The Home Office have introduced a number of changes in the process for Settlement in the UK for most groups of applicants wishing to settle and ultimatley gain British Citizenship.

There will be a higher standard of English required for applicants seeking Indefinate Leave to Remain, with applicants for ILR being required to pass an English Language Test at the B2 level, it's currently B1.
The new requirements are being introduced retrospectively, which means that those already in the UK and part way through their settlement journey will be required to meet the higher requirements when they come into force in March 2027.

I understand that later changes will be published later in the year.

The relevent sections of the memo, which is attached, are copied below:

Change to English language requirements

5.60 This change increases the English language requirement for settlement to B2 level under the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) for a number of immigration routes where the existing requirement is at B1 level.

The changes apply to those routes covered by

Appendix KoLL; Appendix Skilled Worker;

Appendix Tier 2 Minister of Religion; Appendix Representative of an Overseas Business; Appendix UK Ancestry; Appendix Global Talent;

Appendix Scale Up; Appendix Innovator Founder; Appendix International Sportsperson; Appendix Child Relative (Sponsors with Protection);

Appendix Long Residence; Appendix Bereaved Partner; Appendix Private Life; and Appendix Settlement Family Life; and make consequential amendments to Appendix English Language.

5.61 These changes commence implementation of the relevant commitment in the White Paper “Restoring Control over the Immigration System” published in May 2025 which set out plans to introduce new English language requirements across a broader range of immigration routes to ensure better knowledge of English, including an 14 assessment of improvements over time. They help ensure that those who come hereThey help ensure that those who come here to build their lives in the UK can integrate into life in this country.

5.62 These changes will come into force on 26 March 2027.

The changes will therefore apply to those already on a pathway to settlement in the UK and the rules applying to the Skilled Worker route and Scale Up routes are accordingly amended to apply the language requirement at settlement stage in addition to the requirements specified for a limited permission. The coming into force of these changes is being deferred until 26 March 2027 in order to provide those subject to the new requirements with sufficient opportunity to take any steps necessary to meet them.

Statement of changes

3 minutes ago, theoldgit said:

The Home Office have introduced a number of changes in the process for Settlement in the UK for most groups of applicants wishing to settle and ultimatley gain British Citizenship.

There will be a higher standard of English required for applicants seeking Indefinate Leave to Remain, with applicants for ILR being required to pass an English Language Test at the B2 level, it's currently B1.
The new requirements are being introduced retrospectively, which means that those already in the UK and part way through their settlement journey will be required to meet the higher requirements when they come into force in March 2027.

I understand that later changes will be published later in the year.

The relevent sections of the memo, which is attached, are copied below:

Change to English language requirements

5.60 This change increases the English language requirement for settlement to B2 level under the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) for a number of immigration routes where the existing requirement is at B1 level.

The changes apply to those routes covered by

Appendix KoLL; Appendix Skilled Worker;

Appendix Tier 2 Minister of Religion; Appendix Representative of an Overseas Business; Appendix UK Ancestry; Appendix Global Talent;

Appendix Scale Up; Appendix Innovator Founder; Appendix International Sportsperson; Appendix Child Relative (Sponsors with Protection);

Appendix Long Residence; Appendix Bereaved Partner; Appendix Private Life; and Appendix Settlement Family Life; and make consequential amendments to Appendix English Language.

5.61 These changes commence implementation of the relevant commitment in the White Paper “Restoring Control over the Immigration System” published in May 2025 which set out plans to introduce new English language requirements across a broader range of immigration routes to ensure better knowledge of English, including an 14 assessment of improvements over time. They help ensure that those who come hereThey help ensure that those who come here to build their lives in the UK can integrate into life in this country.

5.62 These changes will come into force on 26 March 2027.

The changes will therefore apply to those already on a pathway to settlement in the UK and the rules applying to the Skilled Worker route and Scale Up routes are accordingly amended to apply the language requirement at settlement stage in addition to the requirements specified for a limited permission. The coming into force of these changes is being deferred until 26 March 2027 in order to provide those subject to the new requirements with sufficient opportunity to take any steps necessary to meet them.

