The English Language Requirement for UK Settlement

To get Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) and later British citizenship, you usually need to prove that you can speak and understand English. This is part of the knowledge of language and life requirement, alongside the Life in the UK Test. This guide explains what you need. For all the ILR requirements together, see our ILR overview.

The level you need

For settlement, you usually need at least CEFR level B1 in speaking and listening. B1 is an intermediate level: you can hold everyday conversations and understand the main points of clear, standard speech.

Note that some entry visas now ask for a higher level (for example B2 on the Skilled Worker route from January 2026), but the settlement requirement itself is B1.

How to prove it

There are three main ways:

1. Pass an approved test (SELT) — a Secure English Language Test in speaking and listening at B1 or above, taken at an approved test centre.
2. Have a degree taught in English — a bachelor's, master's or PhD taught or researched in English counts. If your degree is from outside the UK, you get UK ENIC to confirm it was taught in English and its level.
3. Be a national of a majority English-speaking country — for example nationals of certain listed countries do not need a separate test.

Who is exempt

You may not need to meet the English requirement if you are:

• aged 65 or over, or
• unable to meet it because of a long-term physical or mental health condition.

Exemptions have specific rules and evidence, so check gov.uk for your case.

Do it once, use it later

Like the Life in the UK Test, once you have met the English requirement at the right level, you generally do not need to repeat it when you move from settlement to citizenship. Getting it done early is one less thing to worry about later.