Skilled Worker English Language Guide 2025

If you’re applying for the UK Skilled Worker visa, one of the criteria you will need to meet relates to your English language skills. The Skilled Worker English language requirement is currently set at Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) level B1 in reading, writing, speaking and listening.

While much of the focus with a Skilled Worker visa application process is typically on the job offer and salary level, it’s often the English language requirement that can impact an otherwise strong application.

To prove eligibility, most Skilled Worker applicants will need to either pass a Secure English Language Test or have a qualifying academic qualification taught in English, unless an exemption applies. For example, some applicants may be able to rely on their nationality, as citizens of majority-English-speaking countries are exempt from this requirement.

The key is understanding the rules, and how you need to prove you meet the criterion.

Applicants should ricter English language rules are also on the horizon; the Government’s May 2025 Immigration White Paper sets out proposals to raise the language level for skilled worker applicants, among other routes, from CEFR B1 to B2.

The following guide sets out the current Skilled Worker English language rules, including how to meet the requirement and the evidence you’ll need to submit with your visa application.

 

Section A: What is the Skilled Worker English Language Requirement?

 

Under the current UK Immigration Rules, Skilled Worker visa applicants are required to demonstrate their English language ability to a minimum of CEFR level B1 across all four components: reading, writing, speaking and listening.

The requirement is set out in Appendix Skilled Worker, which identifies English ability as one of the mandatory criterion under the Skilled Worker route.

Applicants can show that they meet requirement a number of ways, as stipulated in Appendix English Language:

 

• Passing a Secure English Language Test (SELT) at the required level with a Home Office–approved provider.
• Holding a degree-level academic qualification that was taught or researched in English, supported by Ecctis confirmation if awarded outside the UK.
• Being a national of a majority English-speaking country, as listed in the Immigration Rules.
• Relying on previously accepted evidence from an earlier grant of leave, if the level previously proved is equal to or higher than B1.

 

The requirement applies to most main applicants under the Skilled Worker route, including those applying from abroad and those switching from other UK visa categories.

Note however that the English-language standard for Health and Care Visa applicants in regulated professions (doctors, nurses, dentists, midwives) can alternatively be met by passing a professional-body English test accepted by GMC, NMC or GDC.

 

Section B: English Language Standard for Skilled Worker Applicants

 

The Skilled Worker English proficiency is level B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) in all four skills: reading, writing, speaking and listening.

Updated Home Office guidance issued on 1 May 2025 reaffirms that only evidence covering all four components to B1 or above is acceptable.

On 12 May 2025 the Home Office released Restoring Control Over the Immigration System, a white paper that proposes to tighten language rules across the migration lifecycle. For Skilled Worker and other employment routes the minimum standard is proposed to rise from CEFR B1 to B2, a move the government argues will “ensure better knowledge of English” and lift workplace productivity.

Impact modelling in the technical annex forecasts the higher thresholds could reduce annual inflows across affected routes by about 6,000 principal applicants and the same number of dependants, although the paper commits to a phased introduction after secondary legislation later in 2025 so that sponsors, test providers and workers have time to adapt.

At present, therefore, the requirement remains at CEFR B1, unless and until new or amended legislation is passed to bring in any changes to the current rules. As such, sponsors and applicants can continue to work to the current B1 benchmark.

 

Section C: Skilled Worker English Language Exemptions & Automatic Proof

 

Certain applicants may be exempt from the Skilled Worker English language requirement. Evidence will be required to prove that an exemption applies.

