From 8 January 2026, anyone making their first application for a Skilled Worker, Scale-up Worker or High Potential Individual (HPI) visa must now prove English to CEFR level B2 (upper-intermediate) instead of the previous B1 standard. The change was written into Statement of Changes HC 1333 last autumn and has now been hard-coded into the Immigration Rules and all associated sponsor and case-worker guidance.([gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/updates))
For employers this raises the compliance bar in two ways. First, recruitment timetables will lengthen because candidates who relied on a B1 SELT (Secure English-Language Test) or degree taught in English must obtain fresh B2 proof before a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) can be assigned. Secondly, sponsors must update internal documents, role adverts and candidate communications to reflect the new threshold or risk failed applications and potential sponsor-licence action.
Transitional provisions mean current visa-holders are unaffected for now, but lawyers expect the higher level to be ‘grand-fathered’ into future extensions and settlement. Employers therefore need to map out which staff will be caught at their next renewal and budget for additional training and testing.
![Higher English-language bar for UK Skilled Worker, Scale-up and HPI visas takes effect]()
If the change feels daunting, VisaHQ’s UK platform (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/) can shoulder much of the administrative load. The service lets HR teams book approved B2 SELT tests, track certificate expiry dates and generate compliant documentation, all while flagging potential gaps before a CoS is issued—helping employers stay ahead of the stricter rules.
Immigration advisers also point out that the higher B2 bar aligns the work-routes with the English requirement introduced in November 2025 for certain healthcare occupations and with the B2 standard that graduate visa-holders need if they later switch into Skilled Worker. Taken together, the reforms signal a wider Home Office push to ensure economic migrants integrate faster and require less public-service translation support.
Practical tips: build English-testing timelines (typically two to four weeks) into onboarding plans, and remind recruiters that a B2 SELT certificate is only valid for two years — expired evidence will be rejected at the visa stage.
For employers this raises the compliance bar in two ways. First, recruitment timetables will lengthen because candidates who relied on a B1 SELT (Secure English-Language Test) or degree taught in English must obtain fresh B2 proof before a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) can be assigned. Secondly, sponsors must update internal documents, role adverts and candidate communications to reflect the new threshold or risk failed applications and potential sponsor-licence action.
Transitional provisions mean current visa-holders are unaffected for now, but lawyers expect the higher level to be ‘grand-fathered’ into future extensions and settlement. Employers therefore need to map out which staff will be caught at their next renewal and budget for additional training and testing.
If the change feels daunting, VisaHQ’s UK platform (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/) can shoulder much of the administrative load. The service lets HR teams book approved B2 SELT tests, track certificate expiry dates and generate compliant documentation, all while flagging potential gaps before a CoS is issued—helping employers stay ahead of the stricter rules.
Immigration advisers also point out that the higher B2 bar aligns the work-routes with the English requirement introduced in November 2025 for certain healthcare occupations and with the B2 standard that graduate visa-holders need if they later switch into Skilled Worker. Taken together, the reforms signal a wider Home Office push to ensure economic migrants integrate faster and require less public-service translation support.
Practical tips: build English-testing timelines (typically two to four weeks) into onboarding plans, and remind recruiters that a B2 SELT certificate is only valid for two years — expired evidence will be rejected at the visa stage.
