UK Tightens Skilled Visa Entry With New English Tests

• UK to impose stricter English test rules for visa seekers from 2026.
• Graduate Route visa cut to 18 months for students starting 2027.
• Immigration Skills Charge increased by 32% to support local training.

The UK government presented stricter new English language test standards for visa applicants, including those from India, in Parliament as part of a broader effort to control rising immigration levels to the nation.

The upcoming "Secure English Language Test" will be administered by a provider approved by the Home Office, and the results will be validated as part of the visa application process for all skilled workers starting January 8, 2026.

An applicant’s proficiency in speaking, listening, reading, and writing English must match A-Level or Class 12, known as level B2, which the Home Office believes will help applicants “more effectively integrate into life in the UK.”

“This country has always welcomed those who come to this country and contribute, but it is unacceptable for migrants to come here without learning our language, unable to contribute to our national life,” said UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood. “If you come to this country, you must learn our language and play your part,” she said.

As part of various legal adjustments, the duration for international students to secure a graduate-level position post-studies under the Graduate Route visa, favored by Indian students, will be reduced to 18 months from the existing two years starting January 1, 2027. However, graduates at the PhD level will remain eligible for three years of authorization following an announcement issued earlier this year.

Financial criteria for student visas will rise for the 2025-2026 academic year, indicating that international students must show they possess adequate resources to sustain themselves. The existing maintenance fund necessity of 1,483 pounds monthly will increase to 1,529 pounds for London and to 1,171 pounds monthly (up from 1,136 pounds) for the remainder of the UK. 

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The Immigration Skills Charge (ISC), essentially a levy imposed on UK employers who sponsor skilled overseas employees and meant to fund training for the local workforce, will increase by 32 percent. This implies that small or charitable organizations are required to pay 480 pounds annually per individual (increased from 364 pounds), while medium and large organizations will be paying 1,320 pounds (up from 1,000 pounds).

Additional Home Office proposals presented this week include increasing the number of universities whose alumni can access the High Potential Individual (HPI) route and limiting the annual number of slots available under this high-skilled visa pathway to 8,000.

It stated that the goal was to increase the number of highly skilled individuals arriving in the UK through high-skilled pathways, encompassing leading researchers, designers, and creatives in the film and TV sectors, with additional modifications expected for the Global Talent route next year.