On 1 May 2025, the Home Office updated the English language requirement website pages for the visa routes that require an applicant to meet an English language threshold.

Demonstrating a level of English language proficiency is a requirement for certain visa applications including Skilled Workers, Innovator Founders, Students, the High Potential Individual visa route, Ministers of Religion, Start-Up visa and some family visa route applicants as well as when applying for permanent residency and British Citizenship.

The level of proficiency depends on the visa route and can be evidenced by one of the following:

• taking and passing an Approved Test using the Common European Framework of References for Languages (CEFR) at an Approved Centre – English language tests; or
• being awarded a UK undergraduate degree or graduate degree; or
• being awarded an undergraduate degree or graduate degree taught in English outside the UK

What’s changed?

The revision to the requirement impacts the last option – holding a degree taught in English awarded outside of the UK. Now, those relying on this method to meet the English language requirement must now have their degrees verified from Qualification and Language Service (QLS) – which has replaced ECCTIS as the verifier. One still has to apply through ECCTIS…Qualification and Language Service (QLS) | . 

The link is the same as the old tab on the gov.uk website. However, the timelines and costs have considerably changed:

• Importantly, please note there is now NO Fast Track option.
• Verification can take up to 20 working days.
• The cost is increased to £210 plus vat (£42 at today’s vat rate) up from £140 plus vat – English Proficiency and Qualification Comparison | Ecctis

According to the current wording on the relevant pages, each application submitted to QLS will undergo a “thorough verification process”.

The QLS system consists of two different services:

• The English proficiency and qualification comparison
  • This comparison will check whether an overseas qualification is comparable to a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD degree awarded in the UK and
  • The level of English proficiency, on the CEFR, needed to complete the course.
  • Where the academic institution is in a Home Office-specified majority English speaking country, the comparison will not state an English level
  • Ecctis will also contact the institution to check that the qualification is genuine.

• The qualification comparison
  • The Qualification comparison applies only to:
    •  applicants in the Skilled Worker route who are applying under salary points options which require a PhD
    • And those applying in the High Potential Individual route.
• In both these cases, there is no requirement for the course to have been taught in English, as they do not relate to the English language requirement.
• For both, the cost is now £210, plus £42 vat. A successful applicant will receive a code in the new Ecctis portal, which they should share with the Home Office in their visa application.

What does this mean?

The direct ramifications of this change means that for those visa applicants relying on degrees not taught in English will need to plan ahead if relying on that degree to meet the requirement. If facing a time crunch to make an application, it may be beneficial to look at sitting an Approved English language test.

Certainly, we advise reaching out to the Bindmans Immigration Team contact to discuss the position further if you believe this affects you.

If you are not yet already signed up for the Immigration Team’s updates – you can do so here.

Please note that this update is provided for informational purposes only and is not legal advice and is not to be relied on as such.

The details are subject to change at the discretion of the Home Office and Bindmans will keep you updated as to changes that may impact you.