 

Exemption Category	Who Qualifies	Evidence Required
Majority English-speaking nationality	Citizens of countries listed in Appendix English-speaking (e.g., USA, Australia, Canada)	Current passport proving citizenship
UK degree or higher qualification	Holders of a bachelor’s, master’s or PhD awarded in the UK	Degree certificate issued by UK institution
Overseas degree taught in English	Holders of a non-UK degree confirmed by Ecctis as taught in English and equivalent to a UK qualification	Original degree certificate and Ecctis English Language Proficiency Statement
Previous SELT accepted in past UK application	Applicants who used a B1-level SELT successfully in a prior UK visa application and the test is still valid	Original SELT certificate or test reference number
GCSE / A-level (or Scottish equivalent) in English	Applicants who obtained the qualification while under 18 at a UK school	Official exam certificate showing subject and awarding body

 

 

1. Nationals of majority English-speaking countries

 

Applicants who are citizens of a country listed in paragraph EL 3.3 of Appendix English Language are not required to sit an English test or provide any separate evidence. The list includes nations such as the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and several Caribbean states.

British Overseas Territories citizens are also exempt under this rule. For these individuals, English language ability is accepted by default, and no additional documentation is needed beyond a passport showing their nationality.

 

Country / Territory	Country / Territory	Country / Territory
Antigua & Barbuda	Barbados	Dominica
Australia	Belize	Grenada
The Bahamas	The British Overseas Territories	Guyana
Canada	Jamaica	Malta
New Zealand	St Kitts & Nevis	St Lucia
St Vincent & the Grenadines	Trinidad & Tobago	United States of America
Ireland

 

2. Academic qualifications taught in English

 

Another way to meet the requirement without sitting a language test is by providing evidence of a degree-level qualification that was taught or researched in English. If the qualification was awarded in the UK, the applicant simply needs to provide the certificate of award from the UK institution.

If the degree was awarded overseas, it must be confirmed by UK ENIC (formerly NARIC) as equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree or higher and verified as taught in English to the required level. The ENIC statement must be the official ‘English Language Proficiency Statement’, not the standard academic comparability certificate, and it must refer to the exact qualification being relied on in the visa application.

As clarified in the 1 May 2025 caseworker guidance, officers are instructed to verify the ENIC statement and to check that the qualification name on the document matches the one declared in the online visa form. Inconsistencies, such as listing the wrong institution or failing to submit the original degree certificate alongside the Ecctis statement, can lead to the application being refused.

GCSE, A-level or Scottish Highers in English awarded by a UK school while the applicant was under 18 also satisfy the B1 requirement.

 

3. Age and medical exemptions

 

Applicants are not required to prove their English ability if they are aged under 18 or 65 or over at the date of application so, for example, applicants who turn 65 after submission still have to meet the requirement.

In rare cases, exemptions may also apply where a long-term physical or mental condition prevents the person from meeting the requirement.

These exemptions must be supported by evidence from a qualified medical professional confirming the impact of the condition. As with all exemptions, the burden is on the applicant to prove they meet the criteria.

 

4. Previously accepted evidence

 

Applicants who have already proved their English ability in a previous successful visa application may not need to provide the same documentation again, provided that the level of English met or exceeded the current requirement. The evidence must have been accepted by the Home Office at the time, and it must be relevant to the current application.

Caseworkers will refer to internal records to confirm whether previous English language proof remains valid.

 

Section D: Accepted Tests for Skilled Worker English Language Proof

 

Most applicants under the Skilled Worker route will need to prove their English language ability by passing a Secure English Language Test (SELT) from an authorised provider.

The Home Office only accepts SELTs from a small number of approved test providers, and only if taken at centres specifically approved for UK visa purposes. Tests taken outside these frameworks, such as standard academic IELTS or informal online assessments, will not be accepted, even if the score is above B1.

If you pass, you will be issued a unique reference number (URN) or equivalent, which is used by UKVI to verify the result directly. Applicants must enter the reference number into their visa application form so the Home Office can verify the result electronically via the provider’s system.

SELT results are valid for two years from the date of the test unless they have already been accepted in a previous UKVI visa application.

 

1. Authorised SELT Providers

 

Each test must be taken at a Home Office–approved SELT centre, cover all four language components (speaking, listening, reading, writing), and meet at least CEFR level B1 for Skilled Worker visa applications.

