The UK government’s immigration white paper, due to be released in full later today, is expected to lay out changes to English language requirements across every visa route, and for dependants, as UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer set out plans to fix the country’s “broken” immigration system.
“When people come to our country, they should also commit to integration and to learning our language and our system should actively distinguish between those that do and those that don’t,” said Starmer in a press conference on May 12 ahead of the release of the highly anticipated immigration white paper.
He pledged that language requirements would be raised “across every immigration route” to make sure that those living and working in the UK had a good grasp of English.
For the first time, adult dependants will have to show they have a “basic understanding” of English, which Starmer said would help them integrate into their local community, find work and reduce their risk of exploitation and abuse.
While the Prime Minister promised the plans laid out in white paper would “take back control” on net migration, detail is scant – with more information to be released in the white paper later this morning.
When people come to our country, they should also commit to integration and to learning our language
Keir Starmer, UK Prime Minister
But Starmer also pledged that the requirements to secure study, work and family visas would be tightened. As yet, the new requirements remain unclear.
And it was announced that international migrants will now have to spend 10 years in the country before they are able to apply for citizenship – double the requirement of applying for a visa in the US.
Despite taking aim at the Conservative government’s approach to immigration, which saw net migration numbers soar to a high of 906,000 in the year ending June 2023, Starmer stressed that migration had brought benefits to the UK.
“Migration is part of Britain’s national story. Migrants were part of that and they make a massive contribution today and you will never hear me denigrate that,” he said.
This is an emerging story. Check back later for further details and for more on the immigration white paper…
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