Embarking on the journey to secure a visa for the United Kingdom
can be both exciting and daunting, especially when faced with the
intricacies of the English language requirement. For many visa
categories, demonstrating proficiency in English is not just a
preference but a fundamental prerequisite. Failure to meet this
requirement can lead to significant setbacks, including application
refusal. In this post, we delve into the English language
requirement for UK visa applications, shedding light on its
significance, the various ways to meet it, and exemptions available
under specific circumstances.
What is a UK Visa English Language Requirement?
Many UK visa applications require an applicant to demonstrate
their proficiency in the English language. Where an immigration
application has an English language requirement, failure to
demonstrate that the requirement has been met will ordinarily
result in a refusal.
The level of English necessary to meet the UK visa English
language requirement varies between different types of application.
If you are required to meet an English language requirement for a
UK visa application, you ought to consider:
- What is the required level of English
proficiency that I need to demonstrate?
(and then, dependent on the answer to Question 1)
- How can I prove that I meet
the English language requirement?
The answer to both questions will be specific to the
immigration application being made.
Does my visa application fall under Appendix English
Language?
Appendix English Language applies to a vast
number of immigration applications, including:
As the rules pertaining to Appendix English Language (and the
above routes that rely on it) change regularly, you may wish to
seek specialist advice if you have any particular concerns
regarding your ability to meet this requirement. This article
reflects the rules most recently updated on 22 February
2024.
It is important to note that while many immigration routes have
English language requirements, not all
applications rely on Appendix English
Language to assess English proficiency (for instance,
partner and family applications under Appendix FM
do not rely on Appendix English Language.
If you are not sure whether your application has an English
language requirement, you may wish to browse our personal and business immigration archives and find your
specific immigration route.
Do I come from a majority English speaking country?
Applicants who are nationals of a majority English speaking
country are able to meet the English language requirement under
Appendix English Language by virtue of their
nationality. Dual nationals will also meet this requirement where
they hold one nationality from a majority English speaking
country.
The following countries are currently listed as
‘majority-English-speaking countries’ under
Appendix English Language:
- Antigua and Barbuda;
- Australia;
- the Bahamas;
- Barbados;
- Belize;
- the British overseas territories;
- Canada;
- Dominica;
- Grenada;
- Guyana;
- Jamaica;
- Malta;
- New Zealand;
- St Kitts and Nevis;
- St Lucia;
- St Vincent and the Grenadines;
- Trinidad and Tobago; and,
- USA.
Can I use my degree to meet the English Language
Requirement?
In any application to which Appendix English
Language applies, an academic degree
taught or researched in English can be used to satisfy the English
language requirement, subject to provision of the correct evidence.
Applicants are able to rely on the following qualifications to meet
the English Language requirement:
- A bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or doctorate
awarded in the UK; - A degree/degree-level qualification taught in a
majority-English-speaking country (except Canada) or Ireland,
meeting or exceeding the standard of a bachelor’s degree in the
UK; or, - A degree/degree-level qualification meeting or exceeding the
standard of a bachelor’s degree in the UK that was taught or
researched in English.
When relying on a degree awarded by a body from outside the UK,
applicants must also provide a Visa and Nationality statement from
Ecctis setting out how their qualification meets the requirements
above.
What is a Secure English Language Test (SELT)?
A Secure English Language Test (SELT) is an
approved test which allows applicants to
demonstrate that they meet the English language requirement at a
specific level. As set out above, the level of
English proficiency that an applicant must demonstrate will depend
on the type of application being made.
Which English Tests are Approved English
Tests?
The GOV.UK website contains comprehensive lists of
which tests are ‘approved tests’, both within the UK and
outside the UK.
Which English Language Skills are Tested?
SELTs can test an applicant’s skills in either two
components ‘Speaking and Listening’ or
four components ‘Reading, Writing, Speaking and
Listening’.
The following routes require that any SELT relied upon assesses
Speaking and Listening skills:
Meanwhile, for the routes below, a SELT relied upon must assess
Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening:
Where can I take a Secure English Language Test (SELT)?
A SELT must be taken with an approved test
provider at an approved test centre.
Which Test Providers Are Approved?
