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Temporary Shortage Occupation List

The TSL is a newly introduced, standalone list of medium-skilled occupations, valid until 31 December 2026. Learn about Temporary Shortage Occupation List and consult with our experts at Visa and Migration for tailord advice.

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Table of contents

    UK Temporary Shortage Occupation List - Things to Know

     

    The UK, in its effort to curb net inward immigration, has closed the Skilled Worker route for sub-degree level jobs (Those below RQF level 6) as of 22 July 2025. However, one can apply for a Skilled Worker visa for a job at the Skill Level of RQF 3-5 (also referred to as ‘medium-skilled’ jobs), but only if their job is on either the expanded ISL (Immigration Shortage List) or TSL (Temporary Shortage List). 

    TSL or Temporary Shortage List is a recently introduced list with occupations under the Skilled Worker route. TSL is linked to the ISL (Immigration Shortage List). Both lists contain occupations for which there are long-term shortages in the UK and therefore cannot be filled by workers in the local labour market.

    TSL is effective from 22nd July 2025, and has been introduced as an interim measure. It allows employers to sponsor migrant workers for certain medium-skilled (RQF Level 3–5) roles that are considered critical to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy. The list will remain in effect until 31st December 2026. However, the UK Government reserves the right to shorten this period depending on its future policy or economic shifts.


    What is the Temporary Shortage Occupation List?

    TSL is a list of occupations with a skill level requirement at RQF 3-5 (below degree level). This is a temporary arrangement for hiring migrant workers on medium-skilled jobs where there have been long-term shortages, where the MAC (Migration Advising Committee) has advised it is justified, where there is a workforce strategy in place, and where employers seeking to recruit from overseas are committed to playing their part in increasing recruitment from the domestic workforce.

    TSL sits alongside the ‘Expanded ISL (Immigration Salary List)’ – both effective from 22 July 2025 and temporarily opens the Skilled Worker visa route to jobs below RQF level 6 (or below degree level) that have been excluded after the Skilled Worker route skill threshold changes. 

    If a sponsored worker’s job is on the TSL (Temporary Shortage List) and it is a medium-skilled job, they can apply for entry clearance, to switch to, as well as extending their permission as a Skilled Worker.

    Importantly, dependants of workers sponsored under this route are not allowed.


    Temporary Shortage List and salary requirements

    The annual salaries for medium-skilled jobs are based on a 37.5 hour working week. They must be pro-rated for other working patterns, based on the weekly working hours stated by your employer. ? 

    If a person qualifies for the ‘standard rate’, because they received their first CoS (Certificate of Sponsorship) after 4 April 2024, they should look at the “standard rate” column in the table below.? 

    One who qualifies for the lower rate should look in the “lower rate” column.? 

    One qualifies for the “lower rate” if they received their CoS for their first Skilled Worker visa prior to 4 April 2024 and have continually held one or more Skilled Worker visas since then.

     

    Occupation code

    Job types included on the temporary shortage list

    Standard rate

    Lower rate

    1243

    Managers in logistics

    £44,900 (£23.03 per hour)

    £37,300 (£19.13 per hour)

    1258

    Directors in consultancy services

    £70,100 (£35.95 per hour)

    £44,600 (£22.87 per hour)

    3111

    Laboratory technicians

    £33,400 (£17.13 per hour)

    £25,000 (£12.82 per hour)

    3112

    Electrical and electronics technicians

    £39,300 (£20.15 per hour)

    £30,800 (£15.79 per hour)

    3113

    Engineering technicians

    £42,500 (£21.79 per hour)

    £34,700 (£17.79 per hour)

    3114

    Building and civil engineering technicians

    £33,400 (£17.13 per hour)

    £27,900 (£14.31 per hour)

    3115

    Quality assurance technicians

    £33,400 (£17.13 per hour)

    £26,500 (£13.59 per hour)

    3116

    Planning, process and production technicians

    £34,800 (£17.85 per hour)

    £28,700 (£14.72 per hour)

    3120

    CAD, drawing and architectural technicians

    £33,800 (£17.33 per hour)

    £28,700 (£14.72 per hour)

    3131

    IT operations technicians

    £35,200 (£18.05 per hour)

    £27,700 (£14.21 per hour)

