Migrants will need A-level standard English to work in UK
Migrants will need A-level* standard English to work in UK
Some migrants coming to the UK will need to speak English to an A-level standard under tougher new rules set to be introduced by the government.
The changes, which will come into force from 8 January 2026, will affect some graduates and those applying for skilled worker or scale-up visas, which are for people employed by fast-growing businesses.
The new rules form part of wider plans to cut levels of immigration to the UK outlined in a white paper in May.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: "If you come to this country, you must learn our language and play your part."
"This country has always welcomed those who come to this country and contribute," Mahmood said.
"But it is unacceptable for migrants to come here without learning our language, unable to contribute to our national life."
Applicants will be tested in person on their speaking, listening, reading and writing at Home Office-approved providers, with their results checked as part of the visa process.
Those applying for skilled worker, scale-up and high potential individual (HPI) visas will be required to reach B2 level - a step up from the current B1 standard which is equivalent to GCSE.
To come to the UK on the skilled worker visa, migrants have to work for a government-approved employer and earn at least £41,700 a year, or the "going rate" for their type of work, whichever is highest.
The scale-up visa is open to migrants coming to work for a fast-growing UK business. Migrants can apply for a high potential individual visa if they have been awarded a qualification from a top global university within the last five years.
According to the British Council, which offers English language courses, learners who achieve B2 level can "understand the main ideas of complex texts on concrete or abstract topics."
They can express themselves "fluently and spontaneously" and communicate comfortably with other English speakers. They can also produce "clear, detailed text on many subjects and explain a complex viewpoint".
Further English language requirements for other visa routes and family dependants are expected to be introduced in due course, Home Office Minister Mike Tapp told Parliament on Tuesday.
The prime minister previously said the changes outlined in the white paper would make the UK's immigration system "controlled, selective and fair".
Home Office estimates suggest the measures could reduce the number of people coming to the UK by up to 100,000 per year.
Net migration to the UK - total permanent arrivals minus total permanent departures - fell to 431,000 in 2024, down almost 50% on the total in 2023, when it reached a record high of 906,000.
Dr Madeleine Sumption, director of the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford, said the government faced a "trade-off" between "ensuring migrants speak good English and enabling employers to recruit workers who are expected to bring economic benefits."
Many graduate jobs already require language skills above A-level standard, she said.
The new language requirements will have "more impact in middle-skilled jobs involving technical and manual skills, where employers sometimes do not require high language proficiency".
Immigration lawyer Afsana Akhtar told BBC News she thought it was "unfair" that migrants had to reach such a high standard of English "because even many people in the UK probably wouldn't be able to pass English A-level".
"This would rule out even skilled workers who want to come and contribute to our British economy," she said.
"The GCSE standard is sufficient - and then when they come live here, [and] integrate into England and the English way of life, their English will improve inevitably."
Other measures in the white paper include cutting the time period international students can stay in the UK to find a graduate job after their course ends from two years to 18 months, which will take effect from January 2027.
Students will also have to meet higher financial requirements, raised to £1,171 per month outside London (from £1,136) for up to nine months.
The Global Talent visa, for high achievers in technology, arts and academia fields has also been expanded to include winners of more prestigious prizes.
Further plans in the White Paper include, the immigration skills charge for UK employers to pay when sponsoring foreign workers on specific visas has also been increased to £480 per person per year for small organisations or charities, and to £1,320 for medium and large organisations.
This is raised from £364 and £1,000 respectively.
As part of the government's efforts to attract highly skilled people to the country, the HPI route will be expanded. The number of migrants on the visa is expected to double from 2,000 to 4,000, but there will be a cap of 8,000 applications each year.
*A-Level English is a very high standard of English (Not to be confused with A1 or A2)
Source:BBC
YouTube: Test your English
Interesting. Mrs C speaks a few languages fluently and is a nurse in the NHS; she frequently complains to me how bad the English is of many English nationals that she works with.
About 30% of my grade 6 primary students are at B2 speaking and listening as of this September.
As non-covid learning loss students come through, I expect the same percentage will be C1 by the same time in their education.
This news isn't a big deal.
@Cynic
This is only new, so we will just have to see if they can fulfil these.
@Fred
This is the UK, not Indonesia, so it has nothing to do this.
@FredThis is the UK, not Indonesia, so it has nothing to do this. - @SimCityAT
CEFR is CEFR, regardless of country or language.
