Temporary Shortage List UK: What Happens After December 2026?

The UK’s interim Temporary Shortage List (TSL) is set to expire at the end of 2026. In July 2026 the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) recommended a much shorter replacement list of 28 occupations, each with 18 months of access. As of 11 October 2026, the government has not said which recommendations it will accept, so employers and workers in medium-skilled roles face real uncertainty about sponsorship from 1 January 2027.

Key points

• The TSL lets employers sponsor some medium-skilled (RQF 3 to 5) jobs that would otherwise be ineligible for a Skilled Worker visa.
• TSL and Immigration Salary List (ISL) entries are due to be removed at the end of 2026, except adult social care.
• The MAC recommended 28 occupations for 18 months, down from the 52 on the interim list.
• No government decision or transitional rules had been published as of 11 October 2026.

What the Temporary Shortage List does

Since 22 July 2025, new Skilled Worker roles must normally be at RQF 6 (degree level). The HC 997 explanatory memorandum created the interim TSL as a time-limited exception for medium-skilled jobs considered important to the Industrial Strategy or critical infrastructure. The interim list was published on GOV.UK on 22 July 2025.

Under the GOV.UK your job rules, a medium-skilled job qualifies only if it is on the TSL or the ISL, or if it is a prison officer role for someone extending or switching. TSL roles come with restrictions. Workers in RQF 3 to 5 roles sponsored through either list cannot bring dependants, apart from limited exceptions such as UK-born children.

For the wider rules, see our UK Skilled Worker visa guide.

The end-of-2026 expiry

HC 997 set the removal date for TSL and ISL occupations at the end of 2026. Adult social care (care workers and senior care workers) is handled separately, with in-country switching allowed until 22 July 2028. The memorandum also says the government can bring the end date forward if it finds compliance problems in a sector.

What the MAC recommended

The MAC published its Stage 2 report on 23 July 2026. According to the covering letter to the Home Secretary:

Item	MAC position
Occupations reviewed at Stage 2	82 passed Stage 1; 46 submitted Jobs Plans
Recommended for the TSL	28
Not recommended (of those with Jobs Plans)	18
Length of access	18 months for all recommended occupations
3-year access	Not recommended for any occupation, as no Jobs Plan was strong enough
Review	A lighter-touch review before the 18 months end, then reviews every 3 years
Devolved nations	No nation-specific additions

The MAC assessed each occupation against four tests: a current or near-future shortage, a credible plan to grow the domestic workforce (the “Jobs Plan”), management of exploitation risks, and whether TSL access is appropriate. Continued access would depend on progress against those Jobs Plans.

The letter does not set out transitional arrangements for workers already sponsored. That decision belongs to the Home Office. Law firm summaries of the report list construction trades such as electricians, plumbers and carpenters among the recommended occupations, but check the full report for the definitive list before relying on it.

What the government has (and has not) said

As of 11 October 2026:

• The government has not published a response to the Stage 2 report.
• No Statement of Changes has been laid to replace the interim TSL from 1 January 2027.
• No transitional arrangements for current TSL or ISL workers have been announced.

Any change would normally be made through a Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules. We will track this on our updates page.

What employers can do before 31 December

These are general planning points, not legal advice:

1. Audit your sponsored workforce. List every worker whose role is RQF 3 to 5 and sponsored only because it is on the TSL or ISL.
2. Check expiry dates. Identify anyone whose visa ends, or who needs to change role, in 2027.
3. Compare against the MAC’s 28 occupations. If your occupation code was not recommended, plan for the possibility that new sponsorship in that code ends.
4. Consider timing. If a new CoS is needed for an occupation that may leave the list, discuss with your adviser whether it is sensible to assign it before the end of 2026, while the current list applies.
5. Budget for RQF 6 roles. Where a role could be redesigned at graduate level, remember the £41,700 general salary threshold. See Skilled Worker salary thresholds and going rates.

What workers can do

• Ask your employer whether your occupation code is on the interim TSL or ISL, and whether it appears in the MAC’s recommendations.
• Check your visa end date. If you need an extension or want to change employer in 2027, the transitional rules will matter a great deal.
• Remember the protection for pre-July 2025 workers. If your first CoS was issued before 22 July 2025, you can currently extend in a medium-skilled role even if it is not on either list.
• Speak to a regulated adviser (OISC/IAA-regulated or a solicitor) if your status depends on the TSL and you are close to an extension date.

What to do next

Bookmark the UK country hub and check the GOV.UK TSL page in December. If the government publishes a new list or transitional rules, we will update this post the same week.