    3132

    IT user support technicians

    £33,400 (£17.13 per hour)

    £27,700 (£14.21 per hour)

    3133

    Database administrators and web content technicians

    £34,600 (£17.74 per hour)

    £29,200 (£14.97 per hour)

    3412

    Authors, writers and translators

    £36,100 (£18.51 per hour)

    £29,800 (£15.28 per hour)

    3414

    Dancers and choreographers

    £33,400 (£17.13 per hour)

    £28,500 (£14.62 per hour)

    3417

    Photographers, audio-visual and broadcasting equipment operators

    £33,400 (£17.13 per hour)

    £25,400 (£13.03 per hour)

    3422

    Clothing, fashion and accessories designers

    £36,500 (£18.72 per hour)

    £29,100 (£14.92 per hour)

    3429

    Design occupations not elsewhere classified – only the following job types:            

     

    - Industrial and product designers      

     

    - Packaging designers           

     

    -Performance make-up artists            

     

    - Set designers      

     

    - Visual merchandising managers and designers

    £39,300 (£20.15 per hour)

    £29,800 (£15.28 per hour)

    3512

    Ship and hovercraft officers

    £58,300 (£29.90 per hour)

    £39,100 (£20.05 per hour)

    3520

    Legal associate professionals

    £33,400 (£17.13 per hour)

    £26,400 (£13.54 per hour)

    3532

    Insurance underwriters

    £36,500 (£18.72 per hour)

    £29,800 (£15.28 per hour)

    3533

    Financial and accounting technicians

    £48,700 (£24.97 per hour)

    £32,900 (£16.87 per hour)

    3541

    Estimators, valuers and assessors

    £35,300 (£18.10 per hour)

    £28,600 (£14.67 per hour)

    3544

    Data analysts

    £34,900 (£17.90 per hour)

    £28,600 (£14.67 per hour)

    3549

    Business associate professionals not elsewhere classified – only the following job types:  

     

    - Business support officers  

     

    - Business systems analysts 

     

        - Contract   administrators 

     

    - Clinical coders 

     

    - Clinical trials administrators  

     

    - Research coordinators

    £33,400 (£17.13 per hour)

    £25,500 (£13.08 per hour)

    3552

    Business sales executives

    £36,700 (£18.82 per hour)

    £29,300 (£15.03 per hour)

    3554

    Advertising and marketing associate professionals

    £33,400 (£17.13 per hour)

    £26,300 (£13.49 per hour)

    3571

    Human resources and industrial relations officers

    £33,400 (£17.13 per hour)

    £27,100 (£13.90 per hour)

    3573

    Information technology trainers

    £40,000 (£20.51 per hour)

    £32,100 (£16.46 per hour)

    4121

    Credit controllers

    £33,400 (£17.13 per hour)

    £25,200 (£12.92 per hour)

    4122

    Book-keepers, payroll managers and wages clerks

    £33,400 (£17.13 per hour)

    £25,400 (£13.03 per hour)

    4129

    Financial administrative occupations not elsewhere classified – only the following job types:  

     

    - Box office assistants  

     

    - Grants officers  

     

    - Mortgage administrators  

     

    - Revenue assistants (excludes National and Local government revenue occupations)  

     

    - Treasury assistants

    £33,400 (£17.13 per hour)

    £25,000 (£12.82 per hour)

    4132

    Pensions and insurance clerks and assistants

    £33,400 (£17.13 per hour)

    £25,000 (£12.82 per hour)

    5213

    Welding trades

    £34,900 (£17.90 per hour)

    £29,500 (£15.13 per hour)

    5214

    Pipe fitters

    £46,000 (£23.59 per hour)

    £40,400 (£20.72 per hour)

    5223

    Metal working production and maintenance fitters

    £39,300 (£20.15 per hour)

    £29,900 (£15.33 per hour)

    5225

    Air-conditioning and refrigeration installers and repairers

    £41,100 (£21.08 per hour)

    £35,500 (£18.21 per hour)

    5231

    Vehicle technicians, mechanics and electricians

    £35,500 (£18.21 per hour)

    £27,900 (£14.31 per hour)

    5232

    Vehicle body builders and repairers

    £33,400 (£17.13 per hour)

    £27,600 (£14.15 per hour)

    5233

    Vehicle paint technicians

    £33,400 (£17.13 per hour)

