Migrants will be required to pass tough new English language
requirements under a law introduced in Parliament today (14
October), as the government continues to replace Britain's failed
immigration system with one that is controlled, selective and
fair.
Immigrants applying through certain legal routes must meet an A
level equivalent standard in speaking, listening, reading and
writing.
The Secure English Language Test must be conducted with a Home
Office-approved provider, and the results will then be verified
as part of the visa application process.
Home Secretary, , said:
This country has always welcomed those who come to this country
and contribute.
But it is unacceptable for migrants to come here without learning
our language, unable to contribute to our national life.
If you come to this country, you must learn our language and play
your part.
Laid in changes before Parliament this week, the measures form
part of the government's flagship immigration white paper and
Plan for Change to deliver on the priorities of working people
for tighter control of who comes to this country while continuing
to attract top global talent.
The time for international students to find a graduate-level job
after completing their studies will also be cut to 18 months from
the current two years.
The immigration skills charge (ISC), which is paid by
employers sponsoring skilled foreign workers and reinvested in
training the domestic workforce, is being raised by 32%.
The ISC increase
is the first since 2017 and will be used to boost investment in
British workers and reduce reliance on overseas recruitment. The
Parliamentary process to increase the charge will begin later
this week.
To ensure graduates contribute effectively to the economy, the
maximum post-study stay will be reduced to 18 months from the
current 2 years for most from 1 January 2027. It comes after data
clearly showed that many holders had not transitioned into
graduate-level employment as intended.
Finance requirements for student visas will also be increased for
the 2025 to 2026 academic year, meaning foreign students will
have to demonstrate they have sufficient funds to support
themselves.
A series of changes to position the UK as a global leader in
attracting highly skilled talent, outlined in the immigration
white paper, and aligned with the UK's industrial strategy, are
also being made.
Changes include:
-
Expansion of the High Potential Individual (HPI) route to graduates
from the top 100 international universities, with a cap of
8,000 applications per year. The number of people coming to
the UK through the HPI route is expected to
double from 2,000 to 4,000, giving graduates from the world's
best universities the chance to base their careers in the
UK.
-
The world's most talented entrepreneurs studying in the UK
will also be able to seamlessly establish innovative business
ventures in the UK after concluding their studies, while
transitioning from a student visa to the Innovator Founder
route.
-
Enhancements to the Global Talent route, including an
expanded list of prestigious prizes and changes to expand
some of the evidential requirements of achievement and
contribution for architects.
The government aims to double the number of highly skilled people
coming to the UK on our high skilled routes, including the best
researchers, designers, and creatives working in film and TV to
ensure continued competitiveness in growth sectors. Further
changes, including to the Global Talent route, will be made in
2026.
The immigration white paper forms part of the Plan for Change to
reform our immigration system, with further measures on asylum
and border security to be announced later this autumn.
In further changes, effective from 3pm today, all nationals of
Botswana will now be required to obtain a visa before travelling
to the UK, including for short visits.
This decision comes in response to a high number of Botswana
nationals arriving since 2022 as visitors and subsequently
claiming asylum, which is a misuse of the UK's immigration
system.
