FULL LIST: UK Introduces new English tests for visa, citizenship applicants

FULL LIST: UK Introduces new English tests for visa, citizenship applicants

The UK Home Office has revised the list of Secure English Language Tests (SELT) accepted for visa and citizenship applications.

The change was announced on the official UK Government website with the goal of streamlining the application process and improving accessibility.

According to the UK Home Office, the current LANGUAGECERT ESOL SELT 4-skills test will be replaced by two new versions; LANGUAGECERT Academic SELT and LANGUAGECERT General SELT.

Results from the old test remain valid for two years, and any unused vouchers are still valid for 12 months.

Test Requirements

Depending on the visa type, applicants must either take a full 4-skills test (reading, writing, listening, and speaking) or a speaking and listening only test.

Applicants needing a full 4-skills test include:

Skilled Worker Visa

Health and Care Worker Visa

Student Visa

Start-up / Innovator Founder Visa

Scale-up Worker Visa

High-Potential Individual Visa

Minister of Religion Visa

Temporary Work (International Agreement route)

Applicants needing speaking and listening only include:

UK Citizenship

Settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain)

Partner / Parent Visa

International Sportsperson Visa

Representative of an Overseas Business

Approved SELT test providers

Approved SELT test providers:

Pearson

Trinity College London

IELTS SELT Consortium

PSI Services (Skills for English UKVI)

LANGUAGECERT

Test locations and booking process in the UK:

Pearson

Trinity College London

IELTS SELT Consortium

LANGUAGECERT

 Outside the UK, available test providers are:

Pearson

IELTS SELT Consortium

PSI Services (UKVI)

LANGUAGECERT

Tests can be booked via provider websites, with availability usually within 28 days. Booking details must match the applicant’s ID exactly.

Accepted ID documents

Passport – Most commonly used ID document

UK BRP or BRC – For residents in the United Kingdom

EEA National ID – Accepted if applicable to the applicant

Government-issued photo ID – Accepted for tests taken outside the UK

Photocopies and emergency travel documents are not accepted as valid forms of identification for the test.

After completing the test, candidates are issued a SELT reference number, which connects their results to their visa application.

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