Immigration Rules Appendix English Language
Source: gov.uk (2025-04-09)

This Appendix sets out how the English language requirement is met.

It applies only to applications under Appendix Student, Appendix Skilled Worker, Appendix Representative of an Overseas Business, Appendix T2 Minister of Religion, Appendix International Sportsperson, Appendix UK Ancestry, Appendix Global Talent, Appendix Start-up, Appendix Innovator Founder, Appendix Domestic Worker in a Private Household, Appendix High Potential Individual, Appendix Settlement Family Life, Appendix Private Life, Appendix Scale Up, Appendix Child Relative (Sponsors with Protection), Appendix Hong Kong British National (Overseas), Appendix Victim of Domestic Abuse, Appendix Temporary Work-International Agreement, Appendix HM Armed Forces, Appendix Long Residence and Appendix Bereaved Partner.

The route sets out whether the English language requirement must be met and at what level.

Exemption
- (a) they are aged 65 or over; or
- (b) they are aged under 18; or
- (c) they have a disability (physical or mental condition) which prevents them from meeting the requirement; or
- (i) have spent a continuous period of 15 years in the UK with permission; and
- (ii) can show an English language speaking and listening qualification at A2 CEFR or ESOL entry level 2 or Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 3; and
- (iii) provide confirmation from a qualified English teacher that the applicant has attended an English language class for at least 75 guided learning hours (not unsupervised study or preparation time) in the 12 months before the date of application and the teacher’s view is the applicant is unlikely to attain B1 level through further study.
- (a) they are aged 65 or over; or
- (b) they are aged under 18; or
- (c) they have a disability (physical or mental condition) which prevents them from meeting the requirement; or
- (d) there are exceptional circumstances which prevent the applicant from meeting the English language requirement.
How the requirement is met

EL 2.1. An applicant will meet the English language requirement if any of the requirements in EL 3.1. to EL 7.2 are met.

EL 2.2. The English language requirement is also met by a person applying for entry clearance or permission to stay as a Student if any of the requirements in EL 7.1. to EL 8.4. are met.
- EL 2.3. The English language requirement is also met by a person applying for entry clearance or permission to stay as a Skilled Worker route if:
- (a) the requirements in EL 7.1. and EL 7.2. are met: or
- (b) the requirement in EL 9.1. is met.
- EL 2.4. The English language requirement is also met by a person applying for:
- (a) entry clearance or permission to stay on the Start-up route, or
- (b) entry clearance or permission to stay on the Innovator Founder route; or
- (c) entry clearance, permission to stay or settlement on the Scale-up route, or
- (d) entry clearance or permission to stay on the High Potential Individual route, or
- (e) settlement under Appendix Settlement Family Life, or
- (f) settlement under Appendix Private Life, or
- (g) entry clearance, permission to stay or settlement on the International Sportsperson route; or
- (h) entry clearance, permission to stay or settlement on the Representative of an Overseas Business route; or
- (i) entry clearance or permission to stay on the T2 Minister of Religion route; or
- (j) settlement on the UK Ancestry route; or
- (k) settlement on the Global Talent route; or
- (l) settlement on the Domestic Workers in a Private Household route or
- (m) settlement on Hong Kong British National (Overseas) route; or
- (n) settlement on the Appendix Child Relative (Sponsors with Protection) route; or
- (o) settlement on the Appendix Bereaved Partner route; or
- (p) entry clearance or settlement under Appendix Victim of Domestic Abuse; or
- (q) entry clearance, permission to stay or settlement under Appendix HM Armed Forces; or
- (r) settlement under Appendix Long Residence; or
- (s) entry clearance under Appendix Temporary Work – International Agreement.
- if the requirements in EL 7.1 and EL 7.2. are met.
EL 2.5. DELETED.

Met in a previous application

EL 3.1. An applicant will meet the English language requirement if they have already shown they met the requirement, at the level required for their current application, in a previous successful application for entry clearance or permission to stay.

