British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to reform what he describes as a “broken” immigration system, announcing plans to raise English language requirements for visa applicants and extend the settlement period for most migrants from five to ten years.
Under the proposed changes, migrants and their adult dependants will be required to demonstrate stronger English language skills across all visa routes. The new policy aims to enhance integration, improve employment outcomes, and reduce exploitation.
“People who come to our country should commit to integration and learning our language,” Sir Keir said, as he previewed Labour’s long-awaited Immigration White Paper, due to be published soon. The plan, he added, would build “a system that is controlled, selective and fair.”
Settlement Reforms and Fast-Track for Key Workers
A key part of the proposal is to end automatic eligibility for settled status after five years. Instead, migrants will need to wait ten years before applying to remain in the UK permanently — a move that would make the UK one of the most restrictive high-income countries for settlement, according to Madeleine Sumption, Director of Oxford University’s Migration Observatory.
At the same time, a “fast-track” path to settlement will be introduced for high-demand professions such as nurses, engineers, and AI specialists, whom the government sees as vital contributors to national growth.
Settled status allows individuals to remain in the UK indefinitely, work, study, and access public services. It is also a stepping stone to full British citizenship.
English Requirements and Concerns Over Family Separation
For the first time, adult dependants will be required to demonstrate basic English proficiency — a measure intended to support integration. While critics warn the policy could lead to family separations, especially if some individuals struggle to meet the language requirements, research by the Migration Observatory indicates that most migrants already speak English well. In 2021, 90% reported good English skills, while only 1% said they could not speak the language at all.
Sector-Specific Restrictions and Job Market Reforms
Sir Keir also criticised industries he accused of being “addicted to importing cheap labour,” citing engineering as an example where visa use has surged while apprenticeships have declined. Labour’s new rules aim to encourage employers to invest in training local workers.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper added that Labour will halt overseas recruitment of care workers, instead requiring employers to hire UK nationals or extend the visas of care workers already in the country. This measure is expected to cut immigration by up to 50,000 in the coming year.
Political Reactions
The proposals have drawn strong reactions across the political spectrum.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp dismissed the measures as insufficient, calling Starmer’s stance on immigration “a joke” and urging a binding cap on migration. He argued that if Conservative policies had remained in place, net migration would have dropped by about 400,000.
The Liberal Democrats said the immigration system is “in tatters” and pledged to scrutinise Labour’s proposals, while Reform UK’s Richard Tice credited his party’s gains in recent local elections to public discontent over both legal and illegal immigration.
Context and Outlook
The reforms come amid record migration figures, with net migration hitting 906,000 in June 2023 and remaining high at 728,000 last year. Labour’s White Paper is expected to consolidate months of policy work and respond to mounting public pressure for a more controlled immigration approach.
While implementation of the reforms — particularly those requiring legislative change — is unlikely before 2026, the proposals mark a significant shift in the UK’s immigration strategy, positioning settlement as “a privilege that must be earned, not a right,” according to the Prime Minister.
