IELTS announced on 4 December 2024 that UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) has extended its agreement to keep recognising IELTS as a Secure English Language Test (SELT). IELTS has been a SELT provider since the current system started in early 2015.
Key facts
- Announced 4 December 2024
- Tests IELTS for UKVI (Academic and General Training), IELTS Life Skills
- Where UK and more than 115 countries
- End date Not published
What it covers
IELTS for UKVI, in both Academic and General Training versions, remains accepted as proof of English for people who want to study, work or live in the UK. IELTS Life Skills remains in use for the visa categories that need speaking and listening only. IELTS for UKVI is available in more than 115 countries.
The announcement did not give the length of the extension or a new end date.
Context
The extension came while the Home Office was preparing to replace the SELT system with a new Home Office English Language Test. In March 2026 the IELTS partners said they would not bid for that contract, and later the same month UKVI extended the IELTS agreement again.
What this means
For UK visa purposes, make sure you book the UKVI version of IELTS or IELTS Life Skills at an approved centre. A standard IELTS Academic result is not a SELT, although some UK universities accept it for degree-level study under their own assessment. Check the GOV.UK list of approved tests and the CEFR level your route requires, and confirm with your sponsor or university which test they expect, before paying for a booking. Keep your Test Report Form number safe, as you will need it for the visa application.