The whole point is that B2 isn't a big deal for English L2 or L3 learners.
The UK made a sensible rule that will be of great use for immigrants, but perhaps the level is a little low for jobs that require excellent understanding of the spoken word.
Image a nurse or doctor that mixes up 15 and 50.
That could be seriously dangerous.
By the way, a good number of Indonesians live and work in the UK, so this is very much about Indonesian people, just as it is for everyone non-English L1.
One of mine is about to apply for her masters at Oxford- B2 is a joke for that. C2 is more like it.
As you will doubtless be aware of the differences between the levels, I won't bother explaining it.
@FredThis is the UK, not Indonesia, so it has nothing to do this. - @SimCityAT CEFR is CEFR, regardless of country or language. The whole point is that B2 isn't a big deal for English L2 or L3 learners.The UK made a sensible rule that will be of great use for immigrants, but perhaps the level is a little low for jobs that require excellent understanding of the spoken word.Image a nurse or doctor that mixes up 15 and 50.That could be seriously dangerous. By the way, a good number of Indonesians live and work in the UK, so this is very much about Indonesian people, just as it is for everyone non-English L1.One of mine is about to apply for her masters at Oxford- B2 is a joke for that. C2 is more like it.As you will doubtless be aware of the differences between the levels, I won't bother explaining it. - @Fred
I've starting seeing language classifications in job adverts now. Usually C2.
50 vs 15 is a good one. I usually qualify to non-native speakers, Five-Zero or One-Five. Even native speakers can mishear that, especially me regressing to "Estuary English" as I often told I do. I was a presenter in a couple of workshop last week and I put on a bit of a posh accent in some circumstances and try to enunciate/speak slowly, but if I get tired or forget where I am, a rot sets in. I said to one of the people there, "4 to 6 months" and he heard, "46 months" but he did ask for clarification. And he was supposed to be a native speaker - just a different version/dialect.
So C2 is what version? Canadian? Australian? US? African?
Most Africans I hear speaking English use strong accents. They might well be perfect as far as their local version of English goes, but many in the UK might well not be able to understand them, just as their listening comprehension skills won't allow them to understand others.
Malaysia and Singapore English has '30 over' rather than 'over 30', and a lot more errors that inhibit clear communications between them and UK speakers of English.
I recall translating between Japanese English and Malay English on one occasion. I could understand both, but they were unable to understand each other.
That's why a standard test is important.
As for the topic in question, the only people that don't need to worry about the content of this thread are native speakers of English, that including UK citizens with strong local or foreign accents, and those as thick as bricks.
In the last 5 or so years, my dealings with health professionals have been much higher than those of a normal person. Everyone has spoken perfect English, even the pharmacists, a couple in my town you wouldn't even think they were Austrian when they speak to you in English. We always have a good laugh as they say they can practice their English on me.
I have seen what the kids are taught here, and their level of English is much higher compared to the same age of the UK kids.
Most Africans I hear speaking English use strong accents. They might well be perfect as far as their local version of English goes, but many in the UK might well not be able to understand them, just as their listening comprehension skills won't allow them to understand others.Malaysia and Singapore English has '30 over' rather than 'over 30', and a lot more errors that inhibit clear communications between them and UK speakers of English.I recall translating between Japanese English and Malay English on one occasion. I could understand both, but they were unable to understand each other.That's why a standard test is important.As for the topic in question, the only people that don't need to worry about the content of this thread are native speakers of English, that including UK citizens with strong local or foreign accents, and those as thick as bricks. - @Fred
The worse phrase I hear regularly from Indians and Bangladeshis is "upgradation". In other words, "upgrade" which they all equally understand.
So why not use the word "upgrade" and not confuse non-English readers who might not understand "upgradation"?
People should think AND write for their audience.
@fluffy2560
With me, it's the call centres. I can understand Indians face-to-face, but I do struggle when it's over the phone, and I have to think. All other English dialects, I am fine, our builder is a Kiwi, the missus has real trouble understanding, oh and that with some Scottish accents, she has to have subtitles on if it's a film we are watching.
In the last 5 or so years, my dealings with health professionals have been much higher than those of a normal person. Everyone has spoken perfect English, even the pharmacists, a couple in my town you wouldn't even think they were Austrian when they speak to you in English. We always have a good laugh as they say they can practice their English on me. I have seen what the kids are taught here, and their level of English is much higher compared to the same age of the UK kids. - @SimCityAT
I don't know about that but I get where you're coming from. I heard that a UK degree in a foreign language like German is about the equivalent of an 18-year old native speaker. It takes some knowledge to keep up with playground levels of a foreign language - perhaps this is where it's all built.
