Migrants will need A-level standard English to work in UK
- On Tuesday, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced migrants must meet an A-level English standard for skilled worker, scale-up and HPI visas, with changes laid in Parliament and effective after November 4.
- The government framed the measures as part of the Immigration White Paper and Plan for Change to tighten controls and reduce reliance on cheap foreign labour.
- Applicants must pass a Secure English Language Test at a Home Office-approved provider, with results verified during the visa application process, and adult dependants must show basic A1 English before entry.
- Home Office estimates show arrivals could drop by up to 100,000 yearly, while employers hiring foreign staff face a 32% rise in the immigration skills charge reinvested in domestic workforce training.
- From Tuesday, the HPI route will be expanded with intake expected to double from 2,000 to 4,000, with a cap of 8,000 applications, and Botswana nationals will require a visa from 3pm on Tuesday.
20 Articles
20 Articles
Migrants to face A-Level English test
Migrants applying to work in the UK will soon face tougher English language requirements, with certain applicants required to demonstrate A-Level-equivalent proficiency from January 8, 2026, according to Gov.uk. The proposal – part of the government’s Plan for Change immigration white paper – raises the standard from the current B1 (GCSE level) to B2 (A-Level), testing speaking, listening… Source
Some migrants arriving in the UK will need to speak English at an advanced level, according to the new stricter rules that the government will introduce.October 14, 2025.'The changes, which will enter into force from January 8...
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