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Immigration officer

Alternative titles for this job include

Immigration officers make decisions on whether people have the right to visit or stay in the UK.

Average salary (a year)

£28,000 Starter

to

£34,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

41 to 43 a week

You could work

evenings / weekends / bank holidays on shifts

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become Immigration officer

You can get into this job through:

  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role
  • applying directly

College

You could do a college course in public services which would teach you some of the skills needed in this role. After you finish your course you could apply for a trainee immigration officer post.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

More Information

Apprenticeship

You could start as a trainee immigration officer and do a Public Service Operational Delivery Officer Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship with the Civil Service.

With qualifications and experience, you could move on to immigration officer roles.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

More Information

Work

You could join the Civil Service as an assistant immigration officer. Once working, you could apply for a post as an immigration officer when vacancies become available.

Direct Application

You could apply directly for immigration officer jobs with the Civil Service. The qualifications and experience you'll need will depend on the exact job you're applying for, but you'll find it useful to have:

  • 2 A levels at grade C or above
  • a degree for some jobs
  • customer service skills
  • the ability to speak another language

More Information

Further information

You can find more details about working as an immigration officer from Civil Service Careers and UK Visas and Immigration.

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • customer service skills
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • knowledge of English language
  • the ability to work well with others
  • the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
  • excellent written communication skills
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

As an immigration officer, you could:

  • watch people and check documents and visas in passport control areas
  • interview people to check they are entitled to stay
  • arrange for people to go back to the country they came from
  • organise places in holding centres, for example for people claiming asylum
  • monitor people and gather information through surveillance work
  • work on joint operations with police and Border Force officials
  • visit and interview people who are suspected of not having the right to remain in the UK

Working environment

You could work at an airport, at a border post or at a port.

Your working environment may be emotionally demanding and you'll travel often.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

With experience, you could become a senior immigration officer or manager in the Civil Service.

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

We can't find any apprenticeship vacancies in England for an Immigration officer right now.

The Find an apprenticeship service can help you with your search, send alerts when new apprenticeships become available and has advice on how to apply.

Courses In England

Public Services First Certificate

  • Provider: BEXHILL COLLEGE
  • Start date: 08 September 2025
  • Location: Bexhill on Sea

Public Services Diploma level 2

  • Provider: ISLE OF WIGHT COLLEGE
  • Start date: 08 September 2025
  • Location: Newport
Find courses near you

Jobs In the United Kingdom

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