Here, university students HAVE to take a foreign language regardless of subject. They even sometimes take two to get credits. Our daughter has taken up studying Italian even though it's nothing directly to do with her course. She did it because she's already C2 in her favourite Spanish (and now going for C1) and there are a lot of similarities with Italian which makes it easier. Obviously she's already C1 in English and Hungarian so more than has enough to satisfy the degree requirements. Such a polyglot.
She's also now teaching English to Hungarians as a side hustle. She recently qualified as a "ToEFL" teacher, i.e. "Teaching of English as a Foreign Language". Seems quite lucrative and good for a fallback and a bit of cash.
People should think AND write for their audience. - @fluffy2560
In this case, that's native speakers of British English (if that exists).
Do you have to downgradation native speakers of ingris to non-usual more difficult to comprehendation forms of da language, or do wanting immigrants to owning an understanding level of the lingo so they can talking same everyone, dear?
@fluffy2560
With me, it's the call centres. I can understand Indians face-to-face, but I do struggle when it's over the phone, and I have to think. All other English dialects, I am fine, our builder is a Kiwi, the missus has real trouble understanding, oh and that with some Scottish accents, she has to have subtitles on if it's a film we are watching. - @SimCityAT
I get that totally. I spoke to some guys the other day and they were all from India. Wasn't a call centre. One of them had an accent that was appalling. I blamed WhatsApp so as not to embarrass him. I understood his colleagues just fine.
Honestly, my view is that if someone is going to work in an international field of business, then get properly tested and work on reducing the accent and improve pronunciation. If the scammers can do it, so can other businesses and specifically government. My parents who became very deaf had no hope with Indian call centre staff. Even I find it hard now my hearing is becoming worse. So now I use in-app chat features. I don't call if I can absolutely avoid it.
On the other hand, my now Canada based daughter works in a call centre and gets shouted at by irate callers over her British accent (with Northern twinge). But they could be a**holes too in general. People shouldn't be so rude. I've heard recordings and yup, generally grumpy callers and she does it all by the book. She said it does affect you but there is a system for reviews by management and they have regular stress management sessions. It sounds very organised and she likes working there as it seems like they care.
People should think AND write for their audience. - @fluffy2560In this case, that's native speakers of British English (if that exists).Do you have to downgradation native speakers of ingris to non-usual more difficult to comprehendation forms of da language, or do wanting immigrants to owning an understanding level of the lingo so they can talking same everyone, dear? - @Fred
Yes, well, I understand your point but it doesn't work for me. I'm not teaching kids or doing street level slang.
Following the RP when speaking is going to work better internationally and professionally than trying to explain stuff in local variants.
In my case, I write a lot of large documents in English - 100 plus pages is not unusual. One thing which is good is the style guides we use are unusually direct and it forces one to write factual sentences without making it over complicated. We have to be careful not to slip into "old ways" of writing. Over the years, I've come to appreciate that style guided method of writing.
On the other hand, we have to follow US spelling which is a great annoyance to me. I sometimes find it insulting. One thing I have noticed is a style in American printed books, like novels. The delivery can be almost simplified, even child like. I tried to read the Game of Thrones novels. They are very badly written. Surprisingly bad. Maybe that's just me.
I have often wondered if the British English versions of novels have different editing or phraseology. I should ask this question on LBC's Mystery Hour (Thursdays, James O'Brien show, UK time 12-13h).
BTW, downgradation never seems to occur and may not even exist.
It should be obvious that the language requirement is a very sensible idea, but the thick should click the link
https://youtu.be/LuZV9kkzscg?si=VrXdGuoGLvpqJ0Te
That should look after that
It should be obvious that the language requirement is a very sensible idea, but the thick should click the link
https://youtu.be/LuZV9kkzscg?si=VrXdGuoGLvpqJ0Te
That should look after that - @Fred
How should one know how thick one is?
One needs to judge if the link is suitable viewing for those hard of thinking?
It should be obvious that the language requirement is a very sensible idea, but the thick should click the link
https://youtu.be/LuZV9kkzscg?si=VrXdGuoGLvpqJ0Te
That should look after that - @Fred
How should one know how thick one is?