If an applicant is taking an English language test
within the UK, they can only take a SELT with:
- IELTS SELT Consortium;
- Pearson;
- LanguageCert; or,
- Trinity College London.
If an applicant is taking an English language test from
outside the UK, the SELT must be taken with:
- IELTS SELT Consortium;
- Pearson;
- LanguageCert; or,
- PSI Services (UK) Ltd – Skills for English (UKVI).
Which Test Centres Are Approved?
The GOV.UK website contains two lists which set
out which test centres are approved both inside and outside the UK.
It is important to check that your test is provided by an approved
centre and to be aware that the list is subject to reviews and
updates.
Can I rely on a GCSE or A Level in English to meet the English
language requirement?
All routes which refer to Appendix English
Language allow applicants to meet the English language
requirement by relying on a GCSE, A Level or a Scottish equivalent
in English Language or English
Literature. The award must have been issued by an
appropriately regulated body, and the applicant must have been
awarded the GCSE/A level/Scottish equivalent following education in
a UK-based school while under the age of 18.
If an applicant turned 18 during the academic year that they
took their exams, they will still be able to rely on the GCSE or A
Level equivalent to meet the requirement.
As above, not all applications rely on
Appendix English Language to assess English
proficiency, including Appendix FM and citizenship applications. It
is not currently possible to rely on a GCSE or A Level in English
when applying under these routes.
I Met the English Language Requirement in a Previous
Application – Do I Need to Take Another English Language
Test?
If an applicant previously met the English language requirement
relying on a SELT, they may be able to rely on the same SELT
results, where:
- The previous application was successful; and,
- The level of English language ability demonstrated previously
meets or exceeds the level
required for the application they are now making.
This allows applicants to rely on a SELT that has expired,
provided that the above requirements are met and sufficient
evidence has been included in the application.
Am I Exempt From the English Language Requirement?
For an application to which Appendix English
Language applies, there are three general categories of
exemption:
Exemption 1: Applicants Who are Age 65 or
Over
Applicants who are age 65 or over on the date of
application do not need to meet the English language
requirement.
Exemption 2: Applicants Who Have a Physical or Mental
Condition Which Prevents Them From Meeting the
Requirement
The Home Office Guidance on assessing the English language
requirement sets out scenarios where an applicant may be exempt
from the English language requirement as a result of a condition or
disability. This includes circumstances where:
- An applicant suffers from a long-term or ongoing illness or
disability that severely restricts their ability to learn English
or to take an English language test; - An applicant suffers from a serious or life-threatening
illness, which may involve treatment over several months that
severely restricts their ability to learn English or to take an
English language test; - An Applicant has a mental condition which prevents them from
speaking or learning English to the standard required; - An applicant is deaf and cannot meet the listening or speaking
requirements; - An applicant has a speech impediment or is unable to speak and
has a limited ability to communicate in English.
The decision maker will consider various factors when assessing
the circumstances and evidence, such as:
- Whether their condition affects the applicant’s ability to
meet the requirement; - How serious the condition is;
- How long the condition is likely to last; and,
- Whether the applicant’s condition is likely to
improve.
Exemption 3: Adults Applying for Settlement as a
Partner, Parent or Dependent Child (Limited
Circumstances)
There are further provisions to allow adults applying for
settlement as a partner, parent or dependent child exemption from
the English language requirement in limited circumstances, subject
to the provision of additional supporting evidence. Applicants must
have spent 15 continuous years in the UK with permission, and must
provide evidence of an English language speaking and listening
qualification at CERF A2, ESOL entry level 2 or SCQF level 3.
They must also provide evidence from a qualified English teacher
confirming their attendance of an English language class for at
least 75 guided hours in the 12 months preceding the application,
and that, in the teacher’s professional view, the Applicant is
unlikely to attain B1 level through further study.
Where an applicant is unable to provide evidence of an English
language qualification at CEFR Level A2, the decision maker may
still find it appropriate to exercise discretion and waive the
requirement; although whether it is ‘appropriate’ to do so
will depend on the applicant’s circumstances. You may wish to
speak with a specialist immigration adviser if you are seeking to
rely on discretion to meet an English language requirement.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general
guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought
about your specific circumstances.
#Guide #Visa #English #Language #Requirement #Work #Visas
