Transitional arrangements for Prison Officers in Skilled Worker route
Skilled Worker
What changed
Prison officers can benefit from lower salary thresholds (£31,300) and the previous RQF 3 skill level when switching from other routes until specific deadlines in 2026 and 2027. These measures are intended to address urgent staffing pressures in the prison service.
Who the official source says it applies to
Prison officers in public or private prisons switching from other routes in the UK; does not apply to entry clearance.
- applications made before 2026-12-31
- applications made inside the UK
- people switching route or extending
The source does not state the conditions precisely enough to be certain who is affected. Routewatch sends this as "may apply" to everyone on the routes above.
What the official source says to do
Sponsors must issue Certificates of Sponsorship by the specified deadlines (31 December 2026 for skill level; 31 December 2027 for salary).
The previous RQF 3 skills threshold will apply to prison officers switching from other migration routes (e.g. Graduate) in the UK until 31 December 2026.
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