UK Skilled Worker Visa Eligible Occupations 2026: SOC Codes, RQF Level 6, and the ISL

Whether your job qualifies for the UK Skilled Worker visa is determined by a combination of your occupation's SOC 2020 code and its position in the government's skill classification tables. The rules changed fundamentally in July 2025, and many occupations that were previously eligible are no longer sponsorable under the standard route. Here is how the classification system works and what it means in practice.

The RQF Level 6 Requirement

Since July 22, 2025, every occupation sponsored under the standard Skilled Worker route must sit at Regulated Qualifications Framework Level 6 or above. RQF Level 6 is equivalent to a UK bachelor's degree — not in terms of what the applicant holds, but in terms of the skill level the occupation typically requires.

This was a significant tightening. The previous minimum was RQF Level 3 (A-level equivalent), which meant occupations like care workers, chefs, and some logistics roles were eligible. The 2025 change removed 111 occupations from standard eligibility in a single policy update.

The eligibility level is based on the SOC code, not your personal qualifications. An employer cannot sponsor you in a role classified at RQF Level 5 by claiming you have a degree. The code determines the classification.

How the SOC Code System Works

The Home Office uses the Standard Occupational Classification 2020 (SOC 2020) system, published by the Office for National Statistics. Every eligible occupation is assigned a four-digit SOC code, and each code carries:

• A skill level classification (RQF Level 6 or above, or a lower level)
• A "going rate" — the minimum salary for that code, updated annually using ASHE wage data
• Inclusion or exclusion from the Immigration Salary List

When your employer assigns a Certificate of Sponsorship, they must select the SOC code that genuinely reflects the role's duties and skill requirements. Using an RQF 6 code to sponsor a role that is genuinely sub-degree level is a compliance breach that UKVI detects through automated analysis of job duties against ONS definitions. The consequences include visa refusal and a compliance audit of the employer's entire sponsor operation.

Where to Find the Eligible Occupation List

The definitive list is published in Appendix Skilled Occupations on GOV.UK. It is structured as three tables:

• Table 1: Occupations at RQF Level 6 or above — eligible for standard Skilled Worker sponsorship
• Table 2: Health and education occupations with specific salary rules tied to national pay scales
• Table 3: Occupations at RQF Level 3 to 5 that are temporarily eligible through the Temporary Shortage List (TSL)

If your role's SOC code appears in Table 1 or Table 2, you are eligible for standard sponsorship. If it appears only in Table 3, it is on the Temporary Shortage List and eligibility expires on December 31, 2026.

The Temporary Shortage List: A Winding-Down Transitional Route

The TSL was introduced to protect workers and employers who had established roles at RQF Level 3-5 when the July 2025 rule change came in. It is explicitly temporary.

Key restrictions on TSL roles:

• Workers sponsored through TSL roles cannot bring dependants to the UK
• TSL roles are scheduled to be removed from eligibility by the end of 2026
• New CoS assignments for TSL roles may already be limited or closed depending on when you are applying

If your role is only eligible through the TSL, you should verify its current status before applying — and plan for the route to close entirely.

The Immigration Salary List: What Replaced the Shortage Occupation List

The Shortage Occupation List (SOL) was abolished in April 2024. It has been replaced by the Immigration Salary List (ISL), which serves a different and narrower function.

The SOL used to allow workers in shortage roles to be paid 80% of the going rate. The ISL does not provide a going-rate discount. What it does is lower the general salary threshold floor from £41,700 to £33,400 for occupations on the list.

What the ISL discount means in practice:

• Standard threshold: the higher of £41,700 or 100% of the SOC going rate
• ISL threshold: the higher of £33,400 or 100% of the SOC going rate

If the going rate for your occupation is above £41,700 (as it is for many professional roles), the ISL makes no practical difference — the going rate is the binding constraint regardless of whether the occupation is on the ISL. The ISL benefit is only meaningful when the general threshold is higher than the going rate.

The ISL is updated periodically. Current occupations on the list include biological scientists, high-integrity pipe welders, and a number of other shortage roles. The full list is published as Appendix Immigration Salary List on GOV.UK.

Common Eligible Occupations and Their Going Rates in 2026

The following are based on 2026 ASHE data as reflected in Appendix Skilled Occupations:

For occupations where the going rate is below £41,700, the general threshold is the binding minimum. For occupations where the going rate exceeds £41,700, the going rate governs.

Occupations That Are No Longer Eligible

The July 2025 RQF Level 6 change removed several high-volume sponsorship categories from standard eligibility:

• Care workers and senior care workers (SOC 6135, 6136)
• Chefs (SOC 5434, reclassified below RQF 6)
• Various warehouse, logistics, and admin support roles
• Many level 3-5 healthcare support roles

These occupations are either ineligible entirely or temporarily eligible through the expiring TSL with the dependant ban attached.

The impact is particularly significant in adult social care, which was previously one of the largest users of the Skilled Worker route. New sponsorship of care workers is now highly restricted.

Why SOC Code Selection Matters for Your Application

Employers sometimes attempt to use a higher-skilled SOC code than the role genuinely merits — either to bring the role above the RQF 6 threshold or to qualify the role for sponsorship at all. UKVI has invested significantly in automated matching of declared job duties against ONS occupation definitions. Misaligned codes are a leading cause of both refusal and post-approval compliance audits.

If you receive a job offer and the employer proposes a SOC code that seems inconsistent with the actual role, this creates risk for both parties. The employer risks licence action; you risk a refusal and the loss of application fees.

If you are unsure which SOC code applies to your role and whether it qualifies for standard Skilled Worker sponsorship, the UK Skilled Worker Visa Guide includes a section on verifying occupational eligibility, including how to cross-reference the Appendix tables and identify the correct going rate for your SOC code before the CoS is assigned.