SELT: UK Visa Applicant Guide 2026

Section A: What is SELT?

A Secure English Language Test, usually shortened to SELT, is an English language test that UK Visas and Immigration recognises for certain immigration and nationality applications. A SELT is not a universal requirement across all routes. It is one permitted way of meeting an English language requirement where the Immigration Rules require English and the applicant is not relying on another permitted evidence type, such as a nationality exemption or an accepted degree taught in English.

SELT evidence is tightly prescribed. The test has to be taken with a Home Office-approved provider, in an approved test format and in the correct category for the application. A standard English test taken outside the UKVI SELT framework is treated as invalid for immigration purposes, even where the applicant speaks English fluently.

It is also important to be clear about what a SELT assesses. Some SELTs test all four skills, reading, writing, speaking and listening. Others assess speaking and listening only. Which skills are required depends on the route and the stage of the application. For example, family route applications often focus on speaking and listening at staged levels, while certain work routes require a higher four-skills threshold.

Different routes also impose different language levels. Some require B1 level, others A1 and, following a significant change for key sponsored and work routes, where the application is a first application on the Skilled Worker, Scale-up or High Potential Individual route, since 8 January 2026, UKVI now requires English at CEFR B2 across reading, writing, speaking and listening. A lower level test taken for an earlier application will not meet a B2 requirement.

UKVI publishes the current SELT provider and test lists and these can change. Before a candidate books a test, and before an application is submitted, it is sensible to check the latest Home Office pages.

Section B: Types of SELT tests

UK Visas and Immigration approves a defined list of English language tests that qualify as Secure English Language Tests. Only tests on the Home Office approved SELT lists can be used for visa, settlement or nationality applications where a SELT is required. Tests offered by the same provider outside the SELT framework, or taken in the wrong format or category, are normally treated as invalid for immigration purposes.

SELT approval is granular. Approval depends not only on the provider, but also on the specific test, the skills assessed, and whether the test is taken inside or outside the UK. Employers and applicants should avoid assuming that a provider’s standard academic or general English test automatically meets UKVI requirements.

1. LANGUAGECERT

From 1 January 2025, the LANGUAGECERT ESOL SELT four-skills test was replaced by the LANGUAGECERT Academic SELT and LANGUAGECERT General SELT tests.

Existing LANGUAGECERT ESOL SELT four-skills results remain valid for two years from the award date.

2. Speaking and listening-only SELTs

Some SELTs assess speaking and listening only. These are most commonly used in family route applications and at certain settlement stages, where the Immigration Rules specify speaking and listening rather than all four skills.

Trinity College London’s Graded Examinations in Spoken English are a typical example. These tests are aligned to CEFR levels and are approved for specific immigration purposes only. A speaking and listening-only test cannot be used where the Rules require reading and writing to be assessed.

3. Provider-specific considerations

Each SELT provider operates multiple tests, and only some of those tests are approved for UKVI purposes. For example, IELTS has both UKVI and non-UKVI versions, and only the UKVI-designated tests appear on the Home Office SELT lists. The same distinction applies to other providers.

Test format also matters. Some SELTs can be taken in person at approved centres, while others may offer secure online delivery where UKVI permits this. Whether an online option is acceptable depends on the specific test and the Home Office approval in force at the time.

4. Checking the approved test lists

UKVI publishes and updates the approved SELT provider and test lists on GOV.UK. These lists are the definitive source for confirming whether a particular test can be used for an application. Applicants should check the relevant list shortly before a test is booked and again before an application is submitted, particularly where rules have recently changed.

UK Visas and Immigration draws a clear distinction between tests taken inside the UK and those taken outside the UK. Applicants can only use providers approved for the location in which the test is sat.

a. Approved SELT providers in the UK

If the test is taken in the UK, a SELT can only be taken with one of the following providers:

2. Approved SELT providers outside the UK

If the test is taken outside the UK, a SELT can only be taken with one of the following providers:

Approval operates at test level, not provider level. Even where a provider is approved, only the specific tests and levels listed by the Home Office are accepted. Applicants should ensure they book the correct UKVI-approved test, such as IELTS for UKVI rather than standard IELTS, or PTE Academic UKVI rather than a non-UKVI Pearson test.

