The Life in the UK test is due for an overhaul, but no date has been set. In its Immigration White Paper of 12 May 2025, Restoring control over the immigration system, the government said it would refresh the Life in the UK test and the way it operates, as part of reforms linking citizenship to a longer, earned route to settlement.
Key facts
- What Plan to refresh the Life in the UK test
- Announced 12 May 2025, Immigration White Paper
- Status No new test or handbook announced (30 Oct 2026)
- Today £50, 24 questions, 45 minutes, 75% to pass
What the White Paper did not say
The paper gave no detail on new content, a new handbook, a different format or a start date. The later earned settlement consultation, published on 20 November 2025, again listed a Life in the UK test pass as a minimum requirement for settlement and mentioned a revised test as one option for assessing integration, without describing it.
The test today
As of 30 October 2026, the official GOV.UK pages describe the same test as before. It costs £50, has 24 questions on British traditions and customs, lasts 45 minutes and needs a score of 75% or more to pass. It is taken at one of more than 30 test centres in the UK and must be booked at least three days in advance. The official study book is still Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide for New Residents. Books sold as a 2026 edition by commercial publishers repackage this official content; they are not a new Home Office handbook.
What this means
If you need the test for settlement or citizenship, there is no reason to wait for a refreshed version: a pass does not have to be repeated for later applications, and nothing has been announced about old passes being withdrawn. Study the current official handbook, practise with timed mock tests, and book through the official GOV.UK booking service only. If the government announces a new test, the change should come with notice and a start date.