File photo courtesy of Wikipedia

 

Migrants looking to work in the UK will face tougher English language requirements from 8 January 2026. The government has announced a new plan mandating English proficiency at an A-level standard for certain visa applicants, including skilled workers and graduates employed by rapidly growing businesses. This measure is part of a broader strategy unveiled in a white paper in May to decrease immigration levels.

 

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood emphasised the importance of language in integrating into British life, stating that it's essential for migrants to speak English and contribute to the community. Applicants for skilled worker, scale-up, and high potential individual (HPI) visas must achieve a B2 level in tests conducted by Home Office-approved providers, a step up from the B1 level, equivalent to GCSE. Skilled workers must also have a job offer from a government-approved employer with a minimum annual salary of £41,700.

 

Dr Madeleine Sumption from the Migration Observatory at Oxford noted a potential impact on mid-skilled jobs, stating that these requirements might not match current employer language demands. Immigration lawyer Afsana Akhtar criticised the changes as potentially exclusionary, arguing the bar is set too high and suggesting basic language skills improve naturally as migrants adjust to life in the UK.

 

The white paper also introduces other reforms, including cutting the post-study work period for international students from two years to 18 months starting January 2027, and raising financial requirements for students studying outside London. Additionally, the immigration skills charge for organisations sponsoring foreign workers will increase to £480 per year for small businesses and £1,320 for larger entities.

 

In tandem with these constraints, the government is expanding opportunities for highly skilled migrants by doubling the HPI visa route, expecting migrants on this visa to rise from 2,000 to 4,000 annually, capped at 8,000 applications each year.

 

In tandem with these constraints, the government is expanding opportunities for highly skilled migrants by doubling the HPI visa route, expecting migrants on this visa to rise from 2,000 to 4,000 annually, capped at 8,000 applications each year.

 

 

Key Takeaways:

 

• New rules will require A-level English for certain UK visas from 2026.
• Government aims to reduce immigration by 100,000 annually.
• Other measures include increased visa fees and expanded high-skill visas.

Related Stories:

 

Calls for Tougher UK Migration Rules as Integration Falters
Tories Unveil Bold Plan to Expel 750,000 Migrants

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from BBC 2025-10-15

 

 

Good. Let's hope Thailand impose similar restrictions on retirement visas. That would cut out a lot of the riff-raff.

12 minutes ago, JayClay said:

Good. Let's hope Thailand impose similar restrictions on retirement visas. That would cut out a lot of the riff-raff.

Silly statement.

As this is Thailand, not the UK, then you are saying every retiree should speak fluent Thai...idiotic.

13 minutes ago, JayClay said:

Good. Let's hope Thailand impose similar restrictions on retirement visas. That would cut out a lot of the riff-raff.

 

Let's hope the UK follows Thailand and imposes similar restrictions on foreigners entering the UK:

1. Cannot buy land.

2. Cannot work

3. White English people get half price at Alton towers and other tourist attractions. 

4. Detention and deport for any overstayers / illegal arrivals.  No appeal.  

5. No access to taxpayer funded benefits.

6. No free medical care.

20 minutes ago, couchpotato said:

Silly statement.

As this is Thailand, not the UK, then you are saying every retiree should speak fluent Thai...idiotic.

 

If you're one of the ones who don't get the joke, you're probably one of the ones it's mocking.

17 minutes ago, James105 said:

 

Let's hope the UK follows Thailand and imposes similar restrictions on foreigners entering the UK:

1. Cannot buy land.

2. Cannot work

3. White English people get half price at Alton towers and other tourist attractions. 

4. Detention and deport for any overstayers / illegal arrivals.  No appeal.  

5. No access to taxpayer funded benefits.

6. No free medical care.

 

So you're willing to accept that trade in exchange for all foreigners in Thailand being able to speak Thai?

 

Sure, that works for me.

1 hour ago, JayClay said:

Good. Let's hope Thailand impose similar restrictions on retirement visas. That would cut out a lot of the riff-raff.

I am an expat living here for about 24 years. I speak somewhat passable Thai.... enough to communicate what I need and understand what is said to me. I never took any classes. It is not that hard (tho I much prefer Indonesian... now that is an easy lingo).

I know expats here as long as me that can barely say hello in Thai. And still have the gall to be angry about immigrants back in home country not speaking Ingriss... 

Kind of fun to not let on you understand when listening to Thais talk about you. I don't go bar hopping any more but that was the best....

I wonder if this will apply to those seeking Settlement visas for family? 

 

Currently only A1 level is required for the initial visa, then A2, and B1 for LTR.

Not much thought has gone into this. Another low resolution solution from our glorious leaders. Basically, they're making the test harder so more people will fail and cutting post-grad work visas by 25% 🤔

1 hour ago, Emdog said:

I am an expat living here for about 24 years. I speak somewhat passable Thai.... enough to communicate what I need and understand what is said to me. I never took any classes. It is not that hard (tho I much prefer Indonesian... now that is an easy lingo).

I know expats here as long as me that can barely say hello in Thai. And still have the gall to be angry about immigrants back in home country not speaking Ingriss... 

Kind of fun to not let on you understand when listening to Thais talk about you. I don't go bar hopping any more but that was the best....

You are a visitor. If you wanted to immigrate to Thailand, you would have to speak passable Thai. 

 

Migrants should also be required to get the approval of the representatives of the unofficial state religion at their nearest UK mosque.

3 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

You are a visitor. If you wanted to immigrate to Thailand, you would have to speak passable Thai. 

 

Very true.  There's a reason that most of us are labelled "non-immigrants".

