Migrants aiming to settle permanently in the UK will soon face tougher English language requirements under new immigration rules expected next week, The Times reports.
Sir Keir Starmer's upcoming immigration white paper will mandate "fluent English" proficiency — raising the bar from the current GCSE-level standard to an A-level equivalent.
This shift could delay permanent residency by up to 10 years for applicants who don't meet the advanced language criteria.
The Home Office defines this level as the ability to express oneself “fluently and spontaneously” for academic, social, and professional communication.
The move is part of broader efforts to reduce net migration — recorded at 728,000 last year — and address economic inactivity among over nine million residents.
The government is also expected to acknowledge that the post-Brexit points-based immigration system has fallen short, with new reforms aiming to create a system that is “controlled, selective, and fair.”
