To apply for a skilled worker visa, an applicant must meet the English language requirement. The way in which an applicant can satisfy this requirement will depend on their circumstances. Here, we discuss the English Language requirement test when applying for a visa to work in the UK.
Where an applicant holds a qualification that is equivalent to at least a UK Bachelor’s degree which was taught in English, this may be evidence of their English ability.
| Country in which degree was taught | Evidence required |
| UK | The degree certificate, transcript, or a letter that confirms the qualification has been awarded. |
| Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Malta, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, United States of America |
A degree taught in one of these countries will always be assumed by UVKI as having been taught in English. However, applicants will need to apply for confirmation their degree is equivalent to at least a UK bachelor’s degree. Applicants must use Ecctis Visa and Nationality service (English proficiency) to obtain this confirmation. |
| Rest of the World | If the applicant was awarded their degree in one of these countries, they must apply for confirmation that the the degree was taught in English and is equivalent to at least a UK bachelor’s degree. Applicants must use Ecctis Visa and Nationality service (English proficiency) to obtain this confirmation. |
If the applicant has not been awarded a degree taught in English which is equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree and they do not fall into one of the exemptions below, they would need to pass an approved English Language test. The English language test will assess the applicant’s ability in listening, speaking,
reading and writing. The applicant’s proficiency must be at least Level B1 on the CERF scale.
The approved test providers an applicant can choose from will depend on whether they are making their applicant in the UK or not.
| Test provider | Location application shall be made | Pass requirements |
| Trinity College London | Inside the UK | -Listening: Pass -Speaking: Pass -Reading: Pass -Writing: Pass |
| IELTS SELT Consortium | Inside or outside the UK | -Listening: 4.0/9.0 -Speaking: 4.0/9.0 -Reading: 4.0/9.0 -Writing: 4.0/9.0 |
| LanguageCert | Inside or outside the UK | -Listening: 33/50 -Speaking: 33/50 -Reading: 33/50 -Writing: 33/50 |
| Pearson | Inside or outside the UK | -Listening: 43/90 -Speaking: 43/90 -Reading: 43/90 -Writing: 43/90 |
| PSI Services (UK) Ltd | Outside the UK | -Listening: Pass -Speaking: Pass -Reading: Pass -Writing: Pass |
Applicants are exempt from meeting the English language requirement if they:
-Are aged 65 and over;
-Are aged under 18;
-Have a disability (physical or mental condition) that prevents you from meeting the requirement.
Further, individuals who are citizens of one of the below-listed countries will automatically meet the English language requirement:
-Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Malta, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent, and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States of America.
Applicants who have previously met the English language requirement as part of a previous visa application, for example, a student visa, will also automatically meet the English language requirement.
We hope that you have found this post on The English Language requirement test when applying for a visa to work in the UK useful. At Davenport Solicitors, we’re experts in business immigration and advise many businesses on the immigration and employment aspects of recruiting and employing overseas nationals in the UK and individuals with the requirements of work visas. If you would like to speak to a member of our team, you can contact our team here.
