1. Shortage Occupation List vs Immigration Salary List

The Shortage Occupation List, the Immigration Salary List’s predecessor, was introduced in 2008, under the old Points Based System. It contained a list of roles that were in shortage in the UK labour market, enabling sponsors to hire overseas workers to fulfil these roles by paying workers a discounted salary. While the list offered benefits to employers, there were disadvantages to being in a shortage occupation. Workers were being paid less than the market rate for their roles, leaving them at higher risk of exploitation and financial insecurity. 

Given the apparent disadvantages of the Shortage Occupation List, the Home Office commissioned a significant review of the list by the Migration Advisory Committee (“MAC”) which, in turn, recommended its heavy reform or abolition. 

In December 2023, the Home Office announced a huge increase to the general salary threshold; from £26,200 to £38,700 per annum to be effective from April 2024, which coincided with the Shortage Occupation List being replaced by the Immigration Salary List (“ISL”). This is not to be confused with the Temporary Shortage List, which was introduced this year following the Government’s White Paper. 

While the Shortage Occupation List offered a discounted salary in terms of the general salary threshold and the going rate for the role, the ISL only offers a discount to the general salary threshold. Further, the ISL lists far fewer eligible occupations than the Shortage Occupation List once did, meaning its application is limited. 

While its application may be limited, since the changes to the eligible skill level (from RQF Level 3 to 6 on 22 July 2025), the real benefit of the ISL is perhaps in protecting the eligibility for sponsorship of some of the lower skill level roles that appear on the list, which would not otherwise be eligible. 

In this post we look at the Immigration Salary List in detail, providing insights into its purpose and benefits, its composition and implications for both employers and prospective migrants. The current UK Immigration Salary List 2025 can be found at the end of this post.

2. The Immigration Salary List Explained

In essence, the ISL is a list of occupations which are eligible for sponsorship and where a reduced general salary threshold applies to applications on the Skilled Worker route. Jobs on the ISL remain eligible for sponsorship and can qualify for the Skilled Worker route by being paid less than the standard general salary requirement. This makes it easier for employers to recruit for ISL roles and has opened up opportunities for skilled workers to work in the UK in ISL occupations. 

The ISL currently remains in effect, but the White Paper, “Restoring control over the immigration system”, published in May 2025, confirms that it will be abolished (along with the Temporary Shortage List, to ensure that international recruitment is “never a cheap alternative” to the settled workforce. 

3. Government Position on the Immigration Salary List

The Skilled Worker Immigration Salary List was first published in Immigration Rules Appendix Immigration Salary List on 04 April 2024. 

According to the Explanatory Memorandum to the Statement of Changes in the Immigration Rules presented to Parliament on 14 March 2024 (HC 590), the Immigration Salary List shows a list of occupations where: “the Government considers it sensible to offer a discounted salary threshold, rather than being a list of all occupations experiencing labour shortages.” This contrasts with the predecessor Shortage Occupation List, which was expressly stated to be a list of skilled occupations where there was a shortage of labour in the UK.  

As set out in the White Paper, referenced above, the Government no longer considers it appropriate to offer a discounted salary threshold to migrant workers at all, which is why it will abolish the ISL in due course. It has asked the Migration Advisory Committee (“MAC”) to undertake a thorough review of salary thresholds “to ensure that international recruitment is never a cheap alternative to fair pay and to ensure they reflect the new changes to our immigration system.” 

4. Immigration Salary List Salary Thresholds Explained

Employers seeking to recruit under the Skilled Worker route must pay their skilled workers a salary which equals or exceeds both a general salary threshold and the occupation-specific threshold or ‘going rate’ for the applicable SOC 2020 occupation code.

The Immigration Salary List is a list of occupations where a reduced general salary threshold applies to applications on the Skilled Worker route. In simple terms, if a job is on the Immigration Salary List, the general salary threshold is 80% of the Skilled Worker route’s usual minimum rate.

The Skilled Worker Immigration Salary List can be found in Immigration Rules Appendix Immigration Salary List. 

Occupations that are eligible for a Skilled Worker visa and that are on the Immigration Salary List do not need to satisfy the full general salary requirement of £41,700. Instead, Skilled Worker eligible occupations on the Immigration Salary List have a discounted general salary threshold of £33,400 per annum, which is a significant discount.

Meanwhile, occupations that are eligible for a Health and Care Worker visa (other than pay scale occupations) and that are on the Immigration Salary List have a minimum general salary threshold of £25,000.

Whilst occupations on the Immigration Salary List have a 20% discount to the general salary threshold, it is important to note that ISL occupations must still additionally be paid at least the occupation-specific threshold (formerly known as the ‘going rate’) as stated in Appendix Skilled Occupations and the Home Office’s Immigration Salary List Guidance. 

There is no discount on the occupation-specific threshold (previously a benefit of an occupation being on the Shortage Occupation List) and salaries cannot be reduced below the level of the occupation-specific threshold or ‘going-rate’. This means that, in practice, the actual salary discount may be less than 20%.

