Ofqual fines Cambridge English £875,000 over IELTS marking errors
Expired BRP now accepted as test ID for 24 months, until end of 2026
UKVI extends IELTS as an approved Secure English Language Test Tuesday 17 March 2026
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English for visas · Report
IELTS pulls out of bidding for the Home Office English test contract
The three IELTS partners will not bid to run the Home Office English Language Test, saying a fully remote test does not meet their security standards for high-stakes testing.
Thursday 5 March 2026
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English for visas · Change
English for UK settlement rises to B2 from 26 March 2027
Settlement applications made on or after 26 March 2027 must show B2 speaking and listening, up from B1, under the rule change laid on 5 March 2026.
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English for visas · Change
Paper-based IELTS ends from mid-2026 as all tests move to computer
IELTS will stop offering the paper test from mid-2026, with dates set market by market. Some markets keep a Writing on Paper option, and IELTS for UKVI becomes fully digital.
Friday 16 January 2026
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English for visas · Report
Home Office plans mainly remote English test for visas from late 2027
The Home Office says its new English Language Test, replacing today's in-centre SELT system, should start in late 2027 or early 2028 and will be mainly taken remotely.
Friday 19 December 2025
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English for visas · Change
UK postgraduate certificate now counts as English proof for settlement
Home Office guidance updated on 19 December 2025 accepts a UK university postgraduate certificate as proof of English for settlement and citizenship, and tightens what medical exemption claims need.
Thursday 20 November 2025
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English for visas · Report
Earned settlement plan sets B2 English and Life in the UK test
The Home Office consultation on earned settlement, open from 20 November 2025 to 12 February 2026, treats B2 English and a Life in the UK test pass as baseline requirements for settling.
Tuesday 14 October 2025
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English for visas · Change
Skilled Worker English rises to B2 from 8 January 2026
New applicants for the Skilled Worker, Scale-up and High Potential Individual visas need B2 English from 8 January 2026, up from B1. People extending on the same route keep B1.
Thursday 10 July 2025
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English for visas · Change
PTE Academic adds two speaking tasks and human checks from 7 August 2025
From 7 August 2025 PTE Academic and PTE Academic UKVI include two new speaking tasks, Respond to a Situation and Summarize a Group Discussion, with human raters checking content on seven task types.
Sunday 6 July 2025
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English for visas · Change
LANGUAGECERT ESOL SELT replaced by Academic and General tests
Since 6 July 2025 the LANGUAGECERT ESOL four-skills SELT has been replaced by the LANGUAGECERT Academic SELT and General SELT for UK visa applications. Earlier ESOL results stay valid for two years.
Monday 12 May 2025
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English for visas · Report
White Paper plans B2 English for skilled workers and settlement
The 12 May 2025 Immigration White Paper proposed B2 English for skilled workers and settlement, and a new A1 requirement for adult dependants rising to A2 on extension.
Wednesday 4 December 2024
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English for visas · Change
UKVI extends IELTS contract for UK visa English tests
UK Visas and Immigration has extended its agreement with IELTS, so IELTS for UKVI and IELTS Life Skills remain approved Secure English Language Tests for UK visa applications.
Wednesday 28 August 2024
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English for visas · Change
IELTS for UKVI Test Report Form shows CEFR level for each skill
From 29 August 2024 the IELTS for UKVI Test Report Form shows a CEFR level for each of the four skills, adds a performance summary and moves the UKVI reference number to the bottom.
Friday 1 December 2023
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English for visas · Change
LanguageCert Academic and General approved as UK visa English tests
LanguageCert Academic and LanguageCert General were approved as Secure English Language Tests for UK student and work visas, with bookings open from 19 December 2023.
Tuesday 24 October 2023
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English for visas · Change
UK approves IELTS One Skill Retake for UK visa applications
UK Visas and Immigration has approved IELTS One Skill Retake as part of the Secure English Language Test rules, so IELTS for UKVI candidates can resit one skill rather than the whole test.
Thursday 24 November 2022
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English for visas · Change
British overseas territories citizens treated as English speakers
Since the Autumn 2022 rule changes, British overseas territories citizens count as majority English speakers for settlement and citizenship, so they need no English test. The Life in the UK test still applies.