The new Temporary Shortage List (TSL) would apply to occupations at below degree level (i.e. RQF Levels 3–5) that are currently deemed by the MAC to be in shortage and that would otherwise no longer be eligible for sponsorship once the ISL is phased out.

This route will only be available if the following conditions apply:
<ul>
 	<li>where the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) advises it is justified;</li>
 	<li>a proper workforce strategy is in place to reduce dependency on migrant labour;</li>
 	<li>employers have made demonstrable efforts to recruit and train from the domestic workforce; and</li>
 	<li>the sector is aligned with national priorities – e.g. contributing to the UK’s Industrial Strategy or delivering critical infrastructure.</li>
</ul>
Visa conditions under the TSL will also be significantly tightened, such as shorter visa terms, the inability to bring dependants, and exclusion from settlement. This would be a notable shift from the current ISL arrangements.

Importantly, the White Paper recognises that the new framework will take time to implement. As an interim measure, the TSL route would initially reflect existing shortages identified by the MAC, including roles critical to industrial delivery. So, while some continuity may exist in the short term, employers should be preparing now for a future in which access to overseas labour in RQF 3–5 roles might become more limited and conditional.