Immigration Salary List 2025: Complete UK Salary Requirements Guide

CRITICAL UPDATE: On July 22, 2025, the Home Office released a Temporary Shortage List. This list will work with the Immigration Salary List, and both lists will end on December 31, 2026, when a new structure will start on January 1, 2027. All current ISL jobs will end on December 31, 2026.

The UK government made these big changes to the Immigration Salary List 2025 and they will change the way employers sponsor foreign workers and how visa applicants find out about salary requirements.

Important Updates From July 2025

The following changes will apply to all new applications, extensions, and settlement applications, with no transitional arrangements:

• The minimum salary for most jobs went up from £38,700 to £41,700.
• The minimum wage per hour went up from £15.88 to £17.13 (for a 37.5-hour week).
• Minimum qualification level went up from RQF 3 (A-level) to RQF 6 (graduate level).
• A significant number of jobs are no longer eligible for sponsorship.
• The immigration salary list has been cut down to a limited number of specific jobs.
• The Immigration Salary List (ISL) and the new Temporary Shortage List (TSL) will both be in effect at the same time until December 31, 2026. Some jobs, like those of care workers, will stay on the ISL until July 22, 2028.

No matter when preliminary steps (job offers, recruitment, etc.) were finished, applications submitted with a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) assigned on or after July 22, 2025, must meet all of the new UK immigration rules and requirements. This complete guide goes over every part of the new UK immigration salary list system, making sure you understand all the requirements, steps, and long-term planning for 2025 and beyond.

What is the Immigration Salary List 2025?

The Immigration Salary List (ISL), which is found in the Appendix Immigration Salary List, is a list of certain jobs that the government has approved for lower salary requirements when applying for UK work visas. The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) suggested that the ISL replace the Shortage Occupation List in April 2024.

The main benefit of being on the Immigration Salary List is that it lets UK employers hire skilled workers from other countries at a lower salary than the general threshold. They can be sponsored if the worker’s pay is at least this lower rate and the going rate for their job. As of July 22, 2025, the lowest level of skill needed for a sponsored job is RQF 6 (graduate level) under the Skilled Worker route. But there are some jobs on the new Temporary Shortage List that are exempt from this rule. These jobs are at RQF levels 3-5.

The Immigration Salary List has two main purposes:

For Workers: Allows UK work visas to be issued at lower salary levels, making it easier for workers in jobs that are hard to fill to move to the UK.

For Employers: Lets them hire international workers at lower salaries in jobs where the UK is having real skill shortages, while still protecting the labour market.

The Government wants no sector to depend on immigration forever, and roles should not stay on the UK Immigration Salary List forever. 

Previous Shortage Occupation List

The Shortage Occupation List was replaced by the Immigration Salary List on April 4, 2024. This was a big change in how the UK deals with job shortages. The most recent update to the ISL came after the Statement of Changes (HC 997) in July 2025, which reduced the number of jobs that qualified.

The Immigration Salary List’s main goal is to fill important skill gaps in certain industries while keeping the UK’s points-based immigration system fair by making targeted, time-limited concessions.

Key Changes in 2025

The updates that came out in July 2025 are the biggest change to the UK’s immigration salary system since the points-based system was put in place. These changes changed the basic salary limits, skill requirements, and job eligibility for all visa types.

Salary Threshold Increases

The changes that took effect in July 2025 had the most immediate effect on the minimum salary threshold requirements, which went up for everyone.

Skill Level Requirement Changes

Old System: RQF Level 3 (equivalent to A-level) was enough for most sponsorships, with more than 100 jobs.

Current System: RQF Level 6 (graduate level) is now required for most sponsorship, with limited exceptions for specific health and care roles.

Given the increased level of salary thresholds, use of the Skilled Worker route will now be mainly for graduate-level occupations, as the levels of pay may be out of reach for many RQF 3-5 occupations, except for pay-scale and social care occupations which have exemptions.

Introduction of the Temporary Shortage List (TSL)

From 22 July 2025, the government introduced a new Temporary Shortage List (TSL), applicable only to RQF Level 3–5 roles. The new Temporary Shortage List (TSL) is different from the Immigration Salary List (ISL). For these lower-skilled jobs to be eligible for sponsorship, they must be on the TSL. This new requirement is designed to restrict shortage-based sponsorship to genuinely high-priority sectors.

Family Rights Restrictions

From 22 July 2025, RQF 3–5 workers can no longer bring new dependents. Existing dependents can stay, but new family members cannot join unless the worker holds a graduate-level role.

