UK Immigration News

29 October 2008

Tier 2 of the points-based system (PBS) will open in the United Kingdom (UK) on 27 November 2008. This will enable UK employers to recruit individuals from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) to fill a particular job that cannot be filled by a British or EEA national.

One of the requirements of the PBS will be that, in most cases, migrants coming here to undertake skilled or highly skilled work must provide evidence to demonstrate that they have an acceptable standard of English. The ability to speak English to a competent level improves a migrant's potential to succeed in the labour market and to integrate in the United Kingdom.

One way in which applicants can demonstrate this will be by providing evidence that they have passed an English language test. Only tests that have been assessed as meeting the UK Border Agency standards will be accepted as evidence that the applicant meets this requirement.

Full details of approved English language tests for tier 2 are published in the related documents section.