For results to be accepted, the test must appear on the approved English language test list, be taken at an approved test location and have been awarded within the two years before the application date. Where a test assesses more than one skill, all required components have to be passed as part of the same test assessment with the same provider.

Section C: Relying on a SELT

One of the most common reasons English language evidence fails is not because the applicant’s English is insufficient, but because the evidence does not meet the technical rules in force on the application date.

From an employer perspective, the aim is not to become a test verifier, but to avoid progressing recruitment or sponsorship where the evidence will clearly fail.

1. Confirm that a SELT is needed at all

The first step is to confirm whether the route and stage of the application actually require a SELT. Many applicants do not need to take a test because they can rely on a nationality exemption, an accepted degree taught in English, or previously accepted English language evidence. Encouraging a candidate to take a SELT where an exemption applies creates unnecessary cost and delay.

Equally, assuming an exemption applies without checking the detailed rules can be risky. Degree evidence, in particular, fails frequently where the qualification or supporting documentation does not meet UKVI’s evidential standards.

2. Check the required CEFR level and skills

Where a SELT is required, the next step is to confirm the correct CEFR level and which skills must be assessed. Some routes require speaking and listening only, while others require reading, writing, speaking and listening.

From 8 January 2026, first applications on the Skilled Worker, Scale-up and High Potential Individual routes submitted on or after that date require CEFR B2 across all four skills. A lower-level test, or a speaking and listening-only test, will not meet a B2 four-skills requirement.

Employers should be cautious about relying on shorthand descriptions such as “B1 English” or “B2 English” without checking what skills were actually tested.

3. Confirm the test is on the approved SELT list

Only tests appearing on the Home Office approved SELT lists can be used. Approval depends on the provider, the specific test, and sometimes whether the test was taken inside or outside the UK. A test taken with a recognised provider can still be invalid if it was not the UKVI-approved version.

Before accepting test evidence at face value, it is sensible to cross-check the test name and format against the current GOV.UK approved list rather than relying on certificates or provider descriptions alone.

4. Check timing and reuse rules

English language evidence is assessed against the rules in force on the application submission date. A test that met the requirement for a previous application may not meet a higher threshold that now applies.

Validity and reuse rules differ by route. In some circumstances, English language evidence accepted for a previous successful application can be reused, including in naturalisation applications, provided it meets current nationality guidance. In other contexts, the age of the certificate or the stage of the route matters. Employers should avoid applying a single “two-year rule” across all scenarios.

5. Know where employer responsibility starts and ends

Employers are not required to carry out formal verification of SELT results in the same way they carry out right to work checks. However, where sponsorship is involved, assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship to a worker who cannot meet the English requirement creates avoidable refusal risk.

In practice, this means asking the right questions early, checking that the evidence appears capable of meeting the route rules, and flagging issues before an application is submitted. Where there is doubt, it is better to pause and clarify than to proceed on the assumption that English language evidence can be fixed later.

Section D: What Employers need to know about SELT

For UK employers, SELT is not a standalone compliance requirement in its own right. It sits within the wider framework of immigration eligibility, sponsorship decision-making and right to work compliance. Problems arise where employers assume English language evidence is a formality, or where it is left entirely to the individual without any structured checks before an offer is made or sponsorship is confirmed.

English language requirements apply only where the Immigration Rules require them for a specific route and stage. In many cases, applicants do not need to take a SELT at all because they can rely on an exemption, such as nationality, or on accepted alternative evidence, such as a degree taught in English that meets UKVI requirements. In other cases, a SELT is unavoidable and has to meet a precise level and skills profile.

From an employer perspective, the key risk point is timing. English language evidence is assessed strictly on the application submission date. If the wrong test is taken, the wrong level is relied on, or the evidence does not meet the route-specific rules in force on that date, the application is likely to be refused with no opportunity to correct the error.

Employers involved in sponsoring workers should therefore understand which routes require English, what level applies at entry and at later stages, and whether upcoming rule changes affect new hires differently from existing staff.

