English Status

If you are applying to enter or remain in the UK then it is very likely you will need to provide evidence of meeting the English requirements


This page will cover English requirements for entry visas, renewing your UK visa, applying for settlement and naturalisation.
Different rules apply if you are applying under the points-based system, family visas, visas outside of the immigration rules etc.

Over the years the Home Office has amended the English rules and if you do not understand them, it could impact your application.
If you are unsure, you should contact us for free advice.


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KEY SECTIONS COVERED

English Guidelines

Understanding who is likely to need a visa to enter or remain
in the UK and level of
English required

It is very important you understand who needs to provide English evidence and more importantly the right type of evidence as the Home Office has set strict rules on how you can obtain it.

Further down this page we have covered the countries automatically approved for English as long as you hold a valid travel document for that country, who are exempt from having to provide English evidence, levels of English required and this can vary from entry visa to visa renewal.

Family Visa Route - entry
  • If you are applying to enter the UK under the family visa route, your English must be at A1 level.
  • If you decide to remain in the UK when your entry visa expires, you will need to obtain A2 level.
  • If you decide after 5 years in the UK under the family route you want to apply for settlement status, you need to be at B1 level.

Family Visa Route - further leave to remain
  • If you are already in the UK and require to extend your first family visa or Parent of a dependant, you are required to obtain English at A2*level.
*A2 test can only be taken in the UK.

Points-Based System (Working) Tier 1
  • If your entry visa falls under Tier 1 Entrepreneur or Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur, your entry English level must be B1 level.
  • If your entry visa falls under Tier 1 Investor or Tier 1 Exceptional Talent, you do not need to provide any evidence of English but if you plan to settle in the UK, you need to have English to B1 level.

Points-Based System (Working) Tier 2
  • If your entry visa falls under Tier 2 General, your entry English level must be B1 level.
  • If your entry visa falls under Tier 2 Sportsperson, your entry English level must be A1 level.
  • If your entry visa falls under Tier Minister of Religion, your entry English level must be B2 level.
  • If your entry visa falls under Tier 2 Intra-company Transfer you do not need to provide any evidence of English.
  • If your entry visa falls under PBS Dependant visa (direct family members), you do not need to provide any evidence of English but if you plan to settle in the UK, you need to have English to B1 level.

Points-Based System (Studies) Tier 4
  • If your entry visa falls under Tier 4 General (Adults 18+) we have 2 levels you must achieve and these levels depends on your planned UK studies. Levels are:
    • Degree level or above - B2 level
    • Below degree level - B1 level
  • If your entry visa falls under Tier 4 General (Child) you are exempt from providing evidence of English.

Short-term study visa
  • If your entry visa falls under this visa type, you are exempt from providing evidence of English.

Points-Based System (Studies) Tier 5
  • If your entry visa falls under Tier 5, you are exempt from providing evidence of English.

Turkish Businessperson or Turkish Worker
  • If your entry visa falls under this visa route, you are exempt from providing evidence of English but if you plan to settle in the UK, you need to have English to B1 level.

UK Ancestry
  • If your entry visa falls under this visa route, you are exempt from providing evidence of English but if you plan to settle in the UK, you need to have English to B1 level.

Aged 65 or have a physical condition
If you are aged 65 or over or have a long-term physical or mental condition*, you are exempt from providing evidence of English.

*This will all depend on your original evidence you can provide as part of your visa application.

English Exemption
If you believe you fall under one of these categories, you do not need to provide evidence of passing the relevant English level requirements:
  • Adult Dependent - relative aged between 18 and 64 of someone who is present and settled in the UK, is a refugee or has humanitarian protection; or
  • Commonwealth citizen - on discharge from HM Forces, including Gurkhas; or
  • Discretionary Leave - living in the UK hold this visa type; or
  • Domestic Violence - a victim of domestic violence as the partner or spouse of a British citizen or someone settled in the UK; or
  • Exceptional Circumstances - eg as an orphan, widow or over-age dependant; or
  • HMSP - highly skilled migrant applying under the terms of the highly skilled migrant program (HSMP) judicial review and your dependants; or
  • Humanitarian Protection - someone living in the UK under this route; or
  • Partner death - the partner or spouse of a person who has died who was either a British citizen or someone settled in the UK; or
  • Refugee - living in the UK
  • Retired Person - someone who has permission to stay in the UK as a retired person of independent means.

English Speaking Countries

Home Office approved countries that are deemed to be
English speaking

If you are a non-EEA or Switzerland national you can apply for this visa if you qualify by gaining enough points. You can apply from overseas or from within the UK if you have permission to be in the UK.

If you are a national of one of these listed countries and you can provide a travel document as your evidence, you do not need to provide any other evidence to meet the English requirements for entry visa, further leave to remain, settlement or naturalisation.

The approved countries are:
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Australia
  • The Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Belize
  • Canada
  • Dominica
  • Grenada
  • Guyana
  • Jamaica
  • New Zealand
  • St Kitts and Nevis
  • St Lucia
  • St Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • USA

UK Qualifications

Understanding if you obtained a UK qualification and how to
find key information. 

