The Immigration Pay List replaced the Shortage Occupations List on 4 April 2024 following changes to pay scales for overseas skilled workers entering the UK. The government has also significantly shortened the new list as a means of limiting the number of overseas workers and lowering levels of immigration within the UK. 

What is the UK Immigration Pay List (ISL)?

In response to the shortage of available skilled labour in certain occupations, the government published its latest immigration pay list this month as part of a package of measures originally set out in December 2023.

The occupations listed are those that the Home Office considers are in very short supply and would benefit from lowering wage levels to increase supply. By reducing the minimum salary threshold, employers will benefit by only having to pay 80% of the normal threshold (£30,960 per year), but the hourly rate will remain at £15.88.

Salary Threshold of ISL

The Immigration Salary List is a list of occupations to which reduced regular salary standards apply when applying for a Skilled Worker visa. In other words, if your job is on the Immigration Salary List, the prevailing salary base is 80% of the prevailing minimum salary base.

Jobs on the Immigration Pay List that qualify for a skilled worker visa do not have to pay the full £38,700 regular salary requirement. Instead, a 20% reduction from the regular salary base is applied to jobs on the Immigration Salary List. Your usual salary threshold will therefore be reduced to £30,960.

For health and care worker visa-eligible occupations that do not have a pay scale and are not on the Immigration Pay List, the minimum regular salary threshold is £23,200.

Occupations on the Immigration Salary List receive a 20% discount on the regular salary scale (up to £30,960 or £23,200, depending on whether the £38,700 or £29,000 threshold applies), but depending on the occupation, you must be paid at least the occupation-specific minimum salary. Therefore, the actual salary discount rate may be less than 20%.

Benefits of roles on the Immigration Salary List

The main benefit of inclusion on the Immigration Salary List is to allow UK-based employers to recruit skilled overseas nationals at salaries below the normal benchmark, with a discount of up to 20%.

Occupations on the Immigration Pay List will see a slight reduction in visa application fees for workers on other skilled Worker visas, with a discount of around £60 per year. However, the benefit of lower visa fees is not much of a benefit, especially when viewed in the context of increased wage bases for skilled workers and increased immigration health surcharges.

Health and care worker visa roles do not benefit from the Immigration Pay list visa fee discount as the associated visa fees are already low.

What roles are on the 2024 immigration pay list?

Under the Initial Immigration Pay List, effective April 4, 2024, MAC recommended 21 occupations for inclusion on the list. This represents 8% of job roles eligible for the skilled trades pathway by employment. Previously, approximately 30% of job roles eligible for the skilled worker pathway were on the shortage occupation list.

The 21 occupations on the Immigration Salary List are made up of 18 recommendations for a UK-wide list and three recommendations for a Scotland-only list.

Jobs in Fishing

• 1212 Fishing Masters (Scotland only)
• 5119 Fisheries, not elsewhere classified (UK-wide)
• 9119 Workers must have at least 3 years of full-time experience using their skills as a deckhand on a large fishing vessel (over 9 metres) (UK-wide).

Science/Engineering Field Jobs

• 2111 Chemical scientists in the nuclear industry (Scotland only)
• 2112 biologists (across the UK)
• 2115 archaeologists (across the UK)
• 3111 Laboratory Technician – Jobs requiring at least 3 years of relevant field experience only (UK-wide)
• 3212 pharmaceutical technicians (across the UK)

Jobs in the Creative Sector

• 2142 graphic and multimedia designers (across the UK)
• 3411 artists (across the UK)
• 3414 Dancers and Choreographers - Only skilled classical ballet dancers or skilled contemporary dancers who meet the standards required by an internationally recognized British Ballet or Contemporary Dance Company. The company operates under the Arts Council (England, Scotland or Wales) (across the UK).
• 3415 musicians – experienced orchestral musicians holding leadership, principal, deputy principal or string positions and meeting the standards required by the internationally recognized British Orchestra. The orchestra must be a full member of the Association of British Orchestras (UK-wide).
• 3416 artistic executives, producers and directors (across the UK)

Construction Jobs

• 5213 High-integrity pipe welders (across the UK) with 3+ years of relevant field experience required.
• 5235 Boat and ship builders and repairers (Scotland only)
• 5312 masons and related occupations (across the UK).
• 5313 Bricklayers (across the UK)
• 5314 Roofing, roof tiling and slaters (across the UK).
• 5316 carpenters and joiners (across the UK).
• 5319 Retrofitters (across the UK)

Health and Care Field Jobs

• 6135 carers and home carers (across the UK)
• 6136 elderly carers (across the UK)

Different Occupations Jobs

• 6129 racing grooms, stallion handlers, stud grooms, stud hands, stud handlers and working riders (across the UK).

Choosing the Right SOC Occupation Code on ISL

When sponsoring a skilled worker for a specific role, employers must not only understand how to apply for a Skilled Worker Sponsorship License but also ensure that the worker is being sponsored for that job under the eligible Standard Occupational Classification ('SOC') code.

Choosing the most appropriate occupational code is important to avoid delays or refusal of your worker's visa application. If the Home Office has reasonable grounds to believe that the sponsor has not selected the correct SOC code or that the vacancy is not genuine, this may trigger the Home Office to conduct an announced or unannounced sponsor compliance visit, which may also result in Sponsor license suspension or revocation.



For immigration advice in relation to applying for a sponsor license or Skilled Worker visa, including applying for a role on the UK Immigration Pay List, please contact us on 020 3865 6219 or visit our website and leave a message.