Autumn Immigration Rule Changes Implement White Paper Proposals

On 14 October 2025 the Home Office published its Autumn Immigration Rules updates. Amongst other things, this includes a range of promised White Paper proposals and imposes an immediate visa requirement on citizens of Botswana.

Further details of the changes are outlined below, including when they come into effect.

Higher English language requirement for main applicants in work routes

For first-time main applicants applying from 8 January 2026 in the Skilled Worker, High Potential Individual and Scale-up routes, the English language requirement is being raised from Level B1 (intermediate) on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) to Level B2 (upper intermediate). Individuals already in these routes can continue to extend in their existing route without needing to meet the higher English language requirement.