Prove your English language abilities with a secure English language test (SELT)
For visa or citizenship applications, you may need to prove your knowledge of English by passing a secure English language test (SELT).
Applications that require an English language test
There are 2 types of test as different immigration routes require different levels of English language ability. The test you will need to take depends on what you are applying for.
For the following application routes, you will need to take a test that assesses your reading, writing, speaking and listening abilities:
- Health and Care Worker
- High Potential Individual
- Innovator Founder
- Minister of Religion
- Scale-up Worker
- Skilled Worker
- Start-up
- Student
- Temporary Work – International Agreement (private servants in a diplomatic household making applications for entry clearance)
For the following application routes, you will need to take a test that assesses your speaking and listening abilities:
- citizenship
- International Sportsperson
- parent
- partner
- Representative of an Overseas Business
- settlement (also known as indefinite leave to remain)
The level of test you will need, known as the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) level, will depend on the route you are applying for. To find out which level you need, see the specific guidance for your immigration route.
Approved test providers
If you are in the UK
You can only take a SELT with one of the following providers:
- LanguageCert
- Pearson
- Trinity College London
- IELTS SELT Consortium
If you are outside of the UK
You can only take a SELT with one of the following providers:
- LanguageCert
- Pearson
- PSI Services (UK) Ltd – Skills for English (UKVI)
- IELTS SELT Consortium
Find an approved test
For your results to be accepted, your test must:
- be on the list of approved English language tests
- have been sat at an approved test location
- have been awarded in the two years before the date of your application
The list of approved English language tests has been assessed as meeting Home Office requirements under the secure English language testing arrangements. Only those tests and test levels specified are approved. If you intend to use an English language test in your immigration or nationality application, you must take one of the tests on the list.
You should make sure the test that you book is the one approved for SELT:
- IELTS SELT Consortium: ‘IELTS for UKVI’ or ‘IELTS Life Skills’
- LanguageCert: ‘LanguageCert International ESOL SELT’ or ‘LanguageCert Academic SELT’ or ‘LanguageCert General SELT’
- Pearson: ‘PTE Academic UKVI’ or ‘PTE Home’
- PSI Services: ‘Skills for English UKVI’
- Trinity College London: ‘Secure English Language Tests for UKVI’ – Integrated Skills in English (ISE) or Graded Examinations in Spoken English (GESE)
It is for you to decide which test to take.
The list of approved tests gives the CEFR level and minimum grade requirements for each level.
Where 2 or more components (reading, writing, speaking, and listening) of a test are examined and awarded together, you must show that you achieved the required scores in all the relevant components with the same test centre provider as part of the combined test assessment.
In certain circumstances, if you failed one component of the test, you may be allowed to sit that component again. You will need to check the test provider’s terms and conditions before booking a test.
Update history
2024-12-27 16:57
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
2024-12-16 09:22
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and outside the UK.
2024-12-06 20:06
Updated the lists of approved test centres in the UK and outside the UK.
2024-12-04 15:05
Updated the section ‘Prove your identity on the day of the test’ to include the use of biometric residence permits that expire on 31 December 2024.
2024-12-02 12:11
Updated the lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK.
2024-11-04 12:03
Update of brand from LanguageCert to LANGUAGECERT and information added about changes to their SELT tests.
2024-11-04 09:38
Updated the lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK.
2024-10-18 17:19
Updated the lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK.
2024-10-11 17:08
Updated the list of approved test centres in the UK and the list of approved test centres outside the UK.
2024-09-30 14:41
Updated the lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK.
2024-09-23 15:21
Updated the lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK.
2024-09-03 14:05
Updated the order of the list of SELT providers.
2024-09-02 11:43
Updates to the SELT centres details.
2024-08-27 11:09
Updated list of approved test centres inside and outside the UK.
2024-08-27 09:56
Added ‘Temporary Work – International Agreement’ under ‘Applications that require an English language test’.
2024-08-16 15:19
Updated the lists of approved test centres in the UK and outside the UK.
2024-08-12 10:53
Updated the lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK.
2024-08-05 09:06
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
2024-07-29 10:57
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
2024-07-19 18:36
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
2024-06-17 08:47
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
2024-06-10 15:00
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
2024-05-31 16:34
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
2024-05-28 08:41
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
2024-05-20 09:34
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
2024-05-13 14:34
Updated the list of approved test centres in the UK and the list of approved test centres outside the UK.
2024-05-07 17:11
Replaced, ‘List of approved test centres in the UK’ and ‘List of approved test centres outside the UK’.
2024-04-29 13:43
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
2024-04-22 09:54
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
2024-04-15 15:00
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
2024-04-05 18:53
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
2024-04-02 09:39
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
2024-03-18 12:03
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
2024-03-11 15:00
Updated the list of approved test centres in the UK and the list of approved test centres outside the UK.
2024-03-04 11:24
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
2024-02-28 15:27
Updated the order of the list of SELT providers.
2024-02-26 12:26
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
2024-02-19 10:10
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
2024-02-12 11:12
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
2024-02-05 10:32
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
2024-01-26 14:44
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
2024-01-23 14:12
Updated lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK published.