Majority English speaking country

EL 4.1. An applicant will meet the English language requirement if they are a national of any of the following majority-English-speaking countries: Antigua and Barbuda Australia The Bahamas Barbados Belize The British Overseas Territories Canada Dominica Grenada Guyana Jamaica Malta New Zealand St Kitts and Nevis St Lucia St Vincent and the Grenadines Trinidad and Tobago United States of America

Academic qualification

EL 5.1. An applicant will meet the English language requirement if they have an academic qualification which meets one of the requirements at EL 5.2. and is proven by the required evidence under EL 5.3. or EL 5.4.

EL 5.2. The requirements are that the applicant has: (a) a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or doctorate awarded in the UK; or (b) a degree or degree-level qualification taught in a university or college in a majority- English-speaking country listed in EL 4.1. (except Canada), or Ireland, which meets or exceeds the recognised standard of a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or doctorate awarded in the UK; or (c) a degree or degree level qualification which meets, or exceeds, the recognised standard of a UK bachelor’s degree; master’s degree or doctorate and was taught or researched in English.

EL 5.3. The requirement at EL 5.2. must be proven by one of: (a) a certificate from the awarding body: or (b) a transcript issued by the university or college that awarded the qualification; or (c) an official letter from the university or college that awarded the qualification containing information equivalent to a degree certificate.

EL 5.4. If the qualification was awarded by a body from outside the UK, the requirement at EL 5.2. must, in addition to the requirement at EL 5.3, be proven by confirmation from Ecctis that the qualification meets the requirements at EL 5.2(b) or EL 5.2(c).

English language test

EL 6.1. An applicant will meet the English language requirement if they have provided a valid digital reference number from an approved provider showing they have passed an approved English language test to the required level in each required component as set out in the relevant route, in the 2 years before the date of application.

The list of approved tests and providers, updated from time to time, can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/prove-your-english-language-abilities-with-a-secure-english-language-test-selt#approved-test-providers-and-approved-tests.

GCSE or A Level English
- (a) by an Ofqual (or SQA, Qualifications Wales or CCEA) regulated awarding body; and
- (b) following education undertaken in a UK based school which began while they were aged under 18.
- EL 7.2. The requirement at EL 7.1. must be proven by either:
- (a) a certificate from the awarding body: or
- (b) an official transcript issued by the awarding body
Additional ways Students can meet the English language requirement

EL 8.1. An applicant under Appendix Student will meet the English language requirement if they are applying for a course of study at degree level or above and are sponsored by a higher education provider with a track record of compliance who states on the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies that they have assessed the applicant’s English language ability and how they have assessed it.

EL 8.2. Where an assessment under EL 8.1. has been carried out the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies entry must confirm that the applicant has a knowledge of English equivalent to level B2, or above, of the Council of Europe’s Common European Framework for Language Learning in all 4 components (reading, writing, speaking and listening) or that the requirement at ST 15.3. is met.

EL 8.3. An applicant under Appendix Student will meet the English language requirement if they have taken an approved English test and been exempted from a component of that test by the test provider due to a disability, and the student sponsor has confirmed that they are satisfied the English language ability of the applicant is sufficient to undertake the course of study.

EL 8.4. An applicant under Appendix Student will meet the English language requirement if they are applying for a short-term study abroad programme of up to six months and both: (a) the study abroad programme is part of a course of study at degree level or above at an overseas higher education institution in the United States of America; and (b) Ecctis confirm that the course of study overseas will lead to an academic (not a professional or vocational) qualification at UK bachelor’s degree level or above.

Professional regulation for Skilled Workers

EL 9.1. An applicant applying for entry clearance or permission to stay under Appendix Skilled Worker will meet the English language requirement if they are being sponsored to work as a doctor, dentist, nurse, midwife or veterinarian, and have passed an English Language assessment which is accepted by the relevant regulated professional body as a requirement for registration.