As per the initially announced Immigration White Paper and further changes announced on 1 July by the UK government, the Immigration Salary List has been expanded and is still made available with occupations against different deadlines.
Occupations with reduced skills and salary thresholds under the Skilled Worker route are included in this list only if a certificate of sponsorship has been issued by a sponsor to an applicant before the removal date shown in the table.
Access below degree level (RQF 6) is permitted only on a time-limited basis through a targeted immigration salary list and Temporary Shortage List, strictly limited to critical roles and subject to stringent sector requirements aimed at developing domestic skills.
This means foreign workers can still apply for the UK Skilled Worker Visa even if their skill level is at RQF 3-5, subject to the condition that their chosen occupation is included either in the Immigration Salary or Temporary Shortage lists.
The current UK government has also announced eventually, the previous government’s immigration salary list will be phased out.
To apply for a skilled worker visa, you must show that you have a job offer from a UK employer. Furthermore, the updated important lists can be found as follows:
- Register of Worker and Temporary Worker Licensed Sponsors
- CASCOT (an occupation coding tool to search for your occupation code)
- Temporary Shortage List
- Skilled Worker Visa Eligible Occupations and Codes.
UK’s Temporary Shortage List
Below is the table representing the occupation codes and names with their availability on the immigration salary list in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It also shows the removal date of the occupation from the list:
| SOC 2020 occupation code and any further criteria | England | Scotland | Wales | Northern Ireland | Removal Date |
| 1212 Managers and proprietors in forestry, fishing and related services – only “fishing boat masters” | – | Yes | – | – | 31 December 2026 |
| 1232 Residential, day and domiciliary care managers and proprietors – all jobs | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 31 December 2026 |
| 2111 Chemical scientists – only jobs in the nuclear industry | – | Yes | – | – | 31 December 2026 |
| 2112 Biological scientists – all jobs | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 31 December 2026 |
| 2115 Social and humanities scientists – only archaeologists | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 31 December 2026 |
| 2142 Graphic and multimedia designers – all jobs | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 31 December 2026 |
| 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. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 31 December 2026 |
| 3212 Pharmaceutical technicians – all jobs | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 31 December 2026 |
| 3411 Artists – all jobs | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 31 December 2026 |
| 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 internationally recognised by a UK industry body such as the Arts Councils (of England, Scotland or Wales). | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 31 December 2026 |
| 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. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 31 December 2026 |
| 3416 Arts officers, producers and directors – all jobs | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 31 December 2026 |
| 5119 Agriculture and fishing trades not elsewhere classified – only jobs in the fishing industry | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 31 December 2026 |
| 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. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 31 December 2026 |
| 5235 Boat and ship builders and repairers – all jobs | – | Yes | – | – | 31 December 2026 |
| 5312 Stonemasons and related trades – all jobs | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 31 December 2026 |
| 5313 Bricklayers – all jobs | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 31 December 2026 |
| 5314 Roofers, roof tilers and slaters – all jobs | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 31 December 2026 |
| 5316 Carpenters and joiners – all jobs | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 31 December 2026 |
| 5319 Construction and building trades not elsewhere classified – only retrofitters | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 31 December 2026 |
| 6129 Animal care services occupations not elsewhere classified – only racing grooms, stallion handlers, stud grooms, stud hands, stud handlers and work riders | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 31 December 2026 |
| 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 roles also exist. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 31 December 2026 |
| 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. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 22 July 2028 |
| 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. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 22 July 2028 |
| 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. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 31 December 2026 |