Migrants will be required to speak “fluent English” under new immigration rules set to be unveiled next week, as Labour seeks to reduce net migration.
The proposal, part of Sir Keir Starmer’s immigration white paper, raises the current English requirement from GCSE-level to A-level proficiency.
According to the Home Office, migrants must “express themselves fluently and spontaneously” and speak English “flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes.” A government source told The Times, “If you want to come here, you must contribute and integrate.”
The waiting period for permanent residency may also increase from five to 10 years unless applicants meet conditions regarding finances or time spent abroad.
The plan includes tougher rules for international students and care visa holders, aiming to fulfil Labour’s pledge to cut migration from 728,000. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp criticised the move as “cosmetic tinkering,” saying, “If they were serious… they would back the Conservative proposals.”