Sponsorship Eligibility Rules

RQF 3–5 jobs now require listing either on the Immigration Salary List or the Temporary Shortage List to qualify for sponsorship. ISL inclusion alone is no longer sufficient.

Health and Care Sector Changes

For Health and Care visa, a dedicated salary path now applies: £31,300, £28,200, or £25,000, depending on role. These new salary levels must also be at least the minimum hourly wage for the job.

ISL Minimum Salary and Skill Thresholds

Both employers and workers need to know exactly what the salary requirements are for UK work visas in order to get through the immigration system. These changes apply to all new applications and extensions.

Six Salary Thresholds Explained

The UK immigration system operates on six distinct salary thresholds that determine visa eligibility for the Skilled Worker visa route and Health and Care visa:

• £41,700 – Standard minimum for most skilled roles
• £37,500 – Non-STEM PhD holders
• £33,400 – Non-health Immigration Salary List occupations and new entrants
• £31,300 – Health and care workers
• £28,200 – New entrants in health and care roles
• £25,000 – Specific health and care positions

Your salary must meet at least one threshold alongside the specific “going rate” for your occupation.

Which Threshold Applies to You

Most workers: Use the £41,700 standard minimum unless you qualify for a specific discount or work in health/care.

Immigration Salary List workers: Use £33,400 if your ISL occupation is outside the health/care sectors, or use the specific health thresholds (£31,300, £28,200, or £25,000) if your ISL occupation is in health/care.

PhD holders: Use £37,500 if you have a non-STEM PhD, but cannot combine this with ISL discounts.

New entrants: If you’re under 26, a recent graduate, or switching from a Student visa, you can use £33,400 for most jobs or £28,200 for health and care jobs.

Health and care workers: No matter if your job is on the ISL or not, use the specific health thresholds of £31,300, £28,200, or £25,000 based on your job and situation.

Skill Level Thresholds Explained

RQF Level 6+ (Graduate-level): Needs a bachelor’s degree or the same amount of work experience. Examples include scientists, engineers, graphic designers, archaeologists, and veterinarians. These roles maintain full family rights and standard sponsorship rules.

RQF Level 3-5 (Non-graduate): Requires A-level equivalent skills but not degree-level qualifications. Examples include care workers, bricklayers, welders, and fishing workers. Workers in these roles sponsored after 22 July 2025 cannot bring new dependents and require TSL listing for sponsorship eligibility.

Which Skill Requirements Apply to You

RQF Level 6+ (Graduate-level roles):

Eligible for sponsorship if salary and going rate requirements are met. ISL listing allows use of the reduced £33,400 threshold.

RQF Level 3–5 (Non-graduate roles):

Sponsorship is only allowed if the job is on the new Temporary Shortage List (TSL).

Sponsorship Eligibility Rule Checklist 

To simplify eligibility, here’s how skill level, ISL/TSL status, and sponsorship work together:

Complete Immigration Salary List 2025

The appendix immigration salary list contains distinct occupations across multiple sectors, each with specific geographic eligibility and dual-rate structures effective from July 2025.

Complete Temporary Shortage List (TSL)

The table below shows all RQF 3–5 occupation codes currently listed in the 2025 Temporary Shortage List (TSL). These roles allow sponsorship only if they also appear on the Immigration Salary List (ISL).

How the Temporary Shortage List (TSL) Works

The Temporary Shortage List (TSL) will replace the Immigration Salary List from 1 January 2027, after all ISL roles expire on 31 December 2026. Unlike the ISL, which offered salary discounts, the TSL provides time-limited sponsorship eligibility without lowering thresholds, reflecting the UK’s shift toward higher salaries and a more responsive labour market strategy.

The TSL is a list that can be changed more often than the ISL. The goal is to allow temporary sponsorship for jobs where there are shortages without having to make long-term commitments or lower salary requirements. They can add, change, or remove listings on the TSL at any time. This method lets the government and Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) respond to changes in the job market more quickly while still keeping salary standards high.

Impact on RQF Level 3 to 5 Occupations

The TSL plays a critical role in determining sponsorship eligibility for non-graduate level jobs, particularly those at RQF Level 3 to 5.

Under the current rule changes from 22 July 2025:

• You can only sponsor someone for a job if it is on the TSL.
• The job does not have to be on the Immigration Salary List (ISL) as well.

This new framework greatly narrows the list of non-graduate jobs that can be sponsored to only those that are currently in short supply.

Transition and Future Framework

The TSL will completely take the place of the ISL in January 2027, unless the Home Office decides to extend it. This is a big change in policy from permanent shortage lists based on discounts to a model of sponsorship access that is limited in time and based on reviews.

