New Language Requirement for UK's Skilled Worker Visa in Effect Today
*This post includes snippets from a few posts I wrote last year (thoughtful immigration, uk b2 requirement).*
As of today (8 January) first-time applicants for the skilled worker visa in the UK will need to prove a B2 language proficiency. Previously this requirement was B1. Some exceptions are listed here.
At B2, someone is expected to:
- Understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her field of specialization.
- Interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party.
- Produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.
B2 represents mastery of the language at a level that allows deeper integration and assimilation into the home culture. At B1, a person is considered an independent but still functionally limited user of the language.
How Many Applicants Does This Disqualify?
Since one of the stated goals of the UK this year is to reduce net migration, one interesting angle to think about is how many applicants this change disqualifies on paper.
IELTS publishes test taker performance data each year (I go deeper on the numbers here), including bucketing out by categories like immigration. Here's a pull from 2024-2025:
| IELTS Band | % of Immigration Test Takers |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 1% |
| 4.5 | 2% |
| 5.0 | 5% |
| 5.5 | 11% |
| 6.0 | 17% |
| 6.5 | 19% |
| 7.0 | 17% |
| 7.5 | 14% |
| 8.0 | 9% |
| 8.5 | 3% |
| 9.0 | 0% |
While on its face a level change in language is significant (generally schools will cite 6-12 months of study for the average student to make a jump up from B1 to B2), you can see immediately from the data this change is not that significant in terms of absolute numbers.
Very few test takers score 5.0 or below right now. According to this data, a B1 --> B2 change (IELTS 4.0 - 5.0 --> 5.5 - 6.5) only takes out 8% of all candidates.
*Obligatory statistics note here that this assumes IELTS immigration data is representative of UK immigration applicant pools, IELTS to CEFR mappings are accurate, etc etc*
For the visa pathways that this will affect -- general skilled worker, health and care worker, shortage occupation list, high-growth company, etc. -- I imagine this change will be extremely muted given the type of applicant these occupations attract. A qualified nurse from the Philippines is likely not teetering on the edge between B1/B2 English.