Skilled Worker Visa: Immigration Salary List Expires 31 December; Mid-Skill Jobs Face Uncertainty
The Immigration Salary List offering reduced salary thresholds for shortage occupations expires at year-end 2026, while the Temporary Shortage List for mid-skilled roles remains unconfirmed, creating urgency for sponsorship decisions.
List Expiries and Timeline Pressures
The Immigration Salary List is being phased out: all roles remain eligible only until 31 December 2026, except care workers and senior care workers (extended to 22 July 2028), with 25 occupations currently on the list. On 22 July 2025 the Skilled Worker skill threshold moved back to RQF level 6 for new grants.
The Temporary Shortage List is a new, time-limited mechanism proposed by the Government to operate alongside the ISL until 31 December 2026, targeting selected mid-skilled (RQF 3–5) occupations that are strategically important or face clear evidence of shortage. However, the list will not take effect until the Government considers Stage 2 findings and confirms an implementation date.
Critical Steps for Foreign Workers
If you are currently sponsored under the Immigration Salary List or planning to apply for a Skilled Worker visa, you face a critical deadline. Roles listed under the ISL benefit from a lower salary threshold (£33,400 instead of £41,700), but this expires 31 December 2026—except for care workers, who retain the discount until July 2028. If your employer intends to sponsor you in an ISL-listed occupation, applications should be submitted before year-end to lock in the current reduced threshold. After 31 December, you will need to meet the full general salary threshold or have your employer prove you fall under the Immigration Salary List's successor framework. Check gov.uk for the current ISL and monitor announcements on the Temporary Shortage List's implementation; if you're considering a mid-skilled role (plumber, electrician, advanced technician), the TSL may preserve sponsorship pathways below RQF 6, but it is not yet operational. Act now if you are moving to the UK this year.
Sources
Independent app, not a government. General information, not advice. The official source:
