Immigration officer
Check that people who arrive in the UK are allowed to come here. Make sure people stick to the rules about living and working in the UK.
About the job
What it's like
You would check that people who arrive in the UK are allowed to come here. You’d make sure that people who come from abroad obey the rules for living and working in this country.
You’d work at airports and seaports and check the landing cards of non-British and non-European passengers. You’d find out why they are visiting and how long they intend to stay. You’d apply the rules fairly so when someone is entitled to come here you would approve their passport and any work documents.
If you decide a person does not qualify to enter the country, you could:
Interview them to get more information
Arrange for them to go back to their point of departure
Organise a place in a holding area, for example, when a person is claiming asylum
You could also check when you suspect someone has stayed longer than they are allowed or has not stuck to the rules of their visa.
You might:
Organise surveillance
Carry out intelligence-based activities
Visit and interview people who are suspected of having no right to remain in the UK
You’d calmly and clearly explain the situation to people who may be distressed and angry when they are told that they are not allowed to stay.
You’d also check people who are leaving the country.
You would work for Border Force - an agency of the UK Home Office - and liaise closely with the police.
Hours
You would work between 36 and 40 hours a week as a full-time immigration officer. This would involve shifts including nights, weekends and bank holidays.
Environment
Your work would mainly take place indoors at ports and airports in the UK.
Travel
You could also be based at overseas transport facilities that act as entry points to the UK, for example the Channel Tunnel rail terminals in France.
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Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Top specialised skills
These are the top specialised skills that have been found in job vacancies across Scotland. From March 2024 to March 2025.
- immigration law
- capability assessment
- shift work
- front office
- data entry
- safety training
- security check (sc)
- baseline personnel security standard (bpss)
- accounts payable
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- making decisions
- attention to detail
- empathising
- researching
- questioning
- observation
- verbal communication
- building relationships
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Cantonese
French
German
Italian
Mandarin
Spanish
Urdu
Modern Languages
Although there are no set qualification requirements, applicants will usually need qualifications at SCQF level 6 or above and for some roles you will need a degree (SCQF level 9/10).
The degree can usually be in any subject, but qualifications and experiences involving languages, management and organisation and interaction with the public would be of value.
Qualifications and experience that show:
an interest in people's rights and the ability to communicate well with people, such as a BTEC Diploma in Public Services
using other languages, such as a SQA Modern Language for Life and Work Award (SCQF level 3/4)
Security clearance for all posts
To be at least 18 years of age
to be a British citizen or British subject with no restrictions on your stay in the UK, a national of a state in the European Economic Area or a Commonwealth citizen with no restrictions on your stay
To have lived in Britain continuously for the last three years
You may have to pass a medical test.
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