UK PM unveils stricter immigration reforms: English test rules tightened, settlement delayed
Under the proposed reforms, all visa applicants—including adult dependents—will need to demonstrate stronger English proficiency to enter and remain in the country.
Starmer Unveils Stricter Immigration Reforms: English Test Rules Tightened, Settlement Delayed
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to reform what he describes as a “broken” immigration system, unveiling plans to raise English language requirements and extend the time migrants must wait before becoming eligible for permanent settlement in the UK.
Under the proposed reforms, all visa applicants—including adult dependents—will need to demonstrate stronger English proficiency to enter and remain in the country. Migrants will also have to wait 10 years, rather than the current five, before applying for settled status, which allows indefinite stay and a pathway to citizenship.
The upcoming Immigration White Paper will outline Labour’s approach to creating what Starmer calls a “controlled, selective and fair” immigration system. He also signaled a crackdown on industries that have grown reliant on low-cost foreign labour, accusing sectors like engineering of neglecting local talent development in favour of foreign recruitment.
“Too many industries are addicted to importing cheap labour,” Starmer said. “We must invest in the skills of our own people and ensure that immigration works in the national interest.”
The reforms are expected to be tabled as part of new primary legislation, which means full implementation is likely to be delayed until at least 2026.
One significant new requirement will be for adult family members—who previously were exempt from language requirements—to demonstrate basic English ability. Starmer argued this will promote integration, reduce vulnerability to exploitation, and improve employment prospects for migrants.
Critics, however, have raised concerns about the impact on families, warning that stricter language rules could lead to painful separations if a spouse or parent fails to meet the standard. Still, research from the University of Oxford’s Migration Observatory indicates that most migrants support the importance of language skills, with only 1% reporting they could not speak English at all in 2021.
In another shift, Labour’s plan scraps the automatic path to settlement after five years for most visa holders. Instead, a longer 10-year route will apply, though a fast-track option will be introduced for high-demand professionals such as nurses, engineers, and AI specialists—those seen as critical to the UK’s economic growth and innovation.
This overhaul would make the UK’s settlement process one of the most restrictive among high-income nations, said Madeleine Sumption, Director of the Migration Observatory. She noted that while it may increase revenue from visa fees, it could also hinder integration by delaying migrants' access to full rights.
Despite those concerns, Starmer said the measures reflect a “clean break from the past,” asserting that permanent settlement “must be a privilege that is earned, not an entitlement.”
The reforms come amid continued political pressure over high migration levels, with net migration figures reaching 906,000 in June 2023 and standing at 728,000 last year—figures successive governments have struggled to bring down.
