Electronics engineer in the UK: your Skilled Worker visa, step by step

Broadcast and telecoms under the same code

The Home Office lists two related titles under code 2124: broadcast engineers and telecommunications engineers. A telecoms network engineer and a circuit designer are the same occupation for salary purposes. The sponsor decides which code goes on the Certificate of Sponsorship. The duties described have to justify it. An engineer whose work is mainly power systems or software may belong under a different code with a different rate.

Salary under code 2124

The Home Office applies a threshold test and a going rate test to every offer. The threshold is £41,700 (UK Home Office, effective July 22, 2025) for most applicants. It is £33,400 where the occupation is on the Immigration Salary List or another reduced-threshold rule covers the applicant. The going rate is the minimum tied to the code. An offer has to pass both tests, and the larger figure sets the floor.

For a telecommunications engineer the going rate is £52,000 (UK Home Office, effective July 22, 2025). The threshold is £41,700. The going rate is larger. The offer therefore has to reach £52,000. An offer at £41,700 passes the threshold test and fails the going rate test. Code 2124 is not on the ISL.

A lower going rate that sits under the threshold

The lower going rate for code 2124 is £41,200 (UK Home Office, effective July 22, 2025). It falls just short of the £41,700 general threshold. That means the lower rate on its own would not carry an application under the general threshold. It matters only where a reduced-threshold rule covers the applicant, such as new entrant or PhD. This code is not on the Immigration Salary List, so that route to the lower rate is shut. Ask the sponsor which threshold it is applying before relying on the lower figure. The figures here were verified against GOV.UK on 21 September 2026.

Registration is optional

The Engineering Council register is voluntary. An unregistered person may work as an electronics engineer in the UK. Four titles are protected by law: CEng, IEng, EngTech and ICTTech. Use of those titles is limited to registrants. Registration is open regardless of nationality and is assessed through a licensed professional engineering institution. Agreements on mutual recognition are in place with several countries. None of this sits between you and a sponsored job.

Other routes

New entrant and PhD reduced thresholds. Early-career engineers, people switching from the Student or Graduate routes, and holders of a relevant PhD may qualify for a reduced general threshold. No figure is given on this page.

Global Talent visa. No sponsor or job offer is required. The digital technology and academia and research endorsement routes may be relevant to some electronics engineers. This page gives no fees or timescales.

In-country switching. An engineer already in the UK on another visa can often switch to Skilled Worker once a licensed sponsor hires them.

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