Sir Keir Starmer is changing the English language requirements for immigrants wishing to live and work in the UK, as well as doubling the length of time required to have lived in the UK before applying for citizenship. Labour has unveiled a new crackdown on those exploiting the UK’s immigration system today, closing loopholes and tightening the system.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of today’s Immigration White Paper publication, the Prime Minister said that “living in this country is a privilege that must be earned”. The new rules aim to reduce reliance on overseas recruitment, enabling those who contribute to Britain’s economy to be prioritised. The system overhaul includes ending automatic settlement and citizenship for anyone living here for five years.

Instead, migrants must live in the UK for a decade before applying to stay, unless they can show a real and lasting contribution to the economy and society. This means high-skilled, high-contributing individuals would be fast-tracked, “such as nurses, doctors, engineers and AI leaders”.

The Prime Minister has also changed the English language requirements across every immigration route, meaning anyone wishing to live and work in the UK must speak a higher standard of English.

This will extend to all adult dependents for the first time, requiring them to demonstrate a basic understanding of English. Sir Keir said that immigrants should “commit to integration and to learning our language”. This aims to help individuals integrate into their local community and find employment.

There were 162,000 grants of settlement in 2024, when Labour came to power, up 35% from 2023. There were also 270,000 grants of citizenship in 2024, up nearly a third on the previous year.

During a press conference ahead of the paper release on Monday, Sir Keir said: “Every area of the immigration system, including work, family and study, will be tightened up so we have more control. Enforcement will be tougher than ever and migration numbers will fall.

“We will create a system that is controlled, selective and fair.”

He added that the new rules are “a clean break from the past and will ensure settlement in this country is a privilege that must be earned, not a right”.