Beta - This website is undergoing maintenance, upgrades and various eTesting meaning, certain features may not be working, apologies for any inconvenience

Welcome to English Guidance

This page will explain in greater detail the English requirement levels, types of visas that need English and English routes to becoming British.

English evidence must come from certain approved sources.
Welcome to English Guidance

This page will explain in greater detail the English requirement levels, types of visas that need English and English routes to becoming British.

English evidence must come from certain approved sources.
Welcome to English Guidance

This page will explain in greater detail the English requirement levels, types of visas that need English and English routes to becoming British. English evidence must come from certain approved sources.

English Guidance

English Guidance

English Guidance


Passing English is mandatory for most visa applications unless you are deemed as exempt.


The majority of visa applications will require evidence of English which can be an Academic qualification or English test certificate unless you are a holder of a passport approved as an English-speaking country. If you are a national of one of these countries, you meet the English requirements:


Antigua, Australia, Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago and the USA.


If your passport is not on the above list, you must provide either:


Either a UK qualification at Academic level. Click here to learn more about the English rules.


If you have an overseas degree taught 100% in English, you will need a ECCTIS report and a letter from the training institute confirming that your degree was 100% taught in English. If you need to pass an English test, these are your only options:



Note: English test results are based on A1, A2, B1 and B2.


Below table explains what level of English you will need to enter or remain in the UK:

Visa Types Leave to Enter Leave to Remain Settlement Naturalisation
Charity Worker N/A N/A X X
Creative Worker N/A N/A X X
Graduate Trainee N/A X X X
Health & Care Worker B1 B1 B1 B1
Innovator Founder B2 B2 B1 B1
International Sportsperson A1 A1 B1 B1
Minister of Religion B2 B2 B1 B1
Religious Worker N/A N/A X X
Representative of an Overseas Business A1 A1 B1 B1
Scale-up Worker B1 B1 B1 B1
Secondment Worker N/A N/A X X
Senior or Specialist Worker B1 B1 B1 B1
Skilled Worker B1 B1 B1 B1
UK Expansion Worker N/A N/A B1 B1
UK Ancestry N/A N/A X X
Visit visa (Standard) N/A N/A X X
Visit visa (Medical) N/A N/A X X
Youth Mobility Scheme N/A N/A X X

Above list of visa types are the most common ones but if your visa is not on the list, feel free to contact us for guidance.



N/A = English not required.

X = Not permitted to apply.

Passing English is mandatory for most visa applications unless you are deemed as exempt.


The majority of visa applications will require evidence of English which can be an Academic qualification or English test certificate unless you are a holder of a passport approved as an English-speaking country. If you are a national of one of these countries, you meet the English requirements:


Antigua, Australia, Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago and the USA.


If your passport is not on the above list, you must provide either:


Either a UK qualification at Academic level. Click here to learn more about the English rules.


If you have an overseas degree taught 100% in English, you will need a ECCTIS report and a letter from the training institute confirming that your degree was 100% taught in English. If you need to pass an English test, these are your only options:



Note: English test results are based on A1, A2, B1 and B2.


Below table explains what level of English you will need to enter or remain in the UK:

Visa Types Leave to Enter Leave to Remain Settlement Naturalisation
Charity Worker N/A N/A X X
Creative Worker N/A N/A X X
Graduate Trainee N/A X X X
Health & Care Worker B1 B1 B1 B1
Innovator Founder B2 B2 B1 B1
International Sportsperson A1 A1 B1 B1
Minister of Religion B2 B2 B1 B1
Religious Worker N/A N/A X X
Representative of an Overseas Business A1 A1 B1 B1
Scale-up Worker B1 B1 B1 B1
Secondment Worker N/A N/A X X
Senior or Specialist Worker B1 B1 B1 B1
Skilled Worker B1 B1 B1 B1
UK Expansion Worker N/A N/A B1 B1
UK Ancestry N/A N/A X X
Visit visa (Standard) N/A N/A X X
Visit visa (Medical) N/A N/A X X
Youth Mobility Scheme N/A N/A X X

Above list of visa types are the most common ones but if your visa is not on the list, feel free to contact us for guidance.



N/A = English not required.

X = Not permitted to apply.

Passing English is mandatory for most visa applications unless you are deemed as exempt.


The majority of visa applications will require evidence of English which can be an Academic qualification or English test certificate unless you are a holder of a passport approved as an English-speaking country. If you are a national of one of these countries, you meet the English requirements:


Antigua, Australia, Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago and the USA.


If your passport is not on the above list, you must provide either:


Either a UK qualification at Academic level. Click here to learn more about the English rules.


If you have an overseas degree taught 100% in English, you will need a ECCTIS report and a letter from the training institute confirming that your degree was 100% taught in English. If you need to pass an English test, these are your only options:



Note: English test results are based on A1, A2, B1 and B2.


Below table explains what level of English you will need to enter or remain in the UK:

Visa Types Leave to Enter Leave to Remain Settlement Naturalisation
Charity Worker N/A N/A X X
Creative Worker N/A N/A X X
Graduate Trainee N/A X X X
Health & Care Worker B1 B1 B1 B1
Innovator Founder B2 B2 B1 B1
International Sportsperson A1 A1 B1 B1
Minister of Religion B2 B2 B1 B1
Religious Worker N/A N/A X X
Representative of an Overseas Business A1 A1 B1 B1
Scale-up Worker B1 B1 B1 B1
Secondment Worker N/A N/A X X
Senior or Specialist Worker B1 B1 B1 B1
Skilled Worker B1 B1 B1 B1
UK Expansion Worker N/A N/A B1 B1
UK Ancestry N/A N/A X X
Visit visa (Standard) N/A N/A X X
Visit visa (Medical) N/A N/A X X
Youth Mobility Scheme N/A N/A X X

Above list of visa types are the most common ones but if your visa is not on the list, feel free to contact us for guidance.


N/A = English not required.

X = Not permitted to apply.