is eligible for the Skilled Worker visa. The same table sets a going rate for the code, and your salary has to meet whichever is higher: that rate or GBP 41,700/yr (≈ $56,462/yr).
Code 2421 is not on the Immigration Salary List, so the reduced rates that list offers do not apply. Ask the employer which occupation code they will put on your certificate of sponsorship, because the salary test follows the code.
What it costs and how long it takes
The Skilled Worker fee in our data is $3,290, processing takes about 1–3 months and the visa can be granted for up to 5 years. It leads to settlement after 5 years.
The full application, from certificate of sponsorship to the English requirement, is in the UK Skilled Worker visa guide.
Do UK accountancy bodies need to recognise you?
Not as a visa condition in our data. The visa checks the sponsor's certificate, the salary and your English, which our data sets at B2 level. The occupation is chartered and certified accountants, though, so employers hiring under that code will expect a qualification that fits it.
Who sponsors accountants in the United Kingdom
Only an employer with a sponsor licence can hire you on this visa. Check that a firm holds a licence before you invest time in interviews.
Transita's sponsor register for the United Kingdom lists the employers with an official record of sponsoring, by region.
Frequently asked questions
Can I move to the UK as an accountant?
Yes, on the Skilled Worker visa with a job offer from a licensed sponsor. Chartered and certified accountants (SOC 2421) are an eligible occupation.
What salary does an accountant need for a UK Skilled Worker visa?
The higher of the general floor (GBP 41,700/yr (≈ $56,462/yr)) and the going rate for SOC 2421 in Appendix Skilled Occupations.
Are accountants on the UK Immigration Salary List?
No. SOC 2421 does not appear on the Immigration Salary List, so the reduced salary rates for listed occupations do not apply.
How long does the UK Skilled Worker visa take for accountants?
About 1–3 months as an estimate after you apply with your certificate of sponsorship.
Can an accountant get settlement in the UK?
Yes. The Skilled Worker visa leads to settlement after 5 years in Transita's data, if you keep meeting the visa's conditions.
Related guides
- Can I Move to Germany as an Accountant? Visas and Salary Floors 2026
- Can I Move to the Netherlands as an Accountant? HSM Route 2026
- Can I Move to Singapore as an Accountant? Employment Pass 2026
- Can I Move to Ireland as an Accountant? Employment Permits 2026
- Every visa route to the United Kingdom
Check your offer against the 2421 going rate
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Build my workspaceofficial sources: Skilled Worker · gov.uk·Skilled Worker success-rate data · gov.uk·Graduate · gov.uk·HPI · gov.uk