Divyanshu G 
(C): Unsplash
The immigration situation in the UK has changed radically as of January 8, 2026. The English language proficiency requirement in the Skilled Worker and High Potential Individual visas is formally increased by the Home Office to Level B2 instead of Level B1. While aimed at improving integration, this policy introduces significant friction for Global Talent recruitment, this policy introduces significant friction for Global Talent recruitment and aligns with broader labour policy shifts such as the UK National Minimum Wage.
The New Language Barrier: B1 vs B2
The jump from B1 (intermediate) to B2 English requirement is not merely administrative; it represents a substantial leap in fluency.
- B1 Level: Elementary speech, awareness of standard points on known things
- B2 Level: Comprehension of complicated texts, technical conversations and native fluency.
This can take months of extra tuition to many applicants especially those in the non-English speaking technical hubs and delays of deployment schedules.
Impact on Global Talent Recruitment
Recruiters are already being pinched. The number of potential candidates has decreased, and high-quality engineers or healthcare workers that are excellent at their work and lack language skills in B2 would face the challenge of working with more intricate language. This bottleneck is causing delays to fill some important positions.
Financial Implications and Delays
Beyond the tuition, the UK visa costs associated with retaking exams and delayed start dates are mounting. The cost of acquisition has now became excessive with employers having to consider a 3-6 month language buffer when it comes to hiring international employees.
UK Home Office X (Twitter) Account
FAQs
Q: Which visas now require B2 English level?
Starting in January 2026, B2 will be a requirement mostly on new Skilled Worker, Scale-up, and High Potential Individual (HPI) visa applicants.
Q: Does the Global Talent Visa (specific route) require B2?
It might also be the case that the Global Talent visa route as such does not currently require English to be used in the first application, but a settlement (ILR) requirement might reflect more general trends in B2.
Q: Can I use my old B1 test result for a new application?
No. Since you are submitting a first-time Skilled Worker visa application after January 8, 2026, then you will need to pass a Level B2 SELT.
Q: How much does the English test cost?
The cost of the prices differs with the provider (e.g. IELTS, Pearson) and does not always include the preparation course prices, which tend to be between £150-200.