Statement of changes

Excellent news If only they would impose a similar regulation here, I know some expats who have been here full time for over 20 years who can't even count to ten, can't name the days of the week, or the months of the year and can't tell the time absolutely pathetic,

Any immigrant to britain who can't speak english should not be allowed to vote, should not be allowed to drive, and should never be given a british passport in fact round them up and send them back every single one of them

9 hours ago, Bday Prang said:

Excellent news If only they would impose a similar regulation here, I know some expats who have been here full time for over 20 years who can't even count to ten, can't name the days of the week, or the months of the year and can't tell the time absolutely pathetic,

Any immigrant to britain who can't speak english should not be allowed to vote, should not be allowed to drive, and should never be given a british passport in fact round them up and send them back every single one of them

There is a Thai language test for people who want Permanent Residence or citizenship. But 90% of expats are 'non-immigrants' and have to extend their permission to stay each year.

9 hours ago, theoldgit said:

The Home Office have introduced a number of changes in the process for Settlement in the UK for most groups of applicants wishing to settle and ultimatley gain British Citizenship.

There will be a higher standard of English required for applicants seeking Indefinate Leave to Remain, with applicants for ILR being required to pass an English Language Test at the B2 level, it's currently B1.
The new requirements are being introduced retrospectively, which means that those already in the UK and part way through their settlement journey will be required to meet the higher requirements when they come into force in March 2027.

I understand that later changes will be published later in the year.

The relevent sections of the memo, which is attached, are copied below:

Change to English language requirements

5.60 This change increases the English language requirement for settlement to B2 level under the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) for a number of immigration routes where the existing requirement is at B1 level.

The changes apply to those routes covered by

Appendix KoLL; Appendix Skilled Worker;

Appendix Tier 2 Minister of Religion; Appendix Representative of an Overseas Business; Appendix UK Ancestry; Appendix Global Talent;

Appendix Scale Up; Appendix Innovator Founder; Appendix International Sportsperson; Appendix Child Relative (Sponsors with Protection);

Appendix Long Residence; Appendix Bereaved Partner; Appendix Private Life; and Appendix Settlement Family Life; and make consequential amendments to Appendix English Language.

5.61 These changes commence implementation of the relevant commitment in the White Paper “Restoring Control over the Immigration System” published in May 2025 which set out plans to introduce new English language requirements across a broader range of immigration routes to ensure better knowledge of English, including an 14 assessment of improvements over time. They help ensure that those who come hereThey help ensure that those who come here to build their lives in the UK can integrate into life in this country.

5.62 These changes will come into force on 26 March 2027.

The changes will therefore apply to those already on a pathway to settlement in the UK and the rules applying to the Skilled Worker route and Scale Up routes are accordingly amended to apply the language requirement at settlement stage in addition to the requirements specified for a limited permission. The coming into force of these changes is being deferred until 26 March 2027 in order to provide those subject to the new requirements with sufficient opportunity to take any steps necessary to meet them.

Statement of changes

I wonder what Test they will use? The current IELTS Life Skills test (given in Thailand) is only A1 or B1. There doesn't seem to be a change in A1 being the level required for the initial visa? Presumably, doing B1, which is currently an option for the initial visa if the applicant has good English, will be pointless. Hopefully doing a B2 level test, that meets the UKVI requirements, will be possible.

8 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

I wonder what Test they will use? The current IELTS Life Skills test (given in Thailand) is only A1 or B1. There doesn't seem to be a change in A1 being the level required for the initial visa? Presumably, doing B1, which is currently an option for the initial visa if the applicant has good English, will be pointless. Hopefully doing a B2 level test, that meets the UKVI requirements, will be possible.

I understand that a new B2 test will be rolled out in the UK that doesn’t include the reading and writing requirements.

As to whether the revised B2 will be available overseas l suppose we’ll have to wait and see.

I’m surprised that they’ve made this change retrospective, there are quite a few people in the UK who have taken and passed the B1 test and now have to fork out for another test.