Each provider has different scheduling, fees, and test centre locations. Applicants should choose the option that best aligns with their circumstances, but must ensure it meets Home Office criteria and offers B1-level proof in all four language components for Skilled Worker applications.

As at the time of publishing, the following are approved test providers:

 

Provider	Test Offered	Availability
IELTS SELT Consortium	IELTS for UKVI	UK and overseas
Pearson	PTE Academic UKVI	UK and overseas
LanguageCert	LanguageCert SELT (Speaking, Listening, Reading, Writing)	UK and overseas
Trinity College London	ISE I (B1) UKVI	UK only
PSI Skills for English UKVI	Skills for English UKVI	Outside the UK only

 

a. IELTS for UKVI

IELTS for UKVI B1 requires overall 4.0 and at least 4.0 in each skill, but only the single combined-skills “IELTS for UKVI (Academic or General Training)” test is accepted. IELTS Life Skills B1 is not accepted for Skilled Worker.

 

b. Pearson PTE Academic UKVI

Pearson’s PTE Academic UKVI follows the same pattern. Candidates must achieve a minimum equivalent of CEFR B1; B1 on PTE Academic UKVI begins at 43 overall and 43 in each skill. They must sit the test at a designated UKVI test centre.

 

c. LanguageCert SELT

LanguageCert offers two secure SELTs (“LanguageCert International ESOL SELT” (B1) and “LanguageCert Academic SELT”) each of which assesses reading, writing, speaking and listening. Only those taken in secure test venues are valid. From January 2025, the older ESOL SELT test has been replaced by these new exams.

 

d. Trinity Integrated Skills in English (ISE)

Trinity College London’s ISE offers a B1-level certification. The test is accepted when taken through an approved UKVI centre. Results must be uploaded and independently verified using the provider’s secure online system.

 

e. PSI Skills for English UKVI

PSI provides a secure four-skills SELT, assessed at B1 level. PSI Skills for English UKVI can be taken inside the UK at four test centres as well as overseas.

 

2. Tips for applicants

 

Do not book the standard (non-UKVI) version of the test. Even if the test content is similar, only the UKVI version is valid for immigration purposes.

Also, check availability well in advance, as some locations may have waiting times.

Finally, always book via the official provider websites and double-check the test is listed as valid for UKVI use.

 

3. How to Book a Secure English Language Test

 

Booking is through the provider’s official website, where applicants select their preferred date, centre and test version. Remember to provide accurate contact details; these must match your passport or ID document precisely.

You should receive booking confirmation by email, showing the time, venue and a unique SELT reference number.

On test day, you will be asked to present the same original ID used at booking (usually your passport). Failure to provide acceptable ID can result in denial of test entry.

 

Section E: Preparing for the English Language Test

 

CEFR B1 represents an intermediate command of English. Candidates at this level are expected to follow clear standard speech on familiar matters, extract key points from straightforward texts, produce connected writing on topics of personal interest and handle most situations likely to arise while travelling in an English-speaking environment.

Test providers translate B1 into their own scoring scales: IELTS for UKVI requires at least 4.0 in each skill, Pearson PTE Academic UKVI requires 43, Trinity’s ISE I demands a Pass in all modules, and LanguageCert’s B1 ESOL SELT requires a minimum standard score across speaking and listening.

Applicants should treat B1 as a functional benchmark rather than a conversational ceiling; the stronger your command of each skill, the less pressure you will feel on test day.

 

1. Develop a Study Plan

 

Many applicants underestimate the time needed to lift every skill to B1. A practical approach is to set a six-week plan that alternates days focused on receptive skills with days focused on productive skills. Week one should begin with a diagnostic attempt at an official sample test, preferably under timed conditions, to reveal current strengths and weaknesses. The following four weeks can then target weaker areas while still maintaining balanced exposure across all four skills. The final week should concentrate on full mock exams to build stamina and refine time management. Applicants who already feel close to B1 may shorten the schedule, but they should still allow at least a fortnight to become familiar with the exam format.

