Immigration Salary List vs Temporary Shortage List: What Employers Need to Know
The Immigration Salary List (ISL)
The Immigration Salary List (ISL) is a list of specific occupations that qualify for reduced salary thresholds under the Skilled Worker and Health and Care Worker visa routes. It was introduced on 4 April 2024, replacing the former Shortage Occupation List (SOL) as part of wider reforms to the UK's immigration system.
The ISL is much narrower in scope than the previous SOL and only selected occupations are included. Workers in those roles may be sponsored at a salary that is 20% below the standard general salary threshold, provided they still meet the minimum requirements specific to their occupation code and all other visa criteria.
The primary purpose of the ISL is to help employers recruit overseas workers where there is evidence of a shortage of labour, especially in essential sectors such as healthcare and engineering. However, the government also capped the reduction at 20% to maintain higher salary standards across the immigration system as a whole and to ensure domestic workers are not undercut and migrant workers are not exploited via lower salaries.
The Home Office confirmed when the ISL was introduced, that occupations may be removed if:
- Labour shortages have eased or been resolved.
- Salary levels have increased to the point where ISL inclusion no longer provides a meaningful benefit.
- There is evidence that employers can recruit sufficient workers from the domestic labour market.
- The government changes its immigration policy or priorities.
- A review concludes that immigration is no longer an appropriate response to the shortage.
The current ISL also confirms that some occupation codes will be removed on 31 December 2026. The government intends to keep the list under regular review and further codes will be removed when there is no longer a shortage in that sector or the shortage cannot be sensibly resolved by recruiting migrant workers.
What this means for employers
As the ISL is reviewed periodically, employers should not assume that an occupation will remain on the list indefinitely. Before sponsoring an overseas worker, employers should check the latest version of the ISL to confirm that the role is still eligible for the applicable salary reductions.
Workers can be still be sponsored for up to 5-years for a role on the ISL, so long as the code remains on the list at the time the Certificate of Sponsorship is assigned. However, if the role is removed from the list by the time the worker comes to extend their permission or apply for settlement, they will need to look at alternative roles or routes.
Temporary Shortage List
The Temporary Shortage List (TSL) was introduced on 22 July 2025 as part further wide-spread immigration reforms. The TSL was introduced following the publication of the UK Government's 2025 Immigration White Paper, which sought to reduce reliance on overseas recruitment while ensuring employers could still access international workers where there was a genuine economic need.
The TSL is a selective list of ‘medium-skilled’ roles (RQF Levels 3–5) that are permitted for sponsorship on the Skilled Worker route on a time-limited basis. The list circumvents the general requirement that Skilled Worker visas are now restricted to ‘degree’ level occupations (RQF Level 6 and above).
Unlike the Immigration Salary List, the TSL does not offer reduced salary thresholds. Workers sponsored under occupations on the TSL must generally meet the standard Skilled Worker salary requirements, and those applying under the TSL are not permitted to bring dependants. Occupations on the list are also temporary, with inclusion generally lasting only until 31 December 2026, unless the government decides to extend them following advice from the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC)
What this means for employers
For employers, the TSL provides a limited route to recruit overseas workers for certain non-graduate level roles that would otherwise no longer qualify for sponsorship. However, roles on the list do not benefit from any salary reduction and workers must continue to meet the standard sponsorship requirements.
As with the ISL, employers should be aware that occupations may be removed from the list once labour shortages ease and they should check that the role they wish to sponsor remains on the list at the time of sponsorship.
Similarly, workers can be still be sponsored for up to 5-years for a role on the TSL, so long as the code remains on the list at the time the Certificate of Sponsorship is assigned. However, if the role is removed from the list by the time the worker comes to extend their permission or apply for settlement, they will need to look at alternative roles or routes.
Rules on dependants
For applicants who are new to the Skilled Worker route, workers sponsored in occupations on either list at RQF levels 3-5 will not be able to bring dependants.
This does not apply to occupations at RQF 6 or above, who can sponsor dependants to come to the UK or switch to the route inside the UK. This also does not apply to workers who are sponsored in occupations at RQF levels 3-5 who are already in the Skilled Worker route; they were able to bring dependants before these changes came into effect and can continue to do so.
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