Photo credit: The Hill
The UK government has introduced new English language requirements for migrants under new immigration reforms introduced this year.
Jurist News reports that the government described the change as a means of replacing “Britain’s failed immigration system with one that is controlled, selective and fair.”
The new rules will require migrants to meet “an A-level equivalent standard in speaking, listening, reading and writing.”
Visa applicants must pass an examination called the Secure English Language Test. The test will be taken through “a Home Office-appointed provider.” The addition to the reform policy was introduced in Parliament on Tuesday.
The government announced the White Paper reforms in May 2025, titled “Restoring Control Over the Immigration System,” which tightened rules on visas, asylum, and citizenship. Graduate post-study stay has been reduced from two years to 18 months, with stricter requirements on eligible university programs. Notably, the time requirements for applying for “settled” status have doubled from five to ten years.
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