Immigration Salary List & Temporary Shortage List Explained (Skilled Worker Visa UK)

For employers recruiting overseas talent and foreign professionals seeking UK sponsorship, understanding how the Immigration Salary List and Temporary Shortage List operate is crucial to meeting Skilled Worker visa requirements.

When the UK Government increased salary thresholds in April 2024 and amended the skill level requirements in July 2025 for the Skilled Worker route, several sectors were affected. The introduction of these lists was intended to ease that impact by making sponsorship more accessible in roles facing labour shortages.

In this article we explain how these lists operate within the framework of the Skilled Worker visa and what they mean for sponsors and visa applicants in terms of visa eligibility, minimum salary requirements, sponsorship strategy and recruitment planning.

💡 See our previous article on how to calculate Skilled Worker salaries.

What Is the Immigration Salary List?

The Immigration Salary List (ISL) lists occupations where a lower salary threshold applies, following the salary increases of April 2024 for Skilled Workers. It replaces the former Shortage Occupation List.

If a job appears on the ISL:

• The general salary threshold is reduced (currently £33,400 per year) and 80% of the ongoing rates apply – although some specific occupations in this list may still require a higher level due to hourly rates.

• It is temporarily available, meaning there a set removal date (currently 31 December 2026) when these roles may stop being eligible for sponsorship. Workers whose role was removed during their sponsorship, may extend their visa if working in the same job for the same sponsor as in their previous visa.

• The visa application fees are also lower. See our full article on how to calculate visa fees.

At the time of writing and with a removal date of 31 December 2026, it includes the following roles:

·         1212 Managers and proprietors in forestry, fishing and related services – only “fishing boat masters” (Scotland only)

·         1232 Residential, day and domiciliary care managers and proprietors – all jobs

·         2111 Chemical scientists – only jobs in the nuclear industry (Scotland only)

·         2112 Biological scientists – all jobs

·         2115 Social and humanities scientists – only archaeologists

·         2142 Graphic and multimedia designers – all jobs

·         3111 Laboratory technicians – only jobs requiring 3 or more years’ related on-the-job experience. This experience must not have been gained through working illegally.

·         3212 Pharmaceutical technicians – all jobs

·         3411 Artists – all jobs

·         3414 Dancers and choreographers – only skilled classical ballet dancers or skilled contemporary dancers who meet the standard required by internationally recognised UK ballet or contemporary dance companies. The company must be endorsed as being internationally recognised by a UK industry body such as the Arts Councils (of England, Scotland or Wales).

·         3415 Musicians – only skilled orchestral musicians who are leaders, principals, sub-principals or numbered string positions, and who meet the standard required by internationally recognised UK orchestras. The orchestra must be a full member of the Association of British Orchestras. 

·         3416 Arts officers, producers and directors – all jobs

·         5119 Agriculture and fishing trades not elsewhere classified – only jobs in the fishing industry     

·         5213 Welding trades – only high integrity pipe welders, where the job requires 3 or more years’ related on-the-job experience. This experience must not have been gained through working illegally.

·         5235 Boat and ship builders and repairers – all jobs (Scotland only)

·         5312 Stonemasons and related trades – all jobs

·         5313 Bricklayers – all jobs

·         5314 Roofers, roof tilers and slaters – all jobs

·         5316 Carpenters and joiners – all jobs

·         5319 Construction and building trades not elsewhere classified – only retrofitters  

·         6129 Animal care services occupations not elsewhere classified – only racing grooms, stallion handlers, stud grooms, stud hands, stud handlers and work riders  

·         6131 Nursing auxiliaries and assistants – all jobs. Note: For Skilled Worker purposes, SOC 2020 occupation code 6131 only applies to roles in environments where registered nurse or other registered healthcare professional roles also exist.

·         6135 Care workers and home carers – all jobs, except jobs with a working location in England are only eligible in this SOC 2020 occupation code where the sponsor holds registration with the Care Quality Commission and is currently carrying on a regulated activity. Eligibility for Skilled Worker applicants to be sponsored in this SOC 2020 occupation code is restricted, as set out in SW 6.1B of Appendix Skilled Worker. Private households or individuals (other than sole traders sponsoring someone to work for their business) cannot sponsor Skilled Worker applicants.    

·         6136 Senior care workers – all jobs, except jobs with a working location in England are only eligible in this SOC 2020 occupation code where the sponsor holds registration with the Care Quality Commission and is currently carrying on a regulated activity. Eligibility for Skilled Worker applicants to be sponsored in this SOC 2020 occupation code is restricted, as set out in SW 6.1B of Appendix Skilled Worker.

·         9119 Fishing and other elementary agriculture occupations not elsewhere classified – only deckhands on large fishing vessels (9 metres and above) where the job requires the worker to have at least 3 years’ full-time experience in using their skills. This experience must not have been gained through working illegally.        