2024-01-15 12:39
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
2024-01-09 12:29
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
2024-01-02 12:18
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
2023-12-27 18:00
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
2023-12-18 10:13
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
2023-12-12 11:27
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and outside the UK.
2023-12-04 10:02
LanguageCert Academic and LanguageCert General added to the lists of approved tests. Also updated the lists of test centres.
2023-11-27 12:37
Updated the lists of approved test centres.
2023-11-24 10:00
Updated the order of the list of SELT providers.
2023-11-20 11:54
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
2023-11-13 11:44
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
2023-11-06 09:33
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
2023-10-30 15:20
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
2023-10-23 09:25
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
2023-10-20 09:11
Updated the paragraph about tests under the ‘Find an approved test’ section.
2023-10-16 09:52
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
2023-10-09 10:52
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
2023-10-03 11:03
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
2023-09-01 17:00
Updated lists of test centres inside and outside the UK published.
2023-08-29 17:04
Updated the list of approved test providers.
2023-08-25 16:17
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
2023-08-14 15:00
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
2023-08-07 15:36
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
2023-07-31 10:00
Updating ‘List of approved test centres in the UK and outside the UK’
2023-07-27 14:18
Updated PSI Services (UK) Ltd – Skills for English (UKVI) name to clarify that PSI Services (UK) Ltd are approved for SELT tests.
2023-07-24 11:04
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
2023-07-17 12:10
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
2023-07-10 10:59
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
2023-07-03 12:28
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
2023-06-12 11:47
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
2023-06-05 10:14
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
2023-05-30 10:05
Updated lists of approved test centres in the UK and outside the UK.
2023-05-25 09:25
Order in which test providers listed changed.
2023-05-19 16:03
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
2023-05-15 11:33
Updated lists of approved test centres.
2023-05-02 09:20
Updated lists of approved test centres in the UK and outside the UK.
2023-04-24 11:16
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK published.
2023-04-17 10:57
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
2023-04-06 16:52
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
2023-04-03 10:32
Updated lists of approved test centres in the UK and outside the UK.
2023-03-28 09:14
Removed copy about remote proctoring pilot as it will be ending at the end of March 2023.
2023-03-24 18:00
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK published.
2023-03-17 18:00
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
2023-03-10 17:04
Updated lists of approved test centres in the UK and outside the UK.
2023-03-06 10:40
Updated lists of approved test centres in the UK and outside the UK.
2023-02-27 15:48
Order in which test providers listed changed.
2023-02-27 10:32
Updated lists of approved test centres in the UK and outside the UK.
2023-02-20 10:04
Updated lists of approved test centres in the UK and outside the UK.
2023-02-13 10:58
Updated lists of approved test centres in the UK and outside the UK.
2023-02-07 09:41
Added new routes to the list that require an English Language Test.
2023-02-06 09:28
SELT test centre details updated.
2023-01-27 18:00
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
2023-01-20 17:15
Updated list of test centres published.
2023-01-16 12:30
List of test centres updated.
2023-01-09 14:56
List of test centres updated.
2022-12-23 18:00
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
2022-12-19 13:59
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
2022-12-09 18:00
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
2022-12-02 18:00
Lists of test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
2022-12-02 11:01
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
2022-11-22 17:22
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
2022-11-11 18:00
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
2022-11-07 13:13
List of test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
2022-10-31 10:37
Updated list of UK and non-UK test centres published.
2022-10-21 18:00
Updated the list of approved test centres outside the UK and list of approved test centres in the UK.
2022-10-14 13:57
Updated the lists of approved test centres.
2022-10-07 18:00
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
2022-09-27 15:40
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
2022-09-20 14:09
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
2022-09-02 18:00
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
2022-08-30 13:12
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
2022-08-26 16:38
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
2022-08-12 18:00
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
2022-08-08 09:00
Added information above “prove your identity on the day” about a digital pilot to make customers aware that this may be offered to them.
2022-08-05 14:33
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
2022-07-29 16:38
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
2022-07-22 18:00
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
2022-07-15 18:00
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
2022-07-08 16:26
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
2022-07-01 16:00
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
2022-06-24 16:00
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
2022-06-17 18:00
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
2022-06-01 16:43
Updated lists of test centres in the UK and outside the UK.
2022-05-27 18:00
Updated lists of test centres in the UK and outside the UK.
2022-05-20 18:00
Lists of approved test centres updated.
2022-05-13 18:00
Lists of test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
2022-05-06 18:00
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
2022-04-29 18:00
Updated lists of test centres in the UK and outside of the UK.
2022-04-22 16:00
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
2022-04-19 10:34
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
2022-04-11 10:54
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
2022-04-01 18:30
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
2022-03-25 18:30
List of test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
2022-03-18 18:30
Updated lists of test centres inside and outside the UK published.
2022-03-11 18:00
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK published.
2022-02-28 14:44
Order in which test providers listed changed.
2022-02-21 14:00
Lists of centres inside and outside the UK updated.