UK tightens language rules for work visa

16-Oct-2025

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The UK government has revealed plans to tighten language requirements for migrants seeking work visas, mandating A-level standard English proficiency. 

Additionally, international students, including many from India, will have just 18 months to secure a graduate-level job after finishing their studies, down from the current two-year period.

The new rules will affect Indians as they were the largest group of migrants to the UK in 2023, with around 250,000 arriving mostly for jobs and education.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said it is "unacceptable" for migrants to arrive without sufficient English skills, stressing the importance of language in contributing to national life.

The new rules for work visa, set to take effect from January 8, 2026, will require applicants for skilled worker, scale-up, and high potential individual (HPI) visas to pass Home Office-approved reading, writing, speaking, and listening tests at a B2 level —equivalent to A-level English, a step above the current GCSE-level requirement (B1), the BBC reported.