News Japanese citizens express concern over UK’s push for stricter English language requirements for visas

A recent proposal by the United Kingdom to introduce English language requirements for specific visa categories has sparked unease among Japanese nationals, particularly due to concerns over how the changes might affect workers' families. Prime Minister Keir Starmer's administration unveiled a white paper in May outlining planned reforms to the UK immigration system. Alongside proposals to extend the qualifying period for permanent residency and reduce the duration international graduates may remain in the UK, the document includes a provision for raising English proficiency standards for specific visa types.

Currently, no language requirements apply to those holding a Global Business Mobility (GBM) visa—granted to employees of overseas companies—or to their dependents, as this visa is generally considered suitable for short-term assignments rather than long-term settlement. The white paper's section on English requirements makes no explicit mention of GBM visa holders. While these workers may continue to be exempt, the same assurance does not necessarily extend to their family members.

The white paper states that the government will "introduce a new English language requirement for all adult dependants of workers and students at level A1" under the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Some observers think this may include family members of GBM visa holders. This has been a frequent question at seminars about the white paper for foreign companies, but expert views on the matter are divided. The U.K. Home Office has not clarified whether this is the case, and told Nikkei only that "further details will be available in due course." While the required level of fluency is not that high, there are concerns about the time and effort needed to take the test. In Japan, the Eiken grade 3 test, which is equivalent to the CEFR A1, costs 5,000 yen ($35) or more, depending on the venue.

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Japan has previously lobbied against English language requirements in the context of UK immigration policy. Back in 2008, during a period marked by rising anti-immigration sentiment, there was a proposal to introduce English proficiency standards as part of a broader push for "integration." Japan objected to the move, arguing it could unfairly affect its nationals living and working in the United Kingdom.

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There's a big issue regarding integration of immigrants into British society and language ability is seen as a central concern. I know of South Asian people who have lived in the UK for 30+ years and cannot speak even functional English. The reasonable thought is that if their English language skills are so poor, how can they understand British culture, values and society? That being said, the average Brit's idea of multiculturalism is ordering an Indian/Chinese takeaway meal once a week

I had lunch with a Japanese (Okinawan) marine biologist (and his family) who has been working here for a year. Casual English conversation with him was very difficult and virtually impossible with his wife. I wondered how they had managed over here for the last 12 months. I was able to understand his research project however; trying to monitor oceanic (zoo)plankton blooms using satellite data.

Many countries have language requirement for specific types of visa including Japan itself! For example to obtain the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services Visa in Japan, applicants may need to pass the JLPT at level N2 or higher.

Applicants for permanent residency are often expected to demonstrate a high level of Japanese proficiency, typically JLPT N1, and may need to prove their ability to use Japanese in daily life, sometimes through interviews or documentation from language schools.

Considering that English is the de facto international lingua franca and that Japanese people learn it at least since primary school nowadays, I really do not see the problem here. It just sounds hypocritical.

I looked it up and the UK already has language requirements for various types of visa although the level of English required is really low, ranging from A1 (beginner) for most dependents to B2 (upper intermediate) for students and skilled workers.

Having some kind of a language requirement for the main worker seems justified to me, but not for dependents.

I've known people here in the USA who've spent years living and even working here but have no to very low English speaking ability. Same for people in Japan with no Japanese ability. I may have some opinions on the matter, but I don't think it should necessarily be a legal requirement for residency.

As I've mentioned elsewhere, persistent, poor language skill in another country can lead to isolation and ghettoisation which governments and societies find threatening. There is a whole diaspora of south Asian people here in the UK who have incredibly poor language skills after 30-40 years of living here and even their children and grandchildren have slight Asian accents despite having been born and schooled in the UK! How does that happen? When I was at University, I had friends with Scottish-Asian accents!

My father-in-law was Scottish and most of our conversations involved me going "HUH?" He was in the Black Watch for over 20 years and I was scared to death of upsetting him , LOL. My next door neighbor for the past 30 years is from Cambodia. They rarely leave their house except to go to work. Fellow Cambodians seem to use his home as a get together spot for friends from all over New England from the car license plates I see there. I have a hard time with any accents , missing some parts of the conversation. I never realized I had an accent till some Japanese people would ask if I was from Maine or Massachusetts , LOL.

Other than NYC, deep south and Valley girl's accents, I can't distinguish them very easily and that's after years of watching American TV as a child!