Table Of Contents
- What is the English requirement for a family visa and who needs to meet it
- Who does not need to prove knowledge of English or meet the family visa English requirement
- What are the required CEFR levels for UK family visas in 2026
- How can you prove your knowledge of English for a family visa
- What if you have a degree from a UK institution
- What if you have a degree from an institution outside the UK
- What if you have to pass an English test
- Summary
UK family route allows you to come to or stay in the UK as a partner (spouse, civil partner, or unmarried partner), parent, child, or as an adult coming to the UK to be cared for by a relative in this country. If you apply as a partner or parent, you may need to satisfy the English language requirement along with other eligibility requirements. On the other hand, you are not required to prove your knowledge of English if you are applying as a child or as an adult coming to the UK to be cared for by a relative in this country.
What is the English requirement for a family visa and who needs to meet it?
Under Appendix FM, you may be required to show/demonstrate your English language ability at a certain level. This requirement is designed to help migrants integrate into life in the UK.
The caseworker from the Home Office, while assessing your family visa application as a partner or parent, checks whether you have provided acceptable evidence showing that you meet the required English standard under the CEFR or qualify for an exemption.
If you are applying for entry clearance to the UK or permission to stay here as a partner or as a parent, you will usually need to prove your knowledge of English as set out in the Immigration Rules – Appendix FM unless an exemption applies.
The family visa English requirement generally applies if you are applying for:
• Entry clearance to the UK as a partner.
• Leave to remain in the UK as a partner.
• Entry clearance to the UK as a parent.
• Leave to remain in the UK as a parent.
Who does not need to prove knowledge of English or meet the family visa English requirement?
You are not required to show your knowledge of English or take a test if one of the following applies:
• You are applying for a UK family visa as a child
• You are applying as an adult coming to the UK to be cared for by a relative in this country
• You have been in the UK for 5 years on a family visa, and you are extending it as a partner or parent
• You are aged over 65
• You have a disability – a physical or mental condition that prevents you from meeting this requirement.
To qualify for exemption due to disability, you must apply for it in your application and submit satisfactory medical evidence.
You also will not be required to prove your knowledge of English if you are a national of one of the following countries/territories:
- 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
- USA
What are the required CEFR levels for UK family visas in 2026?
From 8 January 2026, you need to meet CEFR level A1 in speaking and listening if this is your first application. If you are applying to extend your stay as a partner or parent after 2.5 years, you may have to pass a higher CEFR level.
If you passed level A1 for your first application, you will be required to pass at least level A2 in speaking and listening.
If you passed level A2, B1, B2, C1 or C2 for your first application, you can use the test result again for your application for permission to stay as long as your test provider has not withdrawn your certificate.
You will need to pass an approved test at level A1 of CEFR if you were granted an exemption based on exceptional circumstances at the entry clearance stage unless you remain exempt on this or another basis.
How can you prove your knowledge of English for a family visa?
Where required, you can meet the family visa English requirement if:
• You have obtained a degree from a UK institution; or
• You have obtained a degree from an institution overseas that was taught in English; or
• You have passed an English test from an approved test provider
You may not have to prove your knowledge of English again if you have already proved it in a previous successful visa application.
What if you have a degree from a UK institution?
You can prove your English language ability at the required level if you have a degree-level qualification that was taught in English and awarded by a UK institution, regardless of whether you studied inside or outside the UK.
You only need to have your degree certificate if your qualification is from a UK institution.
What if you have a degree from an institution outside the UK?
You will be required to apply for an assessment from Ecctis if you are relying on a degree that was taught in English but was not awarded by a UK institution.
Ecctis (formerly UK NARIC) will give you a code to confirm that your qualification is equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree, master’s, or PhD qualification, and was taught in English.
If you have already obtained assessment from Ecctis, you are not required to reapply because you can use the certificate from your previous assessment instead.
What if you have to pass an English test?
If you have no eligible qualifications to prove your knowledge of English, you will be required to pass a SELT (Secure English Language Test) with an approved provider.
Even though you must pass at least level A1 on the CEFR for your first family visa application, you can choose to take a higher level test.
If you take and pass a test at level B1 or higher, you can use your test result again when you apply for ILR after 5 years.
Summary
The UK Family Visa English Language Requirement is a rule under the Immigration Rules – Appendix FM that requires most people applying as partners or parents to demonstrate a minimum level of English language ability. You can normally meet the family visa English requirement through passing an approved English test, a qualifying degree taught in English, or being a national of a majority English-speaking country. When you first apply for entry clearance, you need to meet the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) A1 level, but the requirement increases to CEFR A2 level for extensions and CEFR B1 level for ILR (also known as ‘settlement’) applications.
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