One needs to judge if the link is suitable viewing for those hard of thinking? - @fluffy2560
Dunning and Kruger suggested the lower end are likely to be unable to do so.
Dunning and Kruger suggested the lower end are likely to be unable to do so.
- @Fred
Is this self assessment then? Or review by whom?
From the Home Office today.
The news (read - yet another lie from HM government) requires a few things:
- An assumption the British government isn't lying
- People being far too gullible to check
- The press going with a story they know is untrue, probably in the hope of saving the story about the lie for the next adverts they will sell with their rags
- A bonus is racist idiots spreading the false story and people being stupid enough to believe them
Let's start with the A level English claim - It's bolderdash!
https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/ … letter.pdf
Cambridge IGCSE First Language syllabus 0500
Cambridge IGCSE First Language syllabus 0500 or
0900 (Speaking and Listening Endorsement)
Grade E or 3 overall, with grade 2 or Merit in Speaking &
Listening can be considered to be at a level equivalent to B2 on
the CEFR.
The truth is that CEFR B2 is a grade E at O level standard - E is for epic fail as far as any employer is concerned. As I said before, many covid learning loss grade 6 kids can manage B2.
In other words, the UK government lied. It's a bit obvious, but people like to believe utter crap. I suppose it's far easier for a limited mind to believe rubbish than it is actually think.
Have an example of B2
https://youtu.be/IiJA-R9Riws?si=-as8soyaB_IPIn0y
The pronunciation is rubbish, and the grammar dodgy at best.
If that's an A level pass, bricklayers will need a degree to carry a hod.
From the Home Office today.
Breaking news
In my opinion (for what it's worth), this is all part of the UK Labour Government plan to save itself from obliteration from the Reform Party (who you may have noticed are saying relatively nothing on the subject, unless asked). I suspect they have never been so glad that the Royal family have pretty much stolen the press headlines here for the past week.
@Cynic
Pretty much so, Reform are doing well in the polls and both Labour and the Tories are concerned. Both will say anything to help stop losing voters.
@CynicPretty much so, Reform are doing well in the polls and both Labour and the Tories are concerned. Both will say anything to help stop losing voters. - @SimCityAT
Agree with you both. Reform - as far as I can see - is a single issue party. What else have they got? No-one at Reform seems to have any obvious real world policies. One of my friends is very Reform oriented and even involved at their conferences etc. Even he cannot tell me what else is in the toolbox. As we've known each other for years, I see his views as an aberration. So I told him to stand as a candidate for Parliament. He's considering it.
Focus on Prince Andrew has become very boring. He needs to go and live on a croft on a Scottish island.
What I want to see is more Epstein files in the public domain and a decent summary published so I don't have to trawl to get my hit of schadenfreude.
@fluffy2560
The whole thing about Andrew is boring, full stop. Strip him of all titles, leave the man be and move on—more important things to be worried about.
@fluffy2560
The whole thing about Andrew is boring, full stop. Strip him of all titles, leave the man be and move on—more important things to be worried about. - @SimCityAT
I think he's been caught with his pants down. Sorry, very bad taste joke.
I do agree, push him off to the sidelines and let him never darken our doors again. Never liked the dude anyway.
More broadly, he's probably actually started the end of the Royal Family.
Perhaps within 10 years, if Charles pops his clogs, we'll be down to just King William and Queen Kate. In 20 years, maybe they'll all be gone and we'll have an ceremonial President.
Strange how Epstein's reach has just caused so many horrible problems across the world. Even death now with Virginia Guiffre's suicide. Really a shocking scandal.
I’m getting a bit fed up with the Press here telling everyone that they don't think Andrew has suffered enough yet (this is their actual phrase) and that they need to persevere to make sure he does.
I must admit to having met him when he flew with the Commando Helicopter Squadron; he never offered me anything. Furthermore, I recently noticed he wears both Parachute and Commando Forces badges on his dress uniform. That's an Army thing when they've passed both P Company and the All-arms Commando course, but he was a naval officer, and they don't normally do this, so he may have served with some special people, or done something not in the public domain.
I’m getting a bit fed up with the Press here telling everyone that they don't think Andrew has suffered enough yet (this is their actual phrase) and that they need to persevere to make sure he does.
