The Government continues its focus on UK immigration reform by commissioning two new official reviews: one into visa salary requirements and one into the new Temporary Shortage List (TSL). Both will be led by the independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC).
The reviews are likely to have long-term implications for business planning and access to international talent, so it will be important to understand the changes and how to prepare your organisation, particularly in light of significant sponsorship changes already coming into effect in July 2025, including revised salary thresholds across the Skilled Worker, Global Business Mobility (GBM) and Scale-up visa routes.
Sponsored Worker Salary Threshold Review
The formal commission from the Home Secretary was issued to the MAC on 1 July 2025. The first review focuses on salary thresholds. The MAC has been asked to examine the general salary threshold for the Skilled Worker route, the ongoing relevance and calibration of salary discounts (such as those for new entrants or PhD holders) and whether separate salary levels should continue to apply to certain niche visa categories, such as Health and Care Workers or workers under the Global Business Mobility umbrella.
The MAC is also expected to consider how occupational going rates are calculated using the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) and how frequently these rates should be reviewed to ensure they remain fit for purpose.
The Committee is in the process of gathering data from the Home Office and HMRC, including visa issuance trends, pay levels and migrant employment outcomes.
The MAC has confirmed that it will report by January 2026.
Employers can expect the Committee’s recommendations to address whether the current general threshold remains appropriate, and whether existing salary discount structures should be maintained, revised or even withdrawn.
Temporary Shortage List Review
The second review concerns the Temporary Shortage List (TSL). The TSL was introduced alongside the updated Immigration Salary List (ISL) in July 2025 to provide limited access to sub-degree (RQF level 3–5) occupations, which no longer qualify for Skilled Worker sponsorship under the standard skills rules.
The MAC has been asked to support the Government in determining which, if any, roles should remain on the TSL in the longer term, and under what visa conditions.
Both the ISL and TSL have been designated as interim and are due to expire at the end of 2026, although the Government states it reserves the right to bring in changes earlier than this, such as removing certain roles where compliance concerns have been identified.
The MAC has outlined a two-stage process for its TSL review. The first stage, expected to conclude in January 2026, involves reviewing the visa terms and identifying occupations that align with the UK’s Industrial Strategy or support national infrastructure.
The second stage will involve a full call for evidence from employers, sector bodies and other stakeholders, to explore longer-term workforce planning, training commitments, domestic supply and employer safeguards.
The final outcome is expected in mid-2026, ahead of the scheduled expiration of the interim lists.
Employer takeaways
The future availability of the TSL and the ISL will effectively hinge on the outcome of the MAC’s staged review. Unless the MAC recommends otherwise, both lists will expire on 31 December 2026, potentially closing off Skilled Worker access to many RQF level 3–5 occupations. It is also possible that the general and route-specific salary thresholds will be revised again following the MAC’s report in January 2026.
In preparation, employers are encouraged to audit their current use of sub-degree roles within the Skilled Worker route and assess whether these occupations are dependent on continued inclusion on the ISL or TSL.
In parallel, HR and global mobility teams may wish to model salary budgets for 2026 onwards to account for any changes in thresholds or discount structures. It is equally important to ensure internal compliance with the current rules. Sponsored visa applications made on or after 22 July 2025 will have to satisfy the revised thresholds, including the £17.13 per hour floor. Applications that fall short risk refusal and potential compliance action.
Need assistance?
The UK immigration system continues to endure further reform, and threat of reform. With two major reviews now in progress, speak to our UK immigration advisers to discuss the impact of these developments on your organisation and its sponsored workforce, and how you can prepare your talent mobility and overseas recruitment strategies over the coming months.
Author
Founder and Managing Director Anne Morris is a fully qualified solicitor and trusted adviser to large corporates through to SMEs, providing strategic immigration and global mobility advice to support employers with UK operations to meet their workforce needs through corporate immigration.
She is a recognised by Legal 500 and Chambers as a legal expert and delivers Board-level advice on business migration and compliance risk management as well as overseeing the firm’s development of new client propositions and delivery of cost and time efficient processing of applications.
Anne is an active public speaker, immigration commentator, and immigration policy contributor and regularly hosts training sessions for employers and HR professionals
