Foreign students across the north and north-east applying for UK citizenship will be forced to travel to one of only two test centres in Scotland to demonstrate their English skills.
New Home Office regulations mean that ESOL (English for speakers of other languages) or English language qualifications can no longer be used to prove competency.
Individuals will have to journey to the central belt – either Glasgow or Edinburgh – to be assessed, unless they have a degree that was taught or researched in English.
Last night, immigration chiefs were under fire over the changes, which will come into force in November.
Northern Isles MP Alistair Carmichael said the move, part of a crackdown on bogus colleges, would hit those in his remote constituency particularly hard.
The Liberal Democrat former Scottish secretary also questioned why the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) had not been authorised to run a SELT (Secure English Language Test) centre.
SNP MP Ian Blackford, who represents Ross, Skye and Lochaber, branded the situation “outrageous” and “shameful”.
He said: “It’s unacceptable people who are here to stay and make a contribution to the Scottish economy and to Scottish life are faced with this.”
He said someone in his constituency could find themselves having to make a 13-hour round trip, pay for overnight accommodation and ask for two days off work.
Under the new regime, the approved provider is a consortium – composed of the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia, Cambridge English Language Assessment and Trinity College London.
The only awarding bodies are Trinity College London and Cambridge English Language Assessment.
The two approved locations north of the border are the Trinity Glasgow SELT Centre and the British Council in Edinburgh.
Celia Smith, ESOL coordinator at Shetland College, said her students would have to book a flight or ferry and arrange a significantly longer time off work to take the test.
She also said it cost “three times” what they paid for the ESOL course provided at the college.
But a Home Office spokesman confirmed students who had taken a previously approved test on or before April 5 of this year could still use it in a UK immigration application until November 5.
The Home Office says applicants will be offered an improved service with the ability to book and get results online.
An SQA spokesman said discussions regarding the status of its ESOL qualifications were ongoing between the Scottish and UK governments.
They are still available to approved centres, such as Shetland College, and recognised by a range of stakeholders including employers and universities.