I must admit to having met him when he flew with the Commando Helicopter Squadron; he never offered me anything. Furthermore, I recently noticed he wears both Parachute and Commando Forces badges on his dress uniform. That's an Army thing when they've passed both P Company and the All-arms Commando course, but he was a naval officer, and they don't normally do this, so he may have served with some special people, or done something not in the public domain. - @Cynic
The only one I've come close to is one of the minor royals who I almost ran over when I was driving a truck in London as a summer job. I forgot his name. Might have been the Duke of Kent. I also had a go at Alexei Sayle - the comedian - who was also trying to cross the road near some BBC studios up the A40. He was on a bicycle.
I think Andrew needs to just go obscure and off the grid. He could leave the country and do something like go to Svalbard for 3 months to inspect the polar bears as part of an environmental self-education project on global warming. He could take his iPhone and document himself doing penance. Or go down to the Falklands. Or Saint Helena. Anywhere but the UK. The King and Mrs Simpson went to Paris. Fine! Just go!
These guys need to always re-invent themselves. I always thought Harry should gone action man and sidled up to David Attenborough and Bear Grylls or Ben Fogle to take on wildlife cum survival shows. Attenborough is 99 years old and like a God amongst the viewing public. Associating yourself with him could get some magic to rub off. Who ever criticises any of those guys that much. OK, Bear Grylls is bit of an exception.
I’m getting a bit fed up with the Press here telling everyone that they don't think Andrew has suffered enough yet (this is their actual phrase) and that they need to persevere to make sure he does.I must admit to having met him when he flew with the Commando Helicopter Squadron; he never offered me anything. Furthermore, I recently noticed he wears both Parachute and Commando Forces badges on his dress uniform. That's an Army thing when they've passed both P Company and the All-arms Commando course, but he was a naval officer, and they don't normally do this, so he may have served with some special people, or done something not in the public domain. - @CynicThe only one I've come close to is one of the minor royals who I almost ran over when I was driving a truck in London as a summer job. I forgot his name. Might have been the Duke of Kent. I also had a go at Alexei Sayle - the comedian - who was also trying to cross the road near some BBC studios up the A40. He was on a bicycle.I think Andrew needs to just go obscure and off the grid. He could leave the country and do something like go to Svalbard for 3 months to inspect the polar bears as part of an environmental self-education project on global warming. He could take his iPhone and document himself doing penance. Or go down to the Falklands. Or Saint Helena. Anywhere but the UK. The King and Mrs Simpson went to Paris. Fine! Just go!These guys need to always re-invent themselves. I always thought Harry should gone action man and sidled up to David Attenborough and Bear Grylls or Ben Fogle to take on wildlife cum survival shows. Attenborough is 99 years old and like a God amongst the viewing public. Associating yourself with him could get some magic to rub off. Who ever criticises any of those guys that much. OK, Bear Grylls is bit of an exception. - @fluffy2560
LOL - I once knocked SACEUR's mother-in-law back down the aircraft steps, luckily her security guy caught her after the 2nd bounce - she was more concerned about her shopping bag getting crushed. One of the "perks" of my job is that I got to meet all the Royals; even got Mrs C and her team a guided tour of a Queens Flight aircraft, she still dines out on that.
Back on topic - Mrs C has the Dutch equivalent of a-level English; she was most embarrassed to get a higher grade in her English than her Dutch!
LOL - I once knocked SACEUR's mother-in-law back down the aircraft steps, luckily her security guy caught her after the 2nd bounce - she was more concerned about her shopping bag getting crushed. One of the "perks" of my job is that I got to meet all the Royals; even got Mrs C and her team a guided tour of a Queens Flight aircraft, she still dines out on that.
Back on topic - Mrs C has the Dutch equivalent of a-level English; she was most embarrassed to get a higher grade in her English than her Dutch! - @Cynic
Haha, maybe this needs another thread. I wonder if SACEUR got on with his MIL. Was she insured? And how close did you (dear readers) come to doing a well known person in?
BTW, I've got an O level in French. And a certificate in Dutch. My late brother got higher scores in French than the native speaking French boy in the same class. Mrs F has mid-level English but at 59, I don't think she cares to do more. And neither do I but I should really knuckle down on the Hungarian since I live here. I'll never get that EU passport back unless I can at least speak some Hungarian. Shame we cannot do it in minority languages here - German for example.
Yesterday, we spent quite a lot of time trying to work out what "a wet blanket" was in Hungarian. It's all go at Fluffy Towers.
Duke of Kent who I nearly ran over along the Brompton Road:
Another potential victim of my driving on the A40:
Note the beards in fashion.
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