Immigration Salary List 2026: Key Changes for Migrant Health Workers
The UK’s Immigration Salary List (ISL) is set to close on 31 December 2026, bringing important changes for some migrant workers in health and social care roles.
The changes are particularly relevant to workers sponsored in occupations below degree level, including some healthcare support, pharmaceutical technician and laboratory technician roles.
For affected workers, what happens after the Immigration Salary List closes will depend largely on the skill level of their occupation and when they were first sponsored.
What Is the Immigration Salary List?
The Immigration Salary List is a list of occupations where employers can benefit from specific salary concessions when sponsoring eligible overseas workers under the Skilled Worker route.
The list has been particularly relevant to employers recruiting workers into occupations where the standard Skilled Worker salary requirements may otherwise make sponsorship more difficult.
However, the Home Office has confirmed that the Immigration Salary List will close on 31 December 2026.
This means employers and sponsored workers in affected occupations need to understand the transitional arrangements before the deadline.
Which Healthcare Workers Could Be Affected?
The changes may be particularly important for migrant workers in certain health and care occupations at RQF levels 3 to 5.
Examples can include some roles classified under:
- SOC 6131 – nursing auxiliaries and assistants
- SOC 3212 – pharmaceutical technicians
- SOC 3111 – laboratory technicians
The exact immigration position depends on the worker’s occupation, skill level, sponsorship history and the immigration rules that apply to their case.
Workers should therefore check their specific SOC code and sponsorship history rather than assuming that the same rules apply to every healthcare occupation.
Why the Date of the First CoS Matters
One of the most important points for affected workers is the date on which their first Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) was assigned.
The relevant date is generally the date the CoS was issued or assigned, rather than the date the visa application was submitted or the date the visa was granted.
This distinction can determine whether transitional arrangements apply.
Workers First Sponsored Before 22 July 2025
Workers who were first sponsored in eligible RQF level 3–5 occupations before 22 July 2025 may benefit from transitional arrangements.
Subject to the relevant immigration requirements, these workers may continue to have routes available for:
- Extending their permission
- Changing employment
- Applying for settlement
The applicable salary requirements and other Skilled Worker rules will still need to be satisfied.
For settlement, the relevant salary threshold is currently £25,000, or any applicable equivalent threshold if the rules are subsequently updated.
Workers First Sponsored on or After 22 July 2025
The position is different for workers who were first sponsored in affected RQF level 3–5 occupations on or after 22 July 2025.
They may continue to extend their permission or change employment in eligible roles while the current arrangements remain in force, but these options will become more restricted once the Immigration Salary List closes.
After 31 December 2026, affected workers may no longer be able to extend their permission or change employment into roles that rely on the Immigration Salary List.
In some circumstances, workers may need to move into an eligible role at RQF level 6 or above if they wish to remain on the Skilled Worker route.
The exact position will depend on the immigration rules in force at the time of the application.
What About Settlement?
The closure of the Immigration Salary List does not automatically mean that affected workers lose the possibility of settlement.
Eligible workers may still be able to qualify for settlement if they meet the relevant requirements, including the applicable salary and continuous residence conditions.
Workers should also be aware that UK immigration rules can change, including proposed reforms relating to settlement and the concept of “earned settlement”.
Anyone approaching settlement should therefore check the rules that apply at the time they make their application.
What About Workers in RQF Level 6 Roles?
Workers sponsored in eligible RQF level 6 occupations may have different transitional arrangements.
Where the relevant requirements are met, they may continue to have options relating to extensions, changes of employment and settlement.
Their position will depend on the occupation, salary, sponsorship history and the immigration rules applicable to their particular case.
What Does This Mean for NHS and Other Healthcare Employers?
The closure of the Immigration Salary List is also important for NHS organisations, care providers and other employers that sponsor migrant workers.
Employers should identify staff who may be affected and review their current sponsorship arrangements.
Workforce planning may include:
- Checking employees’ SOC codes and skill levels
- Reviewing the date of each worker’s first CoS
- Identifying employees who may need to extend their permission before the rules change
- Assessing whether affected workers may qualify under another eligible occupation
- Reviewing future recruitment plans
- Ensuring sponsorship records are accurate and up to date
Employers should avoid assuming that a worker will automatically be able to extend their visa after the ISL closes.
What Should Migrant Health Workers Do?
Migrant healthcare workers affected by these changes should review their immigration position well before 31 December 2026.
In particular, workers should establish:
- Their current occupation and SOC code.
- The RQF level of their role.
- The date of their first Certificate of Sponsorship.
- Whether their current role relies on Immigration Salary List eligibility.
- Their current salary and applicable salary requirements.
- Whether they may qualify for another eligible Skilled Worker occupation.
- Whether they are approaching settlement eligibility.
Because immigration rules can change, workers should use the latest Home Office guidance or seek regulated immigration advice where necessary.
Important Reminder
The closure of the Immigration Salary List is a significant change for some sponsored workers, but it does not mean that every migrant healthcare worker will be affected in the same way.
The outcome will depend on the individual’s occupation, skill level, sponsorship history, salary and immigration route.
Workers sponsored before and after 22 July 2025 can also be subject to different transitional arrangements.
With the ISL scheduled to close on 31 December 2026, affected workers and employers should review their circumstances early and avoid waiting until the deadline to understand their options.
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