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.