The UK government on Tuesday (October 14) introduced a law in Parliament under which migrants will be required to pass tough new English language requirements. This new law has been tabled by the Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood MP, who stated that this is being tabled in the Parliament “as the government continues to replace Britain’s failed immigration system with one that is controlled, selective and fair.”
As per the official press release, all immigrants applying through certain legal routes must meet an A-level equivalent standard in speaking, listening, reading and writing. This English language assessment will have to be conducted with a Home Office-approved provider, and the results will then be verified as part of the visa application process.
Additionally, 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. This is being done to ensure graduates contribute effectively to the economy, and will be brought into effect from January 2027. It comes after data clearly showed that many holders had not transitioned into graduate-level employment as intended.
In addition to this, 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. The MP has also proposed to raise the immigration skills charge (ISC), which is paid by employers sponsoring skilled foreign workers and reinvested in training the domestic workforce. It has been proposed that the charges be increased by 32 per cent.
Through these changes, the UK government aims to double the number of highly skilled people going to the UK on the 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.
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 proposed changes fall under the UK government’s flagship immigration white paper and Plan for Change, which aims to control immigration numbers while ensuring the country continues to attract top global talent, while ensuring locals do not suffer.
