The UK could significantly tighten its Skilled Worker visa rules from 2027, after the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) recommended cutting the number of eligible mid-skilled occupations for overseas recruitment from 52 to just 28.

The recommendations, published on July 23, 2026, form the second stage of the MAC's review of the Temporary Shortage List. While the proposals have attracted widespread attention, they are not yet law, and the UK government has not confirmed whether it will adopt them.

Under the current immigration system, jobs on the Temporary Shortage List can qualify for Skilled Worker sponsorship even if they fall between RQF Levels 3 and 5, below the graduate-level threshold normally required for work visas.

The committee has proposed retaining 20 occupations from the existing list while adding eight new roles, mainly in sectors such as engineering, manufacturing, construction, digital infrastructure and data analysis.

However, several occupations could lose eligibility for overseas recruitment. These include roles in business sales, human resources, legal services, advertising, marketing and parts of the creative industry, including authors, writers and photographers.

The MAC has also recommended that the revised list remain in place for 18 months, from January 1, 2027, to June 30, 2028, instead of the usual three-year period. It wants employers to focus more on recruiting and training workers already living in the UK rather than relying on overseas labour.

The proposed changes would mainly affect employers seeking to sponsor new overseas workers. Existing Skilled Worker visa holders are expected to remain eligible for visa extensions and settlement under current rules, although the government has yet to announce any transitional arrangements.

Until ministers make a final decision, the recommendations remain proposals and no immigration rules have changed.