The UK government has introduced language requirements to applicants seeking to apply settlement or obtain British citizenship since 2005. The applicants for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) must pass a Secure English Language Test in at least CEFR level B1, unless they are under the age of 18 or over the age of 65 or exempt because of a physical or mental condition.

How to satisfy the English language requirement

There are 3 ways in which an applicant can prove that he/she meets the English language requirement:

• If you’re a national of a majority English speaking country, you automatically meet the English language requirement. 

A list of countries regarded by the Home office as majority English speaking.

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 

• You can satisfy it by holding a degree that was taught or researched in English. It can be a degree taken in the UK or outside the UK. You need to submit a degree certificate or NARIC confirmation letter.    

• If you are not an English speaking national or do not have degree certificates, you must pass the qualified B1 speaking and listening test.   

From 19 November 2015, this test MUST be one of the Secure English Language Test (SELT) with Trinity College Graded Examinations in Spoken English (GESE) or IELTS for UKVI and IELTS life skills. The GESE and Life Skills tests will assess only speaking and listening abilities. But you need to note that IELTS for UKVI and IELTS life skills are only valid for two years and you need to check the expiry date of the test.  

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