Employers should use this time to make plans for the future:

• Use any remaining ISL salary concessions that apply to you.
• Get ready for a TSL-only model that might make it harder to get lower-paying jobs.
• Keep a close eye on updates so you can change your hiring plans right away.

Because of this, the TSL is an important compliance issue for employers who want to sponsor lower-skilled workers through the Skilled Worker route.

How to Use the UK Immigration Salary List 2025

Before sponsoring a Skilled Worker, employers must understand how to apply the UK Immigration Salary List correctly — from identifying the right job code to meeting the latest salary thresholds.

1. Start by selecting the correct SOC code

To sponsor a Skilled Worker, employers must first identify the correct SOC code for the role using the latest version of the Immigration Salary List (ISL) or Temporary Shortage List (TSL) on GOV.UK. The appendix skilled occupations will list all eligible roles.

Each role must match the SOC 2020 coding system, introduced from April 2024. Certificates of Sponsorship issued on or after this date must use these updated codes. This followed a change from the 2010 system, and employers need to ensure compliance with the new coding framework.

When selecting a SOC code, look at the occupation details and job description rather than the job title, and ensure this reflects the individual’s job description, duties, skills and experience. Choosing the wrong SOC code can lead to visa refusal, especially for lower-skilled roles where additional conditions apply.

You may need to provide evidence to support your choice of SOC code, particularly where a lower salary threshold is being applied. Selecting an incorrect SOC code can result in a refused application.

2. Apply the correct salary threshold

Once the SOC code is confirmed, apply the minimum salary threshold salary:

• For RQF Level 6 roles on the ISL: at least £33,400 and 100% of the going rate
• For RQF Level 3 to 5 roles on the TSL: at least £25,000 and the appropriate going rate
• Hourly rate must meet £17.13 minimum (or £12.82 for care workers only)

Employers using transitional rates (Options F to J) must ensure the worker held Skilled Worker leave in the same SOC code before 22 July 2025.

3. Keep documentation aligned and compliant

All salary figures must reflect basic PAYE earnings only. Bonuses, allowances and overtime cannot be counted. Only guaranteed pay, such as basic salary, is considered. Contracts, offer letters and Certificates of Sponsorship should all reflect the same compliant figures.

4. Monitor future changes

The MAC will review the ISL and TSL again in 2026. Roles may be added or removed, and salary levels may change. Sponsors should stay up to date to avoid recruitment issues.

Calculate Your Minimum Salary

To determine the minimum salary you need for a new Skilled Worker visa, you must follow a three-step process. This is the official calculation method as of July 22, 2025.

1. Check the General Threshold

The first step is to identify the correct general salary threshold that applies to you.

• For most new applicants: £41,700
• For a ‘new entrant’ to the labour market, or a role on the Immigration Salary List (ISL): £33,400
• For non-STEM PhD holders in relevant roles: £37,500
• For STEM PhD holders, researchers or inventors: £33,400
• For RQF 3–5 ISL roles with Temporary Shortage List eligibility: £25,000
• For existing Skilled Worker visa holders sponsored before April 2024: £31,300, £28,200 or £25,000, depending on the transitional salary band used

Only one of these routes can be used per application. You cannot combine thresholds or stack discounts. Not following the rules can result in visa refusal and even sponsor licence revocation in some extreme cases of non-compliance from the UK sponsor.

2. Find the Going Rate

Next, you must find the specific “going rate” for the job’s occupation code (SOC code). This data is based on the latest Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE). You must locate the official government list of going rates to find the correct figure for your specific job.

3. The Final Calculation

Your salary must be at least the higher of the figures from step 1 or step 2. Additionally, your salary must also meet the new hourly rate of £17.13 for most roles (or £12.82 for care workers). The Home Office will only count a maximum of 48 paid hours per week toward meeting the annual salary threshold. The appendix skilled occupations will list all eligible roles.

Example Calculation:

A new applicant for a “Software Developer” role (SOC Code 2134) has a going rate of £49,400. The general threshold is £41,700. The applicant must be paid at least £49,400 as this is the higher figure. The hourly rate must also be at least £17.13.

Get Professional Assistance

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You don’t have to let these new rules tie you into anxiety. Go with the team that has evidenced success. Don’t leave anything to chance. Let the experienced professionals sort out the immigration specifics while you concentrate on the bigger picture. We help with Skilled Worker visas, Sponsorship Licence applications and compliance and even more flexible business routes like Self-Sponsorship.