English language requirements, route by route
Last verified 5 September 2026 against GOV.UK sources·Page updated 5 September 2026
| The scale | CEFR levels: A1 (basic) → A2 → B1 (intermediate) → B2 (upper-intermediate) |
|---|---|
| How to prove it | A Secure English Language Test (SELT) from an approved provider, or an exemption |
| Common exemptions | Nationals of majority-English-speaking countries; a degree taught in English (Ecctis-confirmed) |
| One-time rule | Once proven at a level, you normally don't re-prove it at the same level in later applications |
| Coming up | Settlement (ILR) rises to B2 on affected routes from 26 March 2027 |
Almost every long-term UK route has an English requirement, and 2026–27 is a confusing time to work out which level applies where: requirements are being raised in stages, so different routes — and even different stages of the same journey — now sit at different levels. This page is the map.
Current levels by route
| Route / stage | Level |
|---|---|
| Visitor, ETA, Youth Mobility, Graduate | No test required |
| Global Talent | No test at visa stage (B1 at settlement) |
| Student — below degree level | B1 |
| Student — degree level and above | B2 |
| High Potential Individual | B1 |
| Skilled Worker / Health and Care (new applications from 8 Jan 2026) | B2 (B1 transitional for pre-2026 route holders) |
| Innovator Founder | B2 |
| Partner / spouse — entry | A1 |
| Partner / spouse — extension at 2.5 years | A2 |
| Settlement (ILR) — affected routes (incl. Skilled Worker, Ancestry, Global Talent, Long Residence, Private Life) | B1 now; B2 from 26 March 2027 |
| Settlement (ILR) — BN(O) route | B1 (not included in the announced 2027 change) |
| Naturalisation (citizenship) | B1 (unchanged for now) |
Two oddities worth noticing: a Skilled Worker now needs higher English (B2) than settlement currently demands (B1 until March 2027); and citizenship stays at B1 even after settlement moves to B2 — so for a transition period, the “highest” step of the journey has the lowest test.
How you prove it
For most routes you take a Secure English Language Test (SELT) — an approved test (IELTS for UKVI, and other approved providers) taken at an authorised centre, testing the skills the route requires (speaking and listening only for family and citizenship; all four skills for work and study routes). SELT results are valid for two years, but once a level is accepted in a successful application you normally do not need to re-prove that same level later — you only test again when a route demands a higher level.
Who is exempt
You do not need a test if you are a national of a majority-English-speaking country (Australia, Canada, the USA, New Zealand, Jamaica and others on the GOV.UK list), or if you hold a degree taught in English — UK degrees count directly, and overseas degrees need confirmation from Ecctis. Age exemptions apply at settlement and citizenship (under 18 or over 65), along with long-term physical or mental condition exemptions.
Planning around the 2027 change
If you will reach settlement eligibility after 26 March 2027 on an affected route, plan for B2 — and if your route already required B2 (Skilled Worker since 2026), that proof carries forward. Track the exact commencement details on the changes timeline.
Related guides
- British citizenship by naturalisation From ILR to a British passport: residence and absence limits, the good character test, £1,839 in fees — and what to check about your own nationality law first.
- Settlement: Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) Permanent residence in the UK: the 5-year routes, absence rules, the £3,226 fee, English rising to B2 in 2027 and the earned settlement proposal.
- Skilled Worker visa Sponsorship, the £41,700 salary threshold, degree-level job requirement, B2 English and the path to settlement — the UK's main work visa explained.