Which test you take depends on what you're applying for. Eight visa routes require a full four-skills test that assesses reading, writing, speaking and listening: Health and Care Worker, High Potential Individual, Innovator Founder, Minister of Religion, Scale-up Worker, Skilled Worker, Start-up, and Student. A ninth route—Temporary Work for private servants in a diplomatic household—also requires the four-skills test. Seven other routes need only a speaking and listening test: citizenship, International Sportsperson, parent, partner, Representative of an Overseas Business, settlement (indefinite leave to remain), and the parent visa.
If you're in the UK, you can take a SELT with Trinity College London, IELTS SELT Consortium, LANGUAGECERT, or Pearson. If you're outside the UK, your options are PSI Services (UK) Ltd, IELTS SELT Consortium, LANGUAGECERT, or Pearson. Trinity College London is UK-only.
The test must be one of the approved versions. IELTS offers "IELTS for UKVI" or "IELTS Life Skills. LANGUAGECERT offers "LANGUAGECERT International ESOL SELT," "LANGUAGECERT Academic SELT," or "LANGUAGECERT General SELT"—a change that took effect on 6 July 2025, when the older LANGUAGECERT ESOL SELT 4-skills test was retired. If you already held that older result, it remains valid for two years. Pearson offers "PTE Academic UKVI" or "PTE Home. PSI Services offers "Skills for English UKVI. Trinity College London offers "Secure English Language Tests for UKVI" in either Integrated Skills in English (ISE) or Graded Examinations in Spoken English (GESE).
Your test result must have been awarded within two years of your application date. The test centre must be on the approved list—UKVI publishes separate lists for centres in the UK and outside it. You should be able to take a test within 28 days of booking, though the location may not be nearest to you. If no approved centre exists in your country, you'll have to travel.
When you book, your name must match your passport or identity document exactly. If your surname has changed, you must update your passport or identity document before booking under the new name. On test day, you must bring an original, current, valid identity document with a photo. Passports, convention travel documents, and stateless persons travel documents work anywhere. In the UK only, you can use an eVisa or an expired biometric residence permit or card (BRP or BRC)—but only if you take the test no later than 24 months after expiry, or by 31 December 2026, whichever comes first. Outside the UK, you can use EEA identity cards in the country where they're issued, or valid photographic government-issued identity cards in the country where they're issued. Emergency travel documents are not accepted.
If you fail one component of a multi-component test, you may be allowed to retake just that component. Check your test provider's terms and conditions. If you need reasonable adjustments—extra equipment, accessibility help—request them when you book.
After you pass, you receive a unique reference number. This is called "UER" for Trinity, "UKVI number" for IELTS, "Candidate URN" for LANGUAGECERT, "SELT URN" for Pearson, and "URN" for PSI. You must include this reference number in your application. The Home Office checks results using the provider's online verification system, so you don't submit test documents yourself. Results are valid for two years from the award date. A test taken in the UK works for overseas applications, and vice versa.
If you have a previous gender or name you don't want visible on your result, email sensitivebookings@homeoffice.gov.uk before booking. The Home Office will tell you what to do next.
General information, not legal, immigration or tax advice. Confirm the details with UK Visas and Immigration before you act.
