SOC 2020 code 6131: Nursing auxiliaries and assistants

Can nursing assistants still be sponsored in 2027?

Nursing assistants (SOC 6131): on the Immigration Salary List until 31 December 2026. It can still be sponsored on national pay scales, but the ISL rate ends.

Last reviewed 11 November 2026

General information, not immigration or legal advice

These results come from public announcements and the current Immigration Rules. They do not say whether you or anyone else qualifies for a visa or settlement. Most 2027 changes are announced but not yet law, and details can change. Before acting, check with a regulated immigration adviser (OISC-registered) or a solicitor.

Check thisIn forceIn RulesMAC recommendation

ISL / TSL deadline

On the ISL until December 2026. The job can still be sponsored on national pay scales, but the lower ISL threshold ends.

What changes

On the current Immigration Salary List. The row is removed on 31 December 2026; a certificate must be issued before that date.
The last day to issue a certificate under the current lists is 30 December 2026.
The ISL and the interim TSL are separate lists. Neither rolls over automatically, and not every ISL occupation is on the MAC's recommended list.
This occupation is not among the 28 the MAC recommended for a new Temporary Shortage List from January 2027.

What to do

If a certificate depends on the current lists, it needs to be issued by 30 December 2026.
Watch for a Statement of Changes setting out the list that applies from 1 January 2027.

Sources:Immigration Rules: Appendix Skilled Worker Immigration Rules: Appendix Immigration Salary List gov.uk: Temporary Shortage List gov.uk: Immigration Salary List MAC: Temporary Shortage List Stage 2 report

At a glance

Immigration Salary List: Yes. Removed on 31 December 2026, so the last day to issue a certificate is 30 December 2026.
Interim Temporary Shortage List: No
MAC's recommended list for 2027: No
Salary today: Set by national pay scales: the relevant band in Table 4 of Appendix Skilled Occupations. Bands 1 and 2 cannot be sponsored, and the code only applies where registered nurses or other registered healthcare professionals also work.
Example job titles: Auxiliary nurse, Health care assistant (hospital service), Health care support worker, Nursing assistant. From Appendix Skilled Occupations; the duties decide the code, not the title.
2027 salary figures: Not published, including how the reform applies to pay-scale jobs.

Check your own situation

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Questions about nursing assistants

Are nursing assistants on the Temporary Shortage List?

Not the current interim Temporary Shortage List. The job is on the separate Immigration Salary List instead. The job is not among the 28 occupations the Migration Advisory Committee recommended for a new Temporary Shortage List from January 2027.

Are nursing assistants on the Immigration Salary List?

Yes. The row is removed on 31 December 2026, and a certificate must be issued before that date to use the lower ISL threshold, so the last day is 30 December 2026.

What salary do nursing assistants need for a Skilled Worker visa?

Pay follows national pay scales: the going rate is the relevant pay band in Table 4 of Appendix Skilled Occupations, and bands 1 and 2 cannot be sponsored. The code only applies where registered nurses or other registered healthcare professionals also work. How the 2027 salary reform affects pay-scale jobs has not been published, and no 2027 figures have been published.

Which job titles come under SOC code 6131?

Appendix Skilled Occupations lists job titles for 6131 nursing auxiliaries and assistants including: Auxiliary nurse; Health care assistant (hospital service); Health care support worker; Nursing assistant. The code on a certificate depends on the duties of the job, not only its title.

Related occupations

See every occupation on the lists