The Migration Advisory Committee’s two-stage review concludes mid-2026 and the UK Immigration Salary List 2026 — the successor to the old Shortage Occupation List — is being phased out by December. Six roles previously eligible under the Health and Care Worker visa disappear from sponsorship altogether, and a small slice of African workers currently using the ISL salary discount will see their pay threshold reset. If you are a Nigerian radiographer in Birmingham, a Ghanaian senior carer in Manchester, or a Kenyan nursery worker in Croydon, this article tells you whether your visa is at risk and what to do before December.
Why the ISL is being phased out
The 2025 Immigration White Paper committed to ending the salary-discount route entirely. The reasoning published by the Home Office is twofold: salary discounts undercut domestic wages in already-strained sectors, and the discount has historically been used by sponsoring employers to keep migrant pay below the regular threshold even when domestic recruitment failed. The MAC was asked to review the list and recommend which roles should retain protected status, which should move to full-threshold sponsorship, and which should be removed.
The MAC’s interim report (March 2026) recommended retaining a narrow list of roles tied to genuine, verified shortage in healthcare and agriculture, but recommended removing the broader ISL discount entirely. The Home Office accepted that recommendation, with the phase-out to complete by 31 December 2026. From 1 January 2027, all Skilled Worker visa applications must meet the full going-rate salary for the relevant SOC code with no ISL discount available.
Which six Health and Care roles are removed
The roles being removed from Health and Care Worker visa eligibility are: (1) Care Worker SOC 6135 — already closed to overseas applications from 22 July 2025; transition extensions allowed until 22 July 2028. (2) Senior Care Worker SOC 6136 — same closure schedule. (3) Nursery Assistant — removed from sponsor list. (4) Care Coordinator (where below the new salary floor). (5) Pharmacy Technician at lower SOC levels. (6) Pastoral Care Worker.
The impact on African workers is concentrated in three demographics. Care workers and senior carers — overwhelmingly West and East African women working in the social care sector — face the largest exposure. The transition extension through July 2028 buys time to switch routes (typically Health and Care Worker for a registered nurse role, ILR after the qualifying period, or family route through a settled spouse). Pharmacy technicians and pastoral care workers — both with smaller African populations — need to switch to other SOC codes or risk losing sponsorship at renewal.
What the December 2026 cutover looks like
Three groups need to plan differently. (1) New applicants: from 1 January 2027 you must clear the full going-rate salary plus the £41,700 general threshold — no exceptions. Lodge before 31 December 2026 if your role currently uses the ISL discount. (2) In-country switchers: if you are on a Student or Graduate visa planning to switch to Skilled Worker, do it before December if your target role uses the ISL discount; afterwards you need a higher salary offer. (3) Renewals: extending an existing Skilled Worker visa after December must meet the new threshold. If your salary will not match, ask your employer for an early pay review now.
The new April 2026 payroll compliance rule already requires that salary actually paid match the salary stated on the CoS, measured across any three-month window. Once the ISL discount disappears, the gap between sponsored pay and statutory threshold will be visible immediately — that triggers a Skilled Worker visa revocation, not a polite warning letter.
Currently sponsored at a salary that uses the ISL discount? Send your CoS reference, SOC code and current salary through https://linktr.ee/travelexpore and we will model your pay gap before December.
Survival routes for African workers exposed
Four options. (a) Switch employer to one that pays the full going rate, before December. Travel Explore tracks 380+ certified UK sponsors paying at or above the new threshold across healthcare, hospitality, IT and construction. (b) Move to a different SOC code that retains the discount or sits on the protected MAC list — that often means a promotion (e.g. carer to nursing associate) and may require additional registration or training. (c) Switch to a non-sponsored route: Graduate visa, Spouse visa, Global Talent visa, Innovator Founder visa, or Ireland’s Critical Skills Permit as a sideways European move.
(d) Build to ILR through the existing route if you have already accumulated qualifying time. Note the April 2026 ILR change extended the qualifying period from five to ten years for new applicants — but transitional protection exists for those who entered under the old rules. Talk to an OISC-registered adviser before assuming you fall under the old five-year clock; the transitional rules are case-specific.
Frequently asked questions
Is the UK Immigration Salary List 2026 the same as the old Shortage Occupation List?
It replaced the SOL in 2024 as a narrower list. The full ISL phase-out completes 31 December 2026, after which no salary discount is available.
Will care workers already in the UK be deported?
No. Care workers already in the UK on a valid Health and Care Worker visa can extend or switch under the transition until 22 July 2028. New overseas applications are closed.
What is the full going rate I need from January 2027?
The relevant going rate is the SOC code’s published rate plus the £41,700 general threshold, whichever is higher. Going rates are updated each spring based on ASHE data.
Can I extend my visa before the rule changes?
Yes — and you should. Extensions filed before 31 December 2026 use the current ISL rules. Plan the in-country switch or extension in November rather than December.
Are there any roles still protected after December?
A narrow list tied to verified shortage, mostly in healthcare and seasonal agriculture, will retain protected status. The MAC’s final list is expected in late 2026.
Push your application forward
If you want a written shortlist tailored to your salary, age and qualifications, request one through https://linktr.ee/travelexpore.
Bottom line for African applicants
- ISL salary discount disappears 31 December 2026 — lodge or extend before that date if you use it today.
- Six Health and Care Worker roles are removed; transition extensions for care workers run until 22 July 2028.
- Plan a switch to a full-going-rate sponsor, a non-sponsored route or an EU alternative if your salary cannot clear the new threshold.
Related reads from Travel Explore
- UK Health and Care Worker Visa 2026: 5 Mistakes That Kill Applications
- UK Skilled Worker Pay Rule 2026
- Caregiver Visa Routes 2026: UK, Ireland, Germany Compared
Share this story
- The UK is phasing out the salary discount by December. If your visa rides on the ISL, this is your last clear window.
- Six healthcare and care roles are being removed from sponsorship. Here is who is exposed and what to do.
- Most African care workers in the UK have not done the December math. Here it is.
Have a question about your case? Tap our team via https://linktr.ee/travelexpore and we’ll come back to you with a written next step.