For example, an Archaeologist needs to be paid a general salary threshold of £33,400, representing a 20% discount on the standard salary rate of £41,700.  However, the occupation-specific threshold or ‘going-rate’ for an Archaeologist is £40,400, based on a 37.5-hour working week.  Therefore, in practice, an Archaeologist recruited via the Skilled Worker Visa route needs to be paid a minimum salary of £40,400, which represents a discount of less than 4%.

Therefore, to summarise:

• Skilled Worker route: For occupations on the Immigration Salary List, applicants must be paid a general salary threshold of £33,400 (rather than £41,700) or the occupation-specific threshold / going rate, which is higher;
• Health and Care Worker visa: For occupations on the Immigration Salary List, applicants must be paid a general salary threshold of £25,000 or the occupation-specific threshold / going rate, which is higher.

5. Benefits of the Immigration Salary List

The main benefit of an occupation being included on the Immigration Salary List is that it allows employers to sponsor migrants in some roles which would not otherwise be eligible for sponsorship, given the increase in skill level for eligible roles. 

Further, it enables employers to recruit migrants on a salary below the general salary threshold – with the discount being a maximum of 20%.

Roles on the Immigration Salary List do also have a marginally reduced visa application fee for a Skilled Worker Visa (£179 discount for CoS assigned for less than three years, £369 discount for CoS assigned for more than three years). However, as the MAC has highlighted, the visa fee reduction is a negligible benefit, particularly when viewed in the context of the increased Skilled Worker salary thresholds and the increases to the Immigration Health Surcharge. 

Roles on the Health and Care Worker Visa already have lower associated visa fees and therefore do not benefit from the Immigration Salary List visa fee reduction.

6. Immigration Salary List: Benefits for Employers and Workers

Employers should note that if the job they are seeking to recruit for is on the Immigration Salary List, this must be confirmed in the Certificate of Sponsorship. 

Employers should also ensure that where there are additional criteria in Appendix Immigration Salary List, these criteria are met. Several occupation codes incorporate specific eligibility criteria.  For example, occupation code ‘3414 – Dancers and choreographers’ is limited to skilled classical ballet dancers or skilled contemporary dancers who meet the standard required by internationally recognised UK ballet or contemporary dance companies. Furthermore, the company must be endorsed as being internationally recognised by a UK industry body such as the Arts Councils (of England, Scotland or Wales).

Certain occupations are also only included on region-specific Immigration Salary Lists, rather than the UK wide Immigration Salary List.  For example, chemical scientists in the nuclear industry only qualify for the Immigration Salary List for Scotland. The Home Office will use the ‘working at’ address to determine which nation the job is based in. 

Employers should also note that the annual salaries stated in the Immigration Salary List are based on a 37.5-hour working week. They must be pro-rated for other working patterns, based on the weekly working hours stated by the employer.

Finally, it is worth noting that, unlike under the former Tier 2 (General) route, there is no minimum number of weekly hours for Immigration Salary List occupations in the Skilled Worker route, providing the relevant general salary threshold requirement is met and the ‘going rate’ salary requirement is met when pro-rated.

7. How to Choose the Right SOC Code for Skilled Worker Sponsorship

When sponsoring a Skilled Worker for a particular role, employers need to not only understand How to Apply for a Skilled Worker Sponsor Licence, but ensure that the worker is sponsored for a job in an eligible standard occupational classification (‘SOC’) code. The SOC codes can be found in the published Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Occupations and Appendix Immigration Salary List. 

To have a better understanding of the right SOC code for the job they are recruiting for, employers can search for the job in the CASCOT occupation coding tool or refer to the Office for National Statistics website to have a look at the job descriptions, tasks and entry requirements. It should be noted that it is the job description for the sponsored role which determines the appropriate occupation code, not the job title. 

It is important to choose the most appropriate occupation code to avoid any delay or refusal of the worker’s visa application. If the Home Office has reasonable grounds to believe that the sponsor has not chosen the correct SOC code or the vacancy is not genuine, this may trigger the Home Office to conduct a sponsor compliance visit on an announced or unannounced basis and may also lead to a sponsor licence being suspended. 

8. UK Immigration Salary List 2025

The current UK Immigration Salary List 2025 can be found here and, as at the date of this post, is set out below. The list shows whether the shortage of labour is in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.  

