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If you’re a UK employer trying to hire from overseas, you’ve probably noticed the rules changed a lot recently. Salary thresholds went up. Some roles that used to qualify don’t anymore. And the list you might remember – the Shortage Occupation List – doesn’t even exist under that name today.
This guide walks through what actually qualifies for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship in 2026, in plain language, so you can check a role’s eligibility without wading through pages of legal text.
What Are the Skilled Worker Visa Eligible Occupations in 2026?
A role qualifies for the Skilled Worker visa in 2026 if it meets three things: the job is skilled to at least RQF Level 6 (degree level), your company holds a valid Sponsor Licence, and the salary meets both the general minimum and the specific “going rate” for that job.
That RQF Level 6 requirement is new as of July 2025. Before that, roles at lower skill levels could often still qualify. Now, unless a role appears on one of two special lists (more on those below), it needs to be roughly degree-equivalent in skill level to be eligible at all.
Here’s the basic checklist:
- The role is skilled to RQF Level 6 or higher (or appears on a special list – see below)
- Your company holds a valid Sponsor Licence
- You’ve issued (or are ready to issue) a Certificate of Sponsorship
- The salary meets the general threshold and the specific going rate for that occupation code
- The candidate meets the English language requirement – B2 level for anyone making their first Skilled Worker application on or after 8 January 2026
UK Immigration Salary List 2026 – Which Roles Get a Salary Discount?
The Immigration Salary List (ISL) is a shorter list of occupations that qualify for a reduced salary threshold instead of the standard rate – useful if you’re hiring for a role where UK salaries tend to run lower.
If a role is on the ISL, you don’t have to hit the full general threshold. You only need to meet the lower ISL threshold, as long as it’s also at or above the specific going rate for that job.
| General Route | Immigration Salary List (ISL) | |
| Salary threshold | £41,700 | £33,400 |
| Applies to | Most skilled roles | ~25 specific occupations |
| Skill level | RQF Level 6+ | Can include some roles below degree level |
| Expiry | Ongoing | Most entries expire 31 December 2026 |
Worth flagging: this list is temporary. Nearly every occupation on it is set to expire at the end of 2026, apart from two care-worker codes that run until mid-2028.
What Happened to the UK Shortage Occupation List?
The UK Shortage Occupation List doesn’t exist anymore under that name – it was replaced by the Immigration Salary List back in April 2024, and that list is now being phased out too.
If you’re used to checking the “Shortage Occupation List,” you’re checking something that hasn’t been the live rulebook for a while. A lot of older guides and even some internal HR documents still reference it, which causes real confusion. The July 2025 reforms removed 111 occupations from standard Skilled Worker eligibility when the normal skill threshold returned to RQF 6 – though some of those medium-skilled occupations can still qualify today through the ISL, the TSL, or transitional provisions.
Did you know? The list has effectively been renamed twice in under three years – first from the Shortage Occupation List to the Immigration Salary List in 2024, and now the Immigration Salary List itself is being wound down in favour of a new Temporary Shortage List. If your compliance documents still say “Shortage Occupation List,” they’re out of date.
The Temporary Shortage List UK 2026 – What’s Different
The Temporary Shortage List (TSL) is a new, time-limited list that lets certain medium-skilled roles (below the usual degree-level bar) qualify for sponsorship until the end of 2026, when the government plans to review it.
Here’s a Temporary Shortage List vs Immigration Salary List breakdown of how the three routes compare at a glance:
| Route | Who It’s For | Salary Rule |
| General Skilled Worker route | RQF Level 6+ roles | Standard threshold (£41,700) |
| Immigration Salary List | Listed shortage roles | Reduced threshold (£33,400) |
| Temporary Shortage List | Medium-skilled roles (RQF 3–5) not otherwise eligible | Time-limited, conditions apply per role |
Worth being precise here: being on the TSL doesn’t itself give you the ISL’s reduced salary threshold. They’re separate mechanisms with separate rules – a role can be TSL-eligible without qualifying for the lower £33,400 figure, so check each list’s own salary conditions rather than assuming one carries over to the other.
The key thing to remember: the TSL exists specifically to plug the gap left when the skill threshold jumped to degree level. If a role you’re hiring for used to qualify before July 2025 but doesn’t fit the current general route, the TSL is where to check next – not the old Shortage Occupation List.
Current interim TSL entries are time-limited to 31 December 2026. The Migration Advisory Committee published its Stage 2 recommendations in July 2026, and the government may amend which occupations stay eligible beyond that expiry date – so check the latest Immigration Rules rather than assuming today’s TSL list will still apply next year.