 

2. Resource Selection and Test Simulation

 

Official materials remain the safest source of practice because they mirror the exam structure and marking criteria.

Providers supply a range of free and paid preparation materials. PSI’s Skills for English offers B1-level resources including practice tests, grammar sheets and diagnostic quizzes designed around CEFR standards. Trinity College London similarly offers study packs and test-specification guides for ISE B1. IELTS for UKVI provides official sample questions, videos and full-format practice tests via the British Council and IDP IELTS websites. Spending a few weeks working through timed practice tests helps improve familiarity with the format and improves exam performance.

Reputable third-party courses can supplement these resources, yet the core study pack should always include at least two full official tests from the chosen provider so that score estimates reflect real exam conditions.

 

3. Balancing Speaking, Listening, Reading & Writing

 

Applicants can improve listening by shadowing news clips and podcast transcripts, gradually increasing play-back speed to match native delivery.

Reading practice should involve timed skims of newspaper articles followed by concise summaries to build both comprehension and writing fluency.

Speaking confidence grows when learners record responses to past exam prompts and evaluate pronunciation and coherence against examiner criteria.

Writing tasks benefit from using sample question formats to practise planning, paragraphing and word-count discipline within set time limits.

Free level-appropriate content such as the British Council’s B1 platform offer free, additional exercises.

 

4. Tracking Progress and Final Checks

 

Ideally, you should carry out a full mock test every fortnight, charting section scores to confirm progress toward the B1 target.

If you are stalling in any skill, you could look at a focused seven-day intervention, for example daily dictation drills for listening or timed essay outlines for writing.

Two to three days before the real exam, study should taper to light revision of structure, test-day instructions and ID requirements.

 

Section F: Submitting Results in your Skilled Worker Visa Application

 

The online Skilled Worker application includes an “English language” screen that asks how you satisfied the requirement: Secure English Language Test, majority-English nationality, degree taught in English or evidence accepted in a previous grant.

Applicants who choose the SELT route must name the provider, give the date of the test and enter the provider’s unique reference number in the space shown on the form.

Every approved test issues a code that case-workers use to pull the result from the provider’s database. IELTS calls it a “UKVI number”, Pearson uses “SELT URN”, LanguageCert prints a “Candidate URN”, Trinity lists a “UER”, and PSI marks the result with “URN”. The code appears on the results notice you receive after passing the exam and must be copied into the visa form exactly as written; omitting or mistyping it can lead to refusal because the case-worker will be unable to verify the score.

The Home Office does not usually ask for a scanned certificate or paper copy. Case-workers verify the score by entering the reference number into the provider’s secure online portal, a process described in the May 2025 English-language decision-maker guidance.

SELT results remain valid for two years from the date of issue. Applicants should time the test so that the certificate will still be in date on the day the application is submitted; relying on a result that has expired by even one day means the requirement is not met. The government guidance expressly warns that applications can be refused if the reference number is missing or the test has gone out of date.

Where an applicant has already shown English at B1 or higher in a successful UKVI application, the rules allow them to tick “previously proved” on the form. Case-workers confirm the earlier evidence through internal immigration records and will not ask for a fresh test unless the new route demands a higher level.

Once those boxes are ticked, the Home Office can confirm your result directly with the test provider and move on to scoring the rest of the application.

 

 

Section G: Common Skilled Worker English Language Mistakes

 

One of the most frequent reasons for Skilled Worker refusals is that the applicant has taken the wrong English test. For the purposes of a visa application, only Secure English Language Tests (SELTs) from providers approved by the Home Office are accepted. General IELTS or academic tests taken outside the UKVI system are not valid, even if the scores are strong. The test must be explicitly labelled for UKVI and booked through the secure SELT process, otherwise the result cannot be verified and will be disregarded by caseworkers.