If you have studied in the UK and obtained a UK qualification, this may meet the English requirements.

You must have the original qualification certificate or certified copy.
The training institute also needs to UK regulated and on the approved list.

If you like to know what levels are for England, Wales and Northern Ireland click here.
In Scotland the structure is different, to learn more click here.
compare qualifications from other countries click here.
If you need to find a regulated qualification click here.

Non-UK Qualifications

What documents and evidence do I require for this visa?

If you have studies taught in English outside of the UK, this evidence might meet the entry visa requirements.

Any overseas qualification needs to be cross-checked with UK NARIC.

Who are UK NARIC and their purpose?
UK NARIC (National Academic Recognition Information Centre) is the designated United Kingdom national agency for the recognition and comparison of international qualifications and skills. It performs this official function on behalf of the UK Government. They are the only body approved to cross-reference overseas qualifications taught in English.

UK NARIC has two routes to verify overseas qualifications

BLUE ROUTE
If you are looking to work or study in the UK, you need to use this route.
Do not use this route if you are applying for a UK entry visa.

RED ROUTE
If you are looking to settle in the UK or require a UK visa, you need to use this route.
If you need an entry visa, you should be applying through this route.

If you have studies taught in English outside of the UK, this evidence might meet the entry visa requirements.

English Outside the UK

Who can I use to obtain English if I do not have a qualification
taught in English and what
do I need to achieve?

Home Office has an approved list of places you are permitted to take your English test. If you have a test certificate not listed in the approved list of places, the evidence cannot be used unless exceptional circumstances applies.

Majority of people applying to enter the UK with apply via IELTS.
If you decide to use IELTS, go to this link and select IELTS for UKVI and IELTS Life Skills. This is the correct route if you need A1 entry for:

IELTS Life Skills - A1: is for the family route
  • Family life as a partner of a settled person (spouse/partner)
  • Family life as a parent (parent of a dependant).
IELTS Life Skills – A2: is for the family route (extension)
  • Family life as a partner of a settled person (spouse/partner)
  • Family life as a parent (parent of a dependant). 
IELTS Life Skills – B1: Indefinite leave to remain
  • Settlement/permanent residency.
IELTS Life Skills – B1: British Citizenship
  • Naturalisation

IELTS Life Skills - Family route & Tier 2 Sportsperson
If you are applying for an entry visa or switch into this visa route, you are required to obtain A1 level and 4.0 or above in these 2 areas:
  • Listening
  • Speaking
If you score less than 4.0 in any of these 4 areas, your visa will be refused however, if you take a second test and you score 4.0 in that test this would meet the English requirements. As long as both test certificates show 4.0 collective in all 2 areas this is the key and the overall score states 4.0 and above and A1.

IELTS for UKVI - Tier 2 Minister of Religion
If you are applying for an entry visa or switch into this visa route, you are required to obtain B2 level and 5.5 or above in these 4 areas:
  1. Listening
  2. Reading
  3. Speaking
  4. Writing
If you score less than 5.5 in any of these 4 areas, your visa will be refused however, if you take a second test and you score 5.5 in that test this would meet the English requirements. As long as both test certificates show 5.5 collective in all 4 areas this is the key and the overall score states 5.5 and above and B2.

IELTS for UKVI - Tier 2 General
If you are applying for an entry visa or switch into this visa route, you are required to obtain B1 level and 4.0 or above in these 4 areas:
  • Listening
  • Reading
  • Speaking
  • Writing
If you score less than 4.0 in any of these 4 areas, your visa will be refused however, if you take a second test and you score 4.0 in that test this would meet the English requirements. As long as both test certificates show 4.0 collective in all 4 areas this is the key and the overall score states 4.0 and above and B1.

IELTS Life Skills - Indefinite Leave to Remain / Citizenship
If you are applying for UK Indefinite or to be naturalised, you are required to obtain B1 level and 4.0 or above in these 4 areas:
  • Listening
  • Speaking
If you score less than 4.0 in any of these 2 areas, your visa will be refused however, if you take a second test and you score 4.0 in that test this would meet the English requirements. As long as both test certificates show 4.0 collective in all 2 areas this is the key and the overall score states 4.0 and above and B1.

Note: IELTS scoring starts from 2.5 to 9. Score are marked in levels of 0.5 so 4.0, 4.5, 5.0 etc.


English inside the UK

If I need to take an English test in the UK, who can I use?

Unless you use the approved English test centre, your English certificate will not be valid. To learn more about approved test centres click here. Majority of people use Trinity college and if you select this link, it is the right link for visa applications. All you need to do is select the appropriate visa type you are applying for to ensure you book the right English test.

If you need to book a test urgently, Trinity college normally have good availability in the coming week.

All UK tests are now electronically logged so no need to send to the Home Office with your visa application your test certificate, all the caseworker requires is the UKVI test number on your test certificate.

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