What Is the Temporary Shortage List?

The Temporary Shortage List (TSL) lists occupations which are considered “medium skilled jobs” and would not normally be eligible for sponsorship. It was introduced in July 2025 as a transitional measure following changes to the skill level requirements for Skilled Workers, which increased from RQF level 3 ( A-level) to RQF level 6 (bachelor’s degree level).

If a job appears on the TLS, it is temporarily eligible for sponsorship due to labour shortages but may be reviewed and removed once workforce pressures ease.

❌ However, dependant family members are not permitted if the main applicant is being sponsored in a role on the TSL. This is not the case for the ISL roles.

At the time of writing and with a cut-off date of 31 December 2026, it includes the following roles:

·         1243 Managers in logistics

·         1258 Directors in consultancy services

·         3111 Laboratory technicians

·         3112 Electrical and electronics technicians

·         3113 Engineering technicians

·         3114 Building and civil engineering technicians

·         3115 Quality assurance technicians

·         3116 Planning, process and production technicians

·         3120 CAD, drawing and architectural technicians

·         3131 IT operations technicians

·         3132 IT user support technicians

·         3133 Database administrators and web content technicians

·         3412 Authors, writers and translators

·         3414 Dancers and choreographers

·         3417 Photographers, audio-visual and broadcasting equipment operators

·         3422 Clothing, fashion and accessories designers

·         3429 Design occupations not elsewhere classified – only the following job types: Industrial and product designers, Packaging designers, Performance make-up artists, Set designers

·         Visual merchandising managers and designers

·         3512 Ship and hovercraft officers

·         3520 Legal associate professionals

·         3532 Insurance underwriters

·         3533 Financial and accounting technicians

·         3541 Estimators, valuers and assessors

·         3544 Data analysts

·         3549 Business associate professionals not elsewhere classified – only the following job types: Business support officers, Business systems analysts, Contract administrators, Clinical coders, Clinical trials administrators, Research coordinators

·         3552 Business sales executives

·         3554 Advertising and marketing associate professionals

·         3571 Human resources and industrial relations officers

·         3573 Information technology trainers

·         4121 Credit controllers

·         4122 Book-keepers, payroll managers and wages clerks

·         4129 Financial administrative occupations not elsewhere classified – only the following job types: Box office assistants, Grants officers, Mortgage administrators, Revenue assistants (excludes National and Local government revenue occupations), Treasury assistants

·         4132 Pensions and insurance clerks and assistants

·         5213 Welding trades

·         5214 Pipe fitters

·         5223 Metal working production and maintenance fitters

·         5225 Air-conditioning and refrigeration installers and repairers

·         5231 Vehicle technicians, mechanics and electricians

·         5232 Vehicle body builders and repairers

·         5233 Vehicle paint technicians

·         5235 Boat and ship builders and repairers

·         5241 Electricians and electrical fitters

·         5242 Telecoms and related network installers and repairers

·         5244 Computer system and equipment installers and servicers

·         5245 Security system installers and repairers

·         5249 Electrical and electronic trades not elsewhere classified

·         5311 Steel erectors

·         5315 Plumbers and heating and ventilating installers and repairers

·         5319 Construction and building trades not elsewhere classified – only the following job types: Builders, Divers, Fence erectors, Industrial climbers, Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) operators, Steel fixers and underpinners

·         5322 Floorers and wall tilers

·         5323 Painters and decorators

·         5330 Construction and building trades supervisors

·         8133 Energy plant operatives

Implications for Employers:

UK sponsors must:

• Select the correct occupation code

• Confirm whether the role appears on the ISL or TSL

• Ensure salary meets the requirements

• Maintain full sponsor compliance

Failure to apply the correct occupation code or salary rate can lead to:

• Skilled Worker visa refusal

• Sponsor licence revocation

• Civil penalties

Implications for Visa Applicants:

Applicants may benefit from:

• Lower salary requirement if on the ISL

• Increased eligibility in specific “medium skilled” roles if on the TSL

However, applicants must still meet:

• English language requirements

• Financial maintenance rules

• Genuine employment criteria

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

❌ Assuming all shortage jobs qualify for salary reductions

❌ Using outdated occupation codes

❌ Confusing ISL with TLS

❌ Miscalculating the salary thresholds

❌ Applying for dependants when the worker’s role is on the TLS

Is Your Role on the Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage List?

Professional legal advice is strongly recommended before assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship as rules are regularly updated. Employers and applicants should always refer to the latest Immigration Rules or seek advice from experienced immigration advisers.

If you are considering sponsoring a Skilled Worker, careful planning is essential to avoid costly refusals or compliance issues.

Contact us for a free consultation