Table Of Contents:
- What are the UK Spouse Visa English Language Requirements
- UK Spouse Visa English Requirements – Tips in 2025
- Meeting the Requirement
- Approved Test Providers for those in the UK
- Approved Test Provides for those outside the UK
- Approved English Language Tests available in the UK
- Approved English Language Tests available outside the UK
- Changes to LANGUAGECERT SELT from 1 January 2025
- Number of Attempts Allowed
- After the Test
- Applicants who already have a test certificate or result
- Exemption from Meeting the English requirement for UK Spouse Visa
- Final Thoughts
Foreign nationals applying for a UK spouse visa must (unless exempt) meet the English language requirement. This means applicants need to prove that they can speak and listen the English at the required level of the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).
The English requirement for a UK spouse visa is one of the key eligibility requirements for people applying on this route. They need to understand how they can fulfill this requirement to avoid a possible visa refusal.
What are the UK Spouse Visa English Language Requirements?
The English requirement for a UK Spouse Visa is one of the core criteria that applicants must fulfill when applying to join or stay with their British or settled partner in the UK. The Home Office requires the applicants to demonstrate a basic understanding of English to enable them to successfully integrate into life in the UK — socially, legally, and professionally.
To meet the English language requirements for the UK Spouse Visa in 2025, applicants must prove their speaking and listening English to at least CEFR level A1. For those applying for an extension after 2.5 years, the required level increases to A2. For Indefinite Leave to Remain (also known as ‘Settlement’), it rises to level B1.
An applicant in the partner route does not need to meet reading and writing skills and may produce the required evidence of their speaking and listening English skills at CEFR level A1 or A2, or above, even if they fail on reading and writing in a test that examines all four skills (Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening).
UK Spouse Visa English Requirements – Tips in 2025
To satisfy the English for UK Spouse Visa requirement, applicants must prove they either have passed an approved English language test or possess other qualifying evidence. The Home Office accepts only results of certain approved tests from approved test providers. The burden of proof is on the applicant.
1. Meeting the Requirement
There are primarily 3 ways to satisfy the English language requirement. They include:
(1) Passing an approved English language test at or above the required CEFR level, with an approved provider, and the test must have been awarded in the two years before the date of a spouse visa application.
(2) Being a national of a majority English-speaking country such as the USA, Canada, or Australia.
(3) Having a degree taught or researched in English which is equivalent to a UK Bachelor’s or Master’s degree or PhD; or, if the qualification has been obtained outside the UK, it must be deemed by Ecctis (formerly UK NARIC) and Ecctis must confirm that the applicant has a degree:
- Which is comparable to a UK Bachelor’s or Master’s degree or PhD in the UK, and
- That was taught or researched in English; and
- Which is at or above the required CEFR level.
2. Approved Test Providers for those in the UK
One can only take a SELT (Secure English Language Test) with one of the following test providers:
- IELTS SELT Consortium
- Pearson
- LANGUAGECERT
- Trinity College London
3. Approved Test Provides for those outside the UK
One can only take a SELT (Secure English Language Test) with one of the following providers:
- Pearson
- LANGUAGECERT
- PSI Services (UK) Ltd
- IELTS SELT Consortium
4. Approved English Language Tests available in the UK
From 1 October 2020 there are five approved level A1 tests for spouse/partner test candidates:
- (GESE) Graded Examinations in Spoken English offered by Trinity College London
- IELTS Life Skills offered by the IELTS SELT Consortium
- International ESOL offered by LANGUAGECERT
- PTE Home offered by Pearson PTE
5. Approved English Language Tests available outside the UK
- IELTS Life Skills offered by the IELTS SELT Consortium
- International ESOL offered by LANGUAGECERT
- PTE Home offered by Pearson PTE
- Skills for English UKVI offered by PSI (UK) Ltd
6. Changes to LANGUAGECERT SELT from 1 January 2025
From 1 January 2025, the new LANGUAGECERT Academic SELT and LANGUAGECERT General SELT tests have replaced the previous LANGUAGECERT ESOL SELT 4-skills test.
People who already have a LANGUAGECERT ESOL SELT 4-skills result need to note that their result remains valid for two years.
Also, those who have a voucher for a LANGUAGECERT ESOL SELT 4-skills test can use this for up to 1 year from the date of purchase.
7. Number of Attempts Allowed
Applicants who need to sit for an English language test may make as many attempts as they wish to pass a test at the required CEFR level. Importantly, they must be able to provide the required evidence when they apply for entry clearance or leave to remain as a spouse.
8. After the Test
After passing the test, the applicant receives a SELT unique reference number. The applicant must use this number when making their spouse visa application; otherwise, they may face application refusal
The SELT unique reference number can be found on the test result as:
- For IELTS SELT Consortium tests – ‘UKVI number’
- For LANGUAGECERT tests – ‘Candidate URN’
- For Pearson tests – ‘SELT URN’
- For Trinity College London tests – ‘UER’
- For PSI Skills for English tests – ‘URN’
Applicants are not required to submit any documents as part of their immigration application. The Home Office checks the test results and scores using the SELT online verification system provided by each approved SELT test provider using a SELT unique reference number.
If an applicant took a test in the UK, they can use their test result for UK and overseas applications. They can also use tests taken overseas for a spouse visa application made in the UK.
Test results remain valid for 2 years from the date of being awarded.
9. Applicants who already have a test certificate or result
Someone applying as a partner for leave to enter or leave to remain does not need to provide evidence of meeting the English language requirement if they have done so as part of a successful previous UK immigration application in any category.
Appendix FM-SE provides for when the Home Office can or cannot use an applicant’s earlier test certificate or result. However, this is now allowed in circumstances where an English language test provider has withdrawn a test certificate or result awarded to the applicant, such that the test certificate or result can no longer be relied upon. In such circumstances, the applicant (unless they are exempt) must sit for and pass a fresh test and hence provide a fresh certificate or result from an approved provider which shows that they meet the requirement.
10. Exemption from Meeting the English requirement for UK Spouse Visa
The applicant is exempt from meeting the requirement if:
(1) They are 65 or over when they apply
(2) Have a physical or mental condition that clearly prevents them from meeting the requirement
(3) Exceptional circumstances (such as war, persecution, or extreme personal hardship) exist that prevent them from meeting the requirement
Final Thoughts
The English requirement for a UK Spouse Visa is a mandatory condition for each applicant set by the UK Home Office. It ensures that applicants joining their British or settled partners in the UK are English speakers at the basic level. Speaking and listening English at the basic level is essential for integrating into daily life in the UK and accessing services here. Unless exempt, all applicants must meet this requirement.
For an initial application for a UK spouse visa, the required level is CEFR A1. When they apply for an extension after 30 months in the UK, they must meet CEFR level A2. If applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain (or settlement), the required level increases to CEFR B1. The English language requirement is assessed for speaking and listening skills. Reading and writing skills are not assessed at these stages.
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