Immigration Salary List 2026

The Immigration Salary List is the UK Home Office’s official list of skilled jobs that are deemed to be in short supply and dictates the minimum salary for each. This list is used by applicants to the UK Skilled Worker visa to demonstrate eligibility.

Replacing the previous Shortage Occupation List, the Immigration Salary List is intended to abolish the previous 20% salary discount that was afforded to visa applicants; essentially ending any prospect of employers undercutting the value of domestic workers and instead hiring internationally.

While the Immigration Salary List does give occupations a 20% on a general salary threshold, it does not allow for salaries to be reduced below the level of any occupation-specific salary threshold. This re-balance has in essence removed the Skilled Worker visa route for many occupations that were previously eligible.

Where a Skilled Worker visa holder is already in the UK under an occupation now excluded or on a lower salary, they remain exempt from the new salary levels through any application to change sponsor, extend their visa or settle in the country. However, to ensure migrant workers are not exploited, they should still expect to see their pay increase in line with resident British workers.

The list is updated continually and is done so in line with:

• Keeping no sector permanently reliant on immigration
• Only including roles where they will meaningfully benefit from the salary discount
• Maintaining no effort to undermine the recruitment of resident workers
• Sectors having a sustainable strategy for their removal of occupations from the list.

As such, a Skilled Worker visa application is eligible for consideration providing the applicant holds a job offer in a role named on the Immigration Salary List, for a salary that meets the minimum salary threshold.

Page Contents

• What is the Immigration Salary List in UK?
• Immigration Salary List Minimum Thresholds
• How to use the UK Immigration Salary List?
• Benefits of a role being on the Immigration Salary List
• Immigration Salary List Guidance for Employers
• How Can Total Law Help?
• Frequently Asked Questions

Applicants to the UK Skilled Worker visa must hold a valid job offer for a role named on the Immigration Salary List, with a minimum salary of 80% of the route’s usual minimum rate: based on a 37.5hr full-time working week (or pro-rated for other working patterns).

There are two salary rates quoted on the Immigration Salary List; the ‘standard rate’ and the ‘lower rate’.

Those who qualify for the ‘standard rate’ salary threshold are applicants who:

• Received the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from their British employer after 4th April 2024.

Those who qualify for the ‘lower rate’ salary threshold are applicants who:

• Received the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from their British employer before 4th April 2024 and continually held a Skilled Worker visa since the date of its issue; OR
• Are applying for a Health and Care Worker visa in certain exempt occupations.

For more information on which salary threshold rate your role is eligible for, speak to Total Law on +44 (0) 333 305 9375.

The UK Immigration Salary List is primarily used by employers who want to recruit overseas talent to fulfil specific roles in their organisation but at a discounted rate; helping them attract the workforce they need for UK Skilled Worker visas without having to meet the general salary requirements of £41,700. With an up to 20% discount on this, worker eligible occupations on the Immigration Salary List instead benefit from a reduction in threshold to a minimum of £30,960.

There are several common mistakes made by both employers and employees when referencing the Immigration Salary List. These are:

• Calculating a set 20% discount – in practice the salary threshold discount is up to, but often less, 20%
• Misjudging whether the visa applicant is eligible for the standard or lower rate of salary
• Misunderstanding the role’s eligibility based on location – not all roles are eligible UK wide.

For support navigating the Immigration Salary List and to ensure roles are properly understood, call Total Law on +44 (0) 333 305 9375 for advice.

A job role being specified on the Immigration Salary List allows employers to recruit from overseas at a salary below the general threshold; saving them money but in turn helping them attract skilled employees. It may help build businesses and overall contribute positively to the British economy.

For non-British nationals who wish to work in the UK, being qualified in a role on the Immigration Salary List presents a great opportunity to be granted a UK Skilled Worker visa; which can long term result in permanent residence and settlement in the country, and allows for family members to enter the country alongside the visa holder.

It is not enough for employers simply to decide they want to recruit a role from the list and to start advertising overseas for staff. Instead, employers must ensure:

• That potential employees are properly qualified for the exact role stated
• That potential employees meet all other eligibility criteria for the UK Skilled Worker visa
• That the role being recruited for is eligible on the Immigration Salary List for the location in which it will be enacted
• That if hired, the employees’ salary rises in line with general expectations and that of domestic employees.

For employer-specific advice on the Immigration Salary List and to ensure you meet all relevant criteria, speak to an expert at Total Law on +44 (0) 333 305 9375.