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The UK government is set to introduce stricter English language requirements for certain migrants, mandating proficiency at an A-level standard.
These changes, slated to take effect on January 8, 2026, will impact some graduates and applicants for skilled worker or scale-up visas, the latter designed for individuals employed by rapidly expanding businesses.
The revised regulations are a component of broader government initiatives, detailed in a May white paper, aimed at reducing overall immigration levels to the UK.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated: “Those seeking to reside in this country must acquire proficiency in our language and actively contribute to society.”
“The UK has a long history of welcoming individuals who come here and contribute positively,” Mahmood added.
“However, it is not acceptable for migrants to arrive without acquiring our language, hindering their ability to participate fully in our national life.”
Applicants will undergo in-person assessments of their speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills at Home Office-approved testing centers, with results verified as part of the visa application process.
Those applying for skilled worker, scale-up, and high potential individual (HPI) visas will be required to demonstrate B2 level proficiency, an increase from the current B1 standard, which is equivalent to GCSE level.
The skilled worker visa mandates employment with a government-approved employer and a minimum annual salary of £41,700, or the prevailing “going rate” for the specific occupation, whichever is higher.
The scale-up visa is available to migrants joining rapidly growing UK businesses. The high potential individual visa is accessible to those awarded a qualification from a top-tier global university within the past five years.
According to the British Council, which provides English language courses, learners at the B2 level can “understand the main ideas of complex texts on concrete or abstract topics.”
They can express themselves “fluently and spontaneously” and communicate comfortably with other English speakers. They can also produce “clear, detailed text on many subjects and explain a complex viewpoint”.
Home Office Minister Mike Tapp informed Parliament on Tuesday that further English language requirements for other visa routes and family dependents are anticipated to be introduced in due course.
The Prime Minister previously stated that the changes outlined in the white paper would ensure the UK’s immigration system is “controlled, selective, and fair.”
Home Office estimates suggest that the measures could reduce the number of individuals immigrating to the UK by up to 100,000 annually.
Net migration to the UK – the difference between total permanent arrivals and total permanent departures – fell to 431,000 in 2024, a decrease of nearly 50% compared to the 2023 total of 906,000, which was a record high.
Dr. Madeleine Sumption, Director of the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford, noted that the government faces a “trade-off” between “ensuring migrants speak good English and enabling employers to recruit workers who are expected to bring economic benefits.”
She stated that many graduate-level positions already require language skills exceeding A-level standards.
The new language requirements will have “more impact in middle-skilled jobs involving technical and manual skills, where employers sometimes do not require high language proficiency”.
Immigration lawyer Afsana Akhtar told BBC News she thought it was “unfair” that migrants had to reach such a high standard of English “because even many people in the UK probably wouldn’t be able to pass English A-level”.
“This would rule out even skilled workers who want to come and contribute to our British economy,” she said.
“The GCSE standard is sufficient – and then when they come live here, [and] integrate into England and the English way of life, their English will improve inevitably.”
Other measures outlined in the white paper include reducing the period international students can remain in the UK to seek graduate employment after course completion from two years to 18 months, effective January 2027.
Students will also be required to meet increased financial requirements, raised to £1,171 per month outside of London (from £1,136) for up to nine months.
The Global Talent visa, for high achievers in technology, arts, and academia, has also been expanded to include winners of a broader range of prestigious awards.
Further plans in the White Paper include, the immigration skills charge for UK employers to pay when sponsoring foreign workers on specific visas has also been increased to £480 per person per year for small organisations or charities, and to £1,320 for medium and large organisations.
This is raised from £364 and £1,000 respectively.
As part of the government’s efforts to attract highly skilled people to the country, the HPI route will be expanded. The number of migrants on the visa is expected to double from 2,000 to 4,000, but there will be a cap of 8,000 applications each year.
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