Below is a list of occupations where 80% of the Skilled Worker or Health and Care Worker general salary threshold may be paid:

Immigration Salary List Jobs in Fishing

• 1212 Fishing boat masters (Scotland only)
• 5119 Fishing trades not elsewhere classified (UK wide)
• 9119 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 (UK wide)

Immigration Salary List Jobs in Care 

• 1232 Residential, day and domiciliary care managers and proprietors (UK wide)

Immigration Salary List Jobs in Science / Engineering 

• 2111 Chemical scientists in the nuclear industry (Scotland only)
• 2112 Biological scientists (UK wide)
• 2115 Archaeologists (UK wide)
• 3111 Laboratory technicians – only jobs requiring 3 or more years’ related on-the-job experience (UK wide)
• 3212 Pharmaceutical technicians (UK wide)

Immigration Salary List Jobs in the Creative Sector

• 2142 Graphic and multimedia designers (UK wide)
• 3411 Artists (UK wide)
• 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) (UK wide)
• 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 (UK wide)
• 3416 Arts officers, producers and directors (UK wide)

Immigration Salary List Jobs in Construction

• 5213 High integrity pipe welders, where the job requires 3 or more years’ related on-the-job experience (UK wide)
• 5235 Boat and ship builders and repairers (Scotland only)
• 5312 Stonemasons and related trades (UK wide)
• 5313 Bricklayers (UK wide)
• 5314 Roofers, roof tilers and slaters (UK wide)
• 5316 Carpenters and joiners (UK wide)
• 5319 Retrofitters (UK wide)

Immigration Salary List Jobs in Health and Care

• 6131 Nursing auxiliaries and assistants (only to roles in environments where registered nurse roles also exist) (UK wide)
• 6135 Care workers and home carers (UK wide)
• 6136 Senior care workers (UK wide)

Immigration Salary List Jobs in Other Trades

• 6129 Racing grooms, stallion handlers, stud grooms, stud hands, stud handlers and work riders (UK wide)

9. How to Get a Sponsor Licence for Immigration Salary List Roles

To sponsor a worker for a role on the Immigration Salary List or Appendix Skilled Occupations, the employer will need to have a sponsor licence for the relevant route. Further details on the relevant sponsor licences can be found here:

• Skilled Worker Sponsor Licence: Skilled Worker Sponsor Licence Application Guide
• Global Business Mobility Sponsor Licence: Global Business Mobility Sponsor Licence Application Guide
• Scale-up Sponsor Licence: Scale-up Sponsor Licence Application Guidance 
• Health & Care Worker Sponsor Licence: Apply for a Health & Care Worker Sponsor Licence

10. Contact Our Immigration Barristers

For expert advice and assistance in relation to a Sponsor Licence application or Skilled Worker visa application, including applications for roles on the UK Immigration Salary List, contact our immigration barristers in London on 0203 617 9173 or via the enquiry form below.

11. Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Immigration Salary List (ISL)?

The Immigration Salary List (“ISL”) is a list of occupations eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route, where a reduced general salary threshold applies. Jobs on the ISL can qualify for permission as a Skilled Worker provided they meet both the reduced salary threshold and the going rate for the applicable occupation code. 

How does the Immigration Salary List differ from the Shortage Occupation List?

The former Shortage Occupation List (“SOL”) allowed discounted salaries on both the general threshold and the going rate for occupation codes in shortage. The ISL, which replaced the SOL in April 2024, only discounts the general salary threshold. It also includes fewer eligible occupation codes and is not based on identifying labour shortages.

Why was the Shortage Occupation List replaced?

The SOL was abolished because it was seen as contributing to migrant worker underpayment and exploitation. Following a review by the Migration Advisory Committee (“MAC”), the Home Office replaced it with the ISL as part of broader immigration reforms, introduced alongside a rise in the general salary threshold.

What is the salary threshold for ISL occupations?

For occupations on the ISL:

• Skilled Worker route: £33,400 per year (or the going rate for the occupation code, if higher).
• Health and Care Worker route: £25,000 per year (or the going rate for the occupation code, if higher).
  This represents a 20% reduction on the usual £41,700 Skilled Worker general salary threshold.

Does the ISL provide a discount on the going rate?

No. There is no discount on the going rate for the occupation code. Employers must still pay at least the full ‘going rate’ for the relevant role, meaning the actual discount in practice may be smaller than 20%.

What are the main benefits of a role being on the Immigration Salary List?

The key benefits are:

• It allows employers to sponsor certain roles that might otherwise be ineligible due to increased skill level requirements.
• It provides a limited salary discount against the general threshold.
  Skilled Worker visa applicants in ISL roles also receive a small visa fee reduction.

Will the Immigration Salary List continue to exist?

Not indefinitely. According to the May 2025 Government White Paper, Restoring control over the immigration system, the ISL will be abolished – along with the Temporary Shortage List – to ensure international recruitment is not a cheaper alternative to employing resident workers.

How should employers confirm a job is on the Immigration Salary List?

Employers must specify in the Certificate of Sponsorship (“CoS”) if the job is on the ISL and ensure any additional eligibility criteria in Appendix Immigration Salary List are met. Certain occupations, such as dancers or musicians, have specific conditions attached.

Are some ISL occupations region-specific?

Yes. Some roles are limited to particular nations within the UK. For example, chemical scientists in the nuclear industry qualify for the ISL only in Scotland. The Home Office determines the applicable region based on the job’s ‘working at’ address.

How can an employer obtain a sponsor licence to hire for ISL roles?

To sponsor a worker for a role on the ISL, an employer must hold a valid sponsor licence for the relevant route, for example the Skilled Worker, Global Business Mobility, or Scale-up routes.