3 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

You are a visitor. If you wanted to immigrate to Thailand, you would have to speak passable Thai. 

 

You don't need to speak passable Thai to get a work permit.

 

The article is about working in UK .

4 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

I wonder if this will apply to those seeking Settlement visas for family? 

 

Currently only A1 level is required for the initial visa, then A2, and B1 for LTR.

If they did, those on settlement visas would be among the best speakers in UK, including born and bred citizens. 🤣🤣🤣

Just for fun, having read some strange English like not knowing the difference between losing/loosing, your/you're, I think the nationality test should include British born people. That would be good for a laugh.

3 hours ago, Purdey said:

Just for fun, having read some strange English like not knowing the difference between losing/loosing, your/you're, I think the nationality test should include British born people. That would be good for a laugh.

 

Why should it?   Presumably you would want to see consequences for failure?  Some people are mentally retarded or have other conditions that prevent them from having perfect English skills.  Some mental disabilities occur from the result of incestuous marriages common amongst a certain religion.  These people would likely fail an English test.  After you have finished rolling on the floor laughing at them when they fail where would you like to deport them to?     

6 hours ago, Purdey said:

Just for fun, having read some strange English like not knowing the difference between losing/loosing, your/you're, I think the nationality test should include British born people. That would be good for a laugh.

There isn't a "Nationality Test". There is a life in UK test, needed for ILR since 2007. 

 

There are also English language tests, the subject of this thread.

 

I agree with your suggestion with regards to British born taking the language test. It would be fun. 😅😅

 

The Life in UK test us already infamous for British nationals not knowing many of the answers.

2 hours ago, James105 said:

 

Why should it?   Presumably you would want to see consequences for failure?  Some people are mentally retarded or have other conditions that prevent them from having perfect English skills.  Some mental disabilities occur from the result of incestuous marriages common amongst a certain religion.  These people would likely fail an English test.  After you have finished rolling on the floor laughing at them when they fail where would you like to deport them to?     

Your humour bypass appears to have been successful.

19 hours ago, youreavinalaff said:

If they did, those on settlement visas would be among the best speakers in UK, including born and bred citizens. 🤣🤣🤣

Cannot say Born and Bred, It is racist.

 

https://labourheartlands.com/born-and-bred-the-new-hate-crime/

On 10/15/2025 at 8:44 AM, JayClay said:

Good. Let's hope Thailand impose similar restrictions on retirement visas. That would cut out a lot of the riff-raff.

A person retiring in Thailand on a 'visa' for retirement, is not a migrant, nor are they looking to work??

15 hours ago, James105 said:

 

Why should it?   Presumably you would want to see consequences for failure?  Some people are mentally retarded or have other conditions that prevent them from having perfect English skills.  Some mental disabilities occur from the result of incestuous marriages common amongst a certain religion.  These people would likely fail an English test.  After you have finished rolling on the floor laughing at them when they fail where would you like to deport them to?     

I think you are deliberately misinterpreting. Most people here make howlers and you are thinking they have mental problems? Yet they think immigrants have to write better the than the British?

I taught English in Japan back mid 80's, supposedly Brit flavor.

I recall vividly student asking me "What is the difference between 'I quite like it' and 'I quite like it'?" haha I suppose depends on emphasis and inflection.

I told the student "How about learning US English? We're just across the pond and do a heck of a lot of business with you guys". 

I enjoy Brit English (and football)... young, Beatles lyrics... "I've learnt the game" 'learnt?'.... Had an MGB in high school: boots and bonnets... derby vs darby sound... a game is a 'tie'... 

Oh, and I get that many of us are not immigrants, we're on a 'retirement extension'.... but walks and quacks like a duck AND we don't have to jump thru health insurance hoops.

On 10/15/2025 at 5:03 AM, James105 said:

 

Let's hope the UK follows Thailand and imposes similar restrictions on foreigners entering the UK:

1. Cannot buy land.

2. Cannot work

3. White English people get half price at Alton towers and other tourist attractions. 

4. Detention and deport for any overstayers / illegal arrivals.  No appeal.  

5. No access to taxpayer funded benefits.

6. No free medical care.

Backdated to Windrush

59 minutes ago, BlueScouse said:

Cannot say Born and Bred, It is racist.

 

https://labourheartlands.com/born-and-bred-the-new-hate-crime/

 

19 hours ago, Purdey said:

Just for fun, having read some strange English like not knowing the difference between losing/loosing, your/you're, I think the nationality test should include British born people. That would be good for a laugh.

A lot would fail.  It seems a lot of schools stopped focusing on spelling and grammar in the 1980s and 90s.

 

15 minutes ago, bannork said:

A lot would fail.  It seems a lot of schools stopped focusing on spelling and grammar in the 1980s and 90s.

 

More people  seem to think it is so exciting.

Surely exceptions will be made for members of certain religions, ethnic minorities, asylum seekers, non-binary etc.

 

Can't be upsetting any groups. That would be Wacist. 

3 hours ago, BlueScouse said:

Cannot say Born and Bred, It is racist.

 

https://labourheartlands.com/born-and-bred-the-new-hate-crime/

It's not racist. I've not mentioned anything about race.

On 10/15/2025 at 8:59 AM, couchpotato said:

Silly statement.

As this is Thailand, not the UK, then you are saying every retiree should speak fluent Thai...idiotic.

No! Fluent Tinglish.

3 minutes ago, SunsetT said:

No! Fluent Tinglish.

Every farang should be able to use "Same same but different'' in everyday conversation.