UK Shortage Occupation / Immigration Salary List 2026
The Immigration Salary List (ISL) replaced the Shortage Occupation List in April 2024. If you apply under an ISL role, a certified translation of your foreign qualifications is the step that decides your case.
The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) advised the move from the old Shortage Occupation List to a narrower Immigration Salary List. Parliament adopted the change in 2024. Jobs on the ISL get a 20% discount on the Skilled Worker salary threshold, plus a discount on the visa fee. To get that benefit, you must prove your job fits one of the listed occupations. If your qualifications or work history are written in another language, a certified translation is the gate you must pass.
SOC codes, occupation names, and the ISL in 2026
The ISL is a set of Standard Occupational Classification (SOC 2020) codes, each with a short description. Most listed roles are in engineering, construction, IT, care and creative work. The MAC reviews the list from time to time. Always check the current list on GOV.UK before you build your evidence bundle.
Document Categories for ISL Claims
Proving an ISL occupation usually takes several foreign-language documents. Each one does a different job:
- Formal qualifications — university degrees, technical college diplomas and vocational certificates that show the academic base for the job.
- Trade certifications — welding certificates, electrical safety qualifications, chartered engineer status, veterinary registrations.
- Employer reference letters — full detail of the duties you actually did, matched to the SOC code's description.
- Professional body memberships — overseas equivalents of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, etc.
- Continuing professional development (CPD) records, where they matter for the job (above all in healthcare and engineering).
- Salary evidence — payslips and contracts that show the UK salary on offer meets the ISL-discounted threshold and the going rate.
Translating Trade and Technical Qualifications
Trade qualifications are harder to translate than academic degrees. They often contain:
- Job codes (ISCO, SOC-equivalents) — kept word for word so UKVI or the sponsor's compliance team can check them.
- Competence levels (EQF levels, NVQ equivalents) — translated with a short note to explain them.
- Modules and assessment methods — kept in full so the UK body that recognises the qualification can match it.
- Issuing authority — kept in the original, with the English spelling beside it.
- Stamps and seals — described as labelled blocks, never left out.
The Employer Letter Is Your SOC-Code Proof
Here is a common reason for refusal. The role is claimed under SOC 2411 (programmers), but the employer letter describes daily duties that look more like SOC 2139 (IT installation technicians). The ISL discount applies to some codes and not others. The wording of the employer letter decides which code you get. So we translate duty descriptions word for word, and UKVI can then match them to the code:
Good practice checklist for translating employer letters for ISL:
- Preserve the job title in original and English.
- Translate duties literally — don't "improve" the language.
- Retain any regulatory references (e.g. "performs Class II medical device QA under EU MDR").
- Keep percentages of time spent on each duty exactly as written.
- Keep words that show rank ("senior", "lead", "junior") — they change the going rate.
Don't let a translator "clean up" vague foreign job titles
Here is a common mistake. A Spanish employer letter calls the role "técnico de sistemas", and the translator turns it into "systems engineer". Those are two different SOC codes with different salary floors. The correct translation is "systems technician", even if it sounds less impressive. UKVI reads the SOC code, not how grand the job title sounds.
What an ISL Evidence Translation Bundle Includes
- Degree or trade certificate, with the original qualification name in brackets the first time it appears.
- Academic transcript or competence framework, with the grade and level scales explained.
- Employer reference letter translated word for word, with the duties kept as written.
- Professional body membership letters, with the membership number, category and start date.
- Payslips and contracts translated with salary categorisation.
- A certification page that meets UKVI and sponsor compliance standards.
Turnaround and Cost
- Single qualification certificate: 24 hours, flat-rate certified translation.
- Full ISL bundle (qualification + transcript + employer letter + payslips): 3 working days.
- Urgent CoS-assignment window: we can do the full bundle in 24 hours if you ask.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my sponsor need to be on the ISL, or me?
The ISL applies to the role and the SOC code, not to you or your sponsor. Your sponsor must hold a Skilled Worker sponsor licence. The Certificate of Sponsorship states the SOC code being claimed. If that code is on the list, the ISL discount applies automatically.
Do I need Ecctis to confirm my qualification is equivalent?
Some ISL entries ask for a set qualification level, such as RQF Level 3 for some care roles. For those, you usually need an Ecctis assessment. Our translation of the qualification is the first step in the Ecctis application.
If my role is on the ISL, is the salary threshold automatically lower?
The ISL gives a 20% discount on the general salary threshold. But you must still meet the going rate floor for your code. Your real minimum depends on both figures. Our translation proves the role and the salary. UKVI does the maths on the threshold.
Does the ISL still apply if I'm switching from another UK visa?
Yes. The ISL applies to entry clearance and to switching applications, as long as the sponsor and the role qualify. The translation rules are the same in both cases when your evidence is in another language.
My qualification doesn't exist in the UK. What do we translate it as?
We translate the name word for word and keep the original. We do not claim a UK equivalent. A translator's note explains the framework, such as the EQF level or Bologna cycle. Ecctis then matches it to a UK framework level.
Is the new-entrant rate still a thing in 2026?
Yes. You can claim the new-entrant rate if you are under 26, or if you graduated in the UK recently. It is a separate discount, and in some cases it stacks with the ISL. You need the same translated evidence as for a main ISL application. You also need a translated birth certificate or graduation certificate.
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