Can Medium Skilled Worker Visa Roles Still Qualify?
Yes, but only through one of the exception routes – either the Immigration Salary List or the Temporary Shortage List – since the general route now requires degree-level skill.
If you’re hiring for a role that’s genuinely valuable but doesn’t require a university degree, don’t assume it’s automatically out. Check both lists before ruling it out:
- Is the specific occupation code on the current Immigration Salary List?
- If not, is it covered by the Temporary Shortage List?
- If neither applies, the role likely needs to meet the RQF Level 6 general threshold to qualify
How to Check Skilled Worker Visa Occupation Code Eligibility
To check if you can sponsor a role, you need its correct SOC (Standard Occupation Classification) code, then compare that code against the current eligible occupations list, the Immigration Salary List, and the Temporary Shortage List – in that order.
Here’s a simple way to work through it:
- Find the correct SOC code for the role (not just the job title – codes are specific)
- Look up the SOC codes with salary figures the Home Office publishes for that exact code
- Confirm whether the role meets the general RQF Level 6 threshold
- If it doesn’t, check the Immigration Salary List
- If it’s still not covered, check the Temporary Shortage List
- Confirm the offered salary meets whichever threshold applies, at or above the going rate
Did you know? Since April 2026, salary compliance is also tested against actual pay periods, not just the annual figure. The hourly going-rate requirement applies within each pay period, while the annual salary requirement is tested over prescribed periods – for example, any three-month period for workers paid monthly. It’s more nuanced than a simple “check every payslip,” so get this one confirmed properly rather than assuming.
Skilled Worker Visa Salary Threshold 2026 – What You’ll Need to Budget
Beyond the salary itself, sponsoring a worker means budgeting for the visa application fee, the Immigration Health Surcharge, and the Immigration Skills Charge – all on top of whatever salary threshold applies to the role.
| Cost | Who Pays | Note |
| Salary | Employer (as wages) | Must meet threshold + going rate |
| Immigration Health Surcharge | Usually paid upfront | Annual charge, paid per year of visa |
| Immigration Skills Charge | Employer only | Sponsor cost – cannot be passed to the worker |
| Certificate of Sponsorship fee | Employer | Per worker sponsored – also cannot simply be recouped from the worker under current sponsor rules |
Did you know? The Immigration Skills Charge – a fee employers pay on top of everything else – went up by roughly a third in December 2025. It’s easy to budget for the salary and forget this one, and it can’t legally be deducted from the worker’s pay.
Common Mistakes UK Employers Make When Checking Eligibility
Most eligibility problems we see aren’t about bad candidates – they’re about employers working from the wrong information. The most common ones:
- Checking the job title instead of the SOC code. Two similar-sounding job titles can sit under different codes with different rules.
- Relying on the old Shortage Occupation List. It’s not the current list – checking it gives you outdated answers.
- Forgetting the going rate. Meeting the general salary threshold isn’t enough if the specific occupation’s going rate is higher.
- Assuming a role is permanently ineligible. Some roles that don’t qualify under the general route still qualify through the Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage List.
- Budgeting for salary only. The Immigration Skills Charge and Health Surcharge add real cost on top.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Sponsor Licence before checking if a role is eligible?
No – you can check a role’s eligibility before applying for a Sponsor Licence. It’s worth confirming the role qualifies first, so you’re not applying for a licence you won’t end up using for that hire.
Can I sponsor this role as a UK employer if it’s not on either special list?
Yes, as long as it meets the general route requirements – RQF Level 6 skill level and the standard salary threshold plus going rate.
Is this role eligible for sponsorship as a UK employer if it changed recently?
Possibly not. The eligible occupations list changes fairly often – there have been multiple updates in the past two years alone, including the July 2025 skill-level increase and planned changes to both the ISL and TSL through 2026. Always check the current version before issuing a Certificate of Sponsorship.
Is the Immigration Skills Charge the same for every employer?
No – the rate can differ depending on your organisation’s size and the length of the sponsorship. Budget using the current published rates rather than last year’s figures.
Ready to Hire?
Once you’ve confirmed a role is eligible, the next step is finding candidates who actually fit it. If you’re looking to hire construction workers UK sites need – electricians, plumbers, steel fixers, and similar skilled trades – a construction recruitment agency UK employers already work with can save you the time of sourcing and screening overseas candidates yourself.