1. SELT and UK visa routes

Different visa routes apply different English language standards, and employers should avoid assuming that a single rule applies across all categories. The requirement depends on the route, the stage of the application and, in some cases, the date the application is submitted.

a. Skilled Worker, Scale-up and High Potential Individual routes

English language is a core eligibility requirement on these routes. From 8 January 2026, a higher standard applies where the application is a first application on the Skilled Worker, Scale-up or High Potential Individual route and it is submitted on or after that date. In those cases, the applicant needs to meet CEFR B2 across reading, writing, speaking and listening.

Applications submitted before 8 January 2026 are assessed under the rules in force immediately before that date. Employers should therefore pay close attention to when an application will be submitted, not just when recruitment discussions take place.

b. Global Business Mobility routes

Global Business Mobility routes operate differently from the Skilled Worker and related work routes. They do not apply a general English language requirement in the same way, and employers should not assume that a SELT is routinely required. Confusion between Global Business Mobility and Skilled Worker requirements is a common source of error, particularly where businesses move staff between routes.

c. Student route

The Student route has English language requirements, but these are not uniform across all applicants. Whether a SELT is required, and at what level, depends on the course, the sponsor and the individual’s circumstances. Employers who recruit students into part-time roles or plan to retain graduates should be careful not to treat Student English requirements as interchangeable with work route requirements.

d. Family routes, settlement and citizenship

Family route applications apply staged English language requirements, often focused on speaking and listening. Employers are not sponsors in these applications, but the outcome can affect workforce retention and relocation planning. Settlement and British citizenship applications operate under separate guidance, with strict evidence rules and limited scope to correct mistakes once an application has been submitted.

For employers, the practical takeaway is that English language requirements are route-specific and time-sensitive. Internal recruitment and sponsorship processes should reflect that reality rather than relying on general assumptions about SELT.

Section E: Common SELT Pitfalls

SELT issues rarely arise because an applicant lacks English ability. They arise because the rules are technical, route-specific and applied strictly on the application date. Employers often only see the consequences when an application is refused and timelines unravel.

1. Assuming any English test is good enough

A frequent error is assuming that a well-known English test automatically meets UKVI requirements. Tests taken outside the SELT framework, or the non-UKVI version of an otherwise approved test, are normally treated as invalid for immigration purposes. Fluency is irrelevant if the test does not appear on the approved list in the correct format.

2. Relying on the wrong level or the wrong skills

Another common pitfall is focusing only on the CEFR level and overlooking which skills were assessed. A speaking and listening test cannot be used where reading and writing are required. From 8 January 2026, this becomes particularly important for first applications on the Skilled Worker, Scale-up and High Potential Individual routes, where B2 is required across all four skills.

3. Mixing up old and new rules

Employers and applicants often rely on advice that was correct for earlier applications but no longer applies. English language requirements are assessed under the rules in force on the date the application is submitted. A test that was sufficient for a previous grant of leave may not meet a higher threshold that now applies.

4. Taking a test when an exemption applies

Applicants sometimes default to taking a SELT even though they could rely on an exemption, such as nationality or an accepted degree taught in English. This creates unnecessary cost and delay. The opposite mistake also occurs, where a degree is relied on but does not meet UKVI’s evidential requirements, leaving the application exposed.

5. Leaving English language checks too late

English language evidence cannot be corrected after submission. There is no routine request for clarification and no discretion if the evidence does not meet the rules. Employers who wait until a visa application is about to be submitted to look at English language evidence are often forced into last-minute retakes or avoidable refusals.

6. Treating SELT as an HR formality

SELT is sometimes treated as an administrative detail rather than a core eligibility requirement. For sponsored roles, that is a risky approach. Assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship where the worker cannot meet the English requirement leads directly to refusal and disruption that could have been avoided with earlier scrutiny.

Section F: Summary

A Secure English Language Test is a tightly regulated form of English language evidence that can be used to meet UK immigration and nationality requirements where the Immigration Rules require English and no exemption or alternative evidence applies. It is not a universal requirement and not every applicant needs to take a SELT, but where it is required, the rules are applied strictly and without discretion.