    £29,600 (£15.18 per hour)

    5235

    Boat and ship builders and repairers

    £33,700 (£17.28 per hour)

    £29,600 (£15.18 per hour)

    5241

    Electricians and electrical fitters

    £38,800 (£19.90 per hour)

    £31,500 (£16.15 per hour)

    5242

    Telecoms and related network installers and repairers

    £36,700 (£18.82 per hour)

    £31,700 (£16.26 per hour)

    5244

    Computer system and equipment installers and servicers

    £35,100 (£18.00 per hour)

    £26,700 (£13.69 per hour)

    5245

    Security system installers and repairers

    £36,300 (£18.62 per hour)

    £28,800 (£14.77 per hour)

    5249

    Electrical and electronic trades not elsewhere classified

    £45,800 (£23.49 per hour)

    £35,600 (£18.26 per hour)

    5311

    Steel erectors

    £35,000 (£17.95 per hour)

    £29,500 (£15.13 per hour)

    5315

    Plumbers and heating and ventilating installers and repairers

    £38,100 (£19.54 per hour)

    £31,400 (£16.10 per hour)

    5319

    Construction and building trades not elsewhere classified – only the following job types: 

     

    - Builders  

     

    - Divers  

     

    - Fence erectors  

     

    - Industrial climbers  

     

    - Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) operators  

     

    - Steel fixers and under pinners

    £33,400 (£17.13 per hour)

    £27,300 (£14.00 per hour)

    5322

    Floorers and wall tilers

    £33,400 (£17.13 per hour)

    £25,400 (£13.03 per hour)

    5323

    Painters and decorators

    £33,400 (£17.13 per hour)

    £27,800 (£14.26 per hour)

    5330

    Construction and building trades supervisors

    £41,800 (£21.44 per hour)

    £34,600 (£17.74 per hour)

    8133

    Energy plant operatives

    £41,500 (£21.28 per hour)

    £30,100 (£15.44 per hour)

     

    Please note – that the above occupations keep changing on annual basis. Also, the salary on standard rate if before £41700 then the applicant must be paid at least £41700 or higher if the standard rate is higher. 


    How can Visa and Migration help?

    Significant changes have taken place to the Skilled Worker route in 2025 and continue to follow. The Home Office has raised skill level, salary level, and English language level for skilled workers. As a general rule, sub-category level jobs have been removed, which means sponsors cannot employ or migrants cannot apply for a Skilled Worker visa for jobs at RQF level 3-5. However, considering the long-term shortages in the domestic labour market, temporary provisions have been made, and two lists, namely the "Expanded Immigration Shortage List" and "Temporary Shortage List" has been introduced from 22 July 2025, setting out the closing date for both lists as 31 December 2026.

    We are experts in UK immigration matters and help both employers and migrant workers navigate through the changing immigration rules and Home Office guidance. 

    If you are an employer stressed about how to employ new workers or extend the job period of your existing workers, we can help you ensure you satisfy all the latest rules of the Skilled Worker visa to avoid any wrong hiring that may affect your business, human resource plan, and also your sponsor licence.

    On the other hand, we can also help you apply for a Skilled Worker visa only for an eligible job where you meet the new skill, salary, and English language threshold. We ensure you apply correctly to avoid visa refusals and to advance your career plan.

    For expert advice and queries, you can call us at +44 (0)20 3411 1261 or write at info@visaandmigration.com

    Frequently Asked Questions

    TSL is a newly introduced, separate list of medium-skilled roles allowed until 31 December 2026.

    No. It is temporary, and MAC reviews it regularly.

    Primarily, the Skilled Worker and Health and Care Worker visa.

    Yes, if you fulfil the requirements.

    Yes, time spent on a Skilled Worker visa can count toward ILR.

    If you are a new applicant on the Skilled Worker route sponsored for a job on the TSL, your partner/children generally cannot come to the UK as your dependents.

    The RLMT (Resident Labour Market Test) is no longer required, regardless of TSL.

    Yes, if the government decides based on the MAC recommendations.

    The annual salaries for TSL roles are based on a 37.5 hour working week. They must be pro-rated for other working patterns, based on the weekly working hours stated by your employer.

    No, you must still fulfil all Skilled Worker visa requirements.

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