English Language Requirements for Visas

English language requirements apply to most long-term visa routes in the UK, including:

• Skilled Worker Visa — B1 CEFR (speaking and listening) — can be met through an approved SELT or a degree taught in English;
• Spouse / Partner Visa — A1 CEFR initially (to get the initial visa) and A2 CEFR (for the extension), then B1 CEFR for ILR;
• Student Visa — B2 CEFR overall, usually evidenced by the course provider's assessment or an IELTS Academic test;
• Settlement (ILR) — B1 CEFR speaking and listening for most routes;
• Naturalisation — B1 CEFR speaking and listening.

Visitor visas, short-term visas, and some other routes do not have a formal English language requirement, though applicants must still be able to communicate their intentions to immigration officers.

Accepted evidence depends on the visa route:

• Secure English Language Test (SELT) — Tests approved by UKVI for immigration purposes. For most non-Student routes, IELTS for UKVI (Academic or General Training), Trinity College GESE or ISE, and LanguageCert are the main approved providers. Tests must be taken with an approved provider — non-SELT tests such as general IELTS (not IELTS for UKVI) are not accepted;
• Degree in English — A degree (or higher qualification) that was taught and assessed in English, from a UK institution or an institution in a majority English-speaking country, or from an institution outside those countries where the qualification was specifically taught in English (with supporting evidence);
• Nationality exemption — Citizens of majority English-speaking countries (including the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Belize, and others listed on GOV.UK) are exempt from the formal English language requirement for most routes.

SELT results are typically valid for two years from the date of the test. If your test result expires before your visa application is submitted, you will need to retake the test. Plan ahead — booking and sitting an approved test can take several weeks, and results may not be available immediately.

For spouse and partner visa applicants, the English language requirement increases at each stage: A1 for initial entry, A2 for the extension, and B1 for settlement. This means multiple tests over the course of the route. Each test must be taken with an approved SELT provider.

If you fail a SELT, you can retake it immediately (subject to the provider's own policies). There is no Home Office limit on retakes. The cost of each test is typically £140–£200 depending on the provider. Some providers offer preparation materials and practice tests.

The English language requirement for family visas (spouse and partner route) was one of the requirements significantly affected by recent changes to the Minimum Income Requirement (MIR) and family visa financial threshold. The April 2024 Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules (HC 590) and associated policy introduced a phased increase to the MIR alongside adjustments to the evidential requirements. These changes do not alter the English language levels required (still A1 for initial entry, A2 for the extension, and B1 for ILR under the 5-year route), but the phased approach to the MIR means that advisers and applicants must track which threshold applies at the date of their specific application.

Under the current rules (as of 2026), the English language requirement for the 5-year partner route to settlement operates as follows: the overseas applicant must demonstrate English at A1 CEFR to enter the UK (using an approved SELT or by being a national of a majority English-speaking country); must demonstrate A2 CEFR at the 30-month extension stage; and must demonstrate B1 CEFR at the settlement (ILR) stage at five years. The 10-year route for partners has the same English language requirements at each stage but runs on a different residence timetable. Failure to meet the English language requirement at any stage will result in refusal of the relevant application, even if all other requirements are met — there is no discretion to waive the requirement except for those who qualify for the limited medical or age-based exemptions.

The approved SELT providers list is maintained by the Home Office and updated from time to time. Before booking a test, check the current list of approved providers on GOV.UK, as providers are occasionally removed or added. A test taken with a provider that was approved at the time of the test but has since been removed is generally still accepted, provided it was a valid test at the time it was taken. However, the safe approach is to use an active, currently-approved provider. IELTS for UKVI (General Training), Trinity College GESE grades 5–12, and LanguageCert are among the most widely used approved SELT providers in the UK at present.