From 8 January 2026, the English language landscape changes materially for key work routes. First applications on the Skilled Worker, Scale-up and High Potential Individual routes submitted on or after that date are subject to a higher CEFR B2 requirement across reading, writing, speaking and listening. Tests taken at a lower level or assessing only some skills will not meet that standard, even if they were sufficient under earlier rules.

For employers, the main risks do not sit in test administration but in assumptions. Assuming a candidate needs a SELT when an exemption applies can waste time and money. Assuming an old test will still be accepted under new rules can lead directly to refusal. Leaving English language checks until an application is about to be submitted removes any room to correct errors.

SELT should be treated as an eligibility issue rather than a procedural detail. Early checks on whether English is required, what level applies and how it can be met reduce disruption to recruitment and sponsorship planning. Where uncertainty exists, it should be resolved before sponsorship decisions are taken rather than after an application has been submitted.

Handled properly, English language requirements can be factored into hiring, retention and settlement planning in a controlled way. Most problems arise where English evidence is treated as an afterthought or where outdated assumptions are carried forward into a changing rules environment.

Section G: Need Assistance?

English language issues are one of the most common and most avoidable causes of refusal in UK visa, settlement and nationality applications. Problems usually arise where the wrong test is taken, the wrong level is relied on, or the evidence does not meet the rules in force on the application date.

For employers, these errors translate directly into delayed start dates, failed sponsorship outcomes and disrupted workforce planning. For applicants, they can mean wasted fees, loss of status or the collapse of a job offer.

Specialist advice can help clarify whether a SELT is actually required, whether an exemption or alternative evidence can be relied on, and how upcoming rule changes affect recruitment or retention decisions. Early input is particularly important where applications are planned around the 8 January 2026 English language changes for work routes.

If you need advice on sponsoring foreign national workers, assessing English language requirements or preparing a UK visa or settlement application, speak to an immigration adviser before an application is submitted.

For specialist guidance on sponsoring foreign national workers or making a UK visa application, including advice on immigration eligibility criteria, contact our experts.

Section H: SELT FAQs

What is a SELT and when is it required?

A Secure English Language Test is an English language test approved by UK Visas and Immigration for use in specific visa, settlement and nationality applications. A SELT is required only where the Immigration Rules specify English and the applicant is not relying on an exemption or alternative permitted evidence.

Is a SELT required for all UK visas?

Many visa routes do not require English at all. Even where English is required, a SELT is only one way of meeting the requirement. Nationality exemptions and accepted English-taught degree evidence can also be used in some cases.

What changes from 8 January 2026?

For first applications on the Skilled Worker, Scale-up and High Potential Individual routes submitted on or after 8 January 2026, English is required at CEFR B2 across reading, writing, speaking and listening. Lower-level tests or speaking and listening-only tests will not meet this requirement.

Can an old English test be reused?

Reuse depends on the route and stage of the application. In some cases, English language evidence accepted for a previous successful application can be reused. In other cases, the level, skills tested or age of the certificate matter. There is no single rule that applies across all routes.

How long is a SELT valid for?

While SELT certificates are generally valid for two years from the award date, reuse rules depend on the specific visa or nationality route and the stage of the application. Applicants should check route-specific guidance rather than relying on a general validity assumption.

Do employers have to verify SELT results?

Employers are not required to carry out formal SELT verification as part of right to work checks. However, where sponsorship is involved, employers should ensure that a worker is capable of meeting the English requirement before assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship.

What happens if the wrong test is taken?

If the English language evidence does not meet the Immigration Rules in force on the application date, the application is likely to be refused. Errors cannot usually be corrected after submission.

Is IELTS always acceptable as a SELT?

Only IELTS tests designated as “IELTS for UKVI” and appearing on the Home Office approved SELT lists are acceptable. Standard IELTS tests taken outside the UKVI framework are normally invalid for immigration purposes.

Where can I check the current approved SELT lists?

The Home Office publishes the approved SELT provider and test lists on GOV.UK. These lists should be checked before booking a test and again before submitting an application.

Section I: Glossary

Section J: Additional Resources & Links