Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has unveiled plans to reform the UK’s immigration system, describing it as "broken" and in urgent need of a reset. Among the measures being considered are

stricter English language requirements for all visa applicants and their adult dependants, as well as extending the wait time for settlement from five to ten years.

Starmer said the new approach would make immigration “controlled, selective and fair,” ahead of the official release of Labour’s long-awaited Immigration White Paper. The reforms are expected to raise the English language bar across all visa routes, with the aim of improving integration, employment prospects, and preventing exploitation.

Adult dependants will, for the first time, be required to demonstrate basic English proficiency—though critics warn this could split families. However, research from Oxford University shows most migrants already speak English well, and those who don’t are significantly less likely to be employed.

The proposed overhaul includes ending automatic settlement after five years. Instead, most migrants will need to stay at least a decade before applying for settled status—one of the longest requirements among developed nations. However, a fast-track path to settlement will be created for key sectors like healthcare, engineering, and AI.

Starmer emphasized that “settlement must be earned,” calling the changes a “clean break from the past.” Still, experts caution that a longer route to settlement could generate more visa fees for the Home Office and make it harder for migrants to fully integrate.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper also announced that Labour plans to stop overseas recruitment of care workers. Employers will instead need to hire UK nationals or extend the visas of current foreign workers. This change is expected to reduce immigration by up to 50,000 lower-skilled workers over the next year.

In response, the Conservative Party argued the reforms don't go far enough and called for a binding cap on migration. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp called Starmer’s approach a “joke,” insisting Tory plans would have cut net migration by 400,000.

The Liberal Democrats labeled the immigration system “in tatters” and promised to scrutinize Labour’s proposals. Meanwhile, Reform UK, buoyed by recent local election gains, credited public frustration with legal and illegal migration for their surge in support.

Migration remains a hot-button issue, with net migration hitting 906,000 in mid-2023 and still standing at 728,000 last year. Labour’s upcoming White Paper aims to address these concerns with a tougher, more restrictive framework. Photo by Prime Minister’s Office, Wikimedia commons.