At present only workers entering the UK under the ‘highly skilled’ category of visa are required to take an English language test.  But the Government has announced that a test will now also apply to migrants in the ‘skilled’ category.  Arrangements for workers in the ‘unskilled’ category will remain unchanged.

Skilled workers will now be required to demonstrate an understanding of the English language equal to those who pass GSCE English at an A to C level.

The government estimates that 35,000 of the 95,000 workers who entered the UK last year in this category would not have been able to pass an English test at this level.

The government expects that ensuring that migrants can speak English will ensure that they will integrate more easily into British society.

Critics of the move are concerned that the introduction of the test will discourage potential migrants from coming to the UK.