Change of https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/language-analysis-instruction

Change description : 2025-10-17 17:19:00: Guidance updated to remove requirement for consent and references, and add instructions on explaining the LA process to a claimant. [Guidance and regulation]

Showing diff : 2025-08-07 22:53:15.217064016 +00:00..2025-10-17 16:19:40.858835612 +00:00

Guidance

Language analysis: caseworker guidance

Immigration staff guidance on the language analysis process used by the Home Office, how it is accessed and when it should be used to establish place of origin.

Documents

Language analysis

Details

UK Visas and Immigration guidance to help staff decide when to use language analysis (LA) in cases where nationality is disputed and an individual’s true place of origin needs to be established.

This guidance covers:

  • which cases may be appropriate for LA

  • how mandatory authority to test may be obtained from the LA team

  • how testing must be arranged and documented

  • how to handle LA issues in asylum interviews, refusal letters and appeals

Updates to this page

Published 21 February 2013
Last updated 617 AugustOctober 2025 + show all updates
  1. Updated guidance to delete references to booking date timescales.

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Update history

2025-10-17 17:19
Guidance updated to remove requirement for consent and references, and add instructions on explaining the LA process to a claimant.

2025-08-06 12:42
Updated guidance to delete references to booking date timescales.

2025-07-30 10:48
Guidance updated with changes to ‘Booking the interview’ and ‘Language analysis timescales’ sections.

2025-04-22 14:04
Updated the guidance to reflect changes to the consent wording transcript.

2025-04-09 11:29
Updated the guidance to incorporate the new language analysis (LA) supplier The Big Word. Further details of updates can be found within the guidance.