All SELT results are valid for two years from the date of issue. Some applicants assume that because they passed a B1 test three years ago, they can reuse the certificate. That is not the case unless the test was accepted in a previous visa application and the current route allows that earlier result to carry forward. If the evidence is being submitted for the first time, it must be in date on the day the application is filed. The Home Office guidance is clear: expired test results are not acceptable, and any Skilled Worker application relying on them will fail to meet the English language requirement.

Each SELT provider issues a unique reference number, and that number must be entered correctly into the online visa application form. Typographical errors, such as incorrect characters or transposed digits, can prevent caseworkers from verifying the result through the provider’s portal. In these cases, the test is treated as not proven. Common mistakes include entering a personal ID instead of the UKVI reference, or copying the number from a practice test instead of the official SELT confirmation. Accuracy in this part of the form is essential, as applicants will not be given the opportunity to correct it later unless the error is obvious.

Applicants who rely on a degree taught in English must submit both the qualification certificate and, where relevant, a statement from Ecctis (formerly UK NARIC). A frequent error is uploading only the Ecctis confirmation without including the degree certificate. Others use the wrong Ecctis service and submit a comparability statement instead of the required English Language Proficiency Statement. Without the full set of documents, such as the original degree certificate when relying on a UK or overseas qualification (even where an Ecctis statement is provided), the Home Office cannot verify the qualification, and the application risks refusal. If the certificate has been lost, an official replacement letter should be supplied.

The name used to book the test must match the passport or biometric residence permit exactly. Some applicants use shortened names, nicknames or names with missing middle initials, which then do not align with the identity documents or visa application. This can cause delays or result in the test being treated as invalid. Test providers require the exact identity details for verification purposes, and the Home Office cross-checks this information with other parts of the application.

 

Section H: Additional Skilled Worker Visa Requirements

 

In addition to satisfying the English language requirement, applicants also need to evidence four further eligibility requirements, covering sponsorship, skill level, salary and financial maintenance. Each has specific documentary standards and time limits. Failure on any single point results in refusal, regardless of strengths elsewhere in the application.

1. Sponsorship and the Certificate of Sponsorship

 

A Skilled Worker application cannot proceed unless the applicant holds a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) issued by an employer that already has a Home Office sponsor licence. The licence confirms the organisation’s ability to monitor sponsored workers and to comply with UK immigration reporting duties.

Once the job offer is agreed, the sponsor creates an electronic CoS in the Sponsorship Management System, populating fields for occupation code, salary, working hours, job description and start date. The certificate must be assigned no more than three months before the visa application is lodged and must confirm that the role begins within the same three-month window.

Employers have to pay the £525 CoS fee and, unless an exemption applies, the Immigration Skills Charge.

The CoS must also indicate whether the employer will certify maintenance for the first month, which can remove the need for the applicant to show personal funds.

Applicants enter the unique CoS reference in the online visa form; the case-worker then cross-checks the information against Appendix Skilled Worker and the sponsor’s SMS record. Any mismatch, such as a salary lower than the figure declared in the visa form, triggers refusal. A genuine-vacancy test will also be applied: the job described on the CoS must reflect real operational need, and case-workers will refuse applications where duties are too broad, duplicated or clearly created to facilitate migration.

Applicants therefore need to check every field with their HR contact before the certificate is assigned and download a copy of the final CoS for their records.

 

2. Job at the Required Skill Level

 

The post described on the CoS must appear on the Skilled Worker eligible-occupation list and meet at least RQF Level 3, equivalent to A-level standard. Each occupation is given a four-digit SOC 2020 code, and the sponsor must select the code whose example duties align most closely with the actual role.

Where occupation codes changed on 4 April 2024, sponsors must use the updated list and avoid legacy codes that no longer score points.

Case-workers check whether the day-to-day tasks genuinely correspond to the chosen code; irregular mapping or task lists resembling lower-skilled work will lead to refusal under the “genuine employment” rule. The applicant should therefore review the duties summary on the CoS and, if necessary, ask the sponsor to refine it so that it mirrors Home Office role descriptors.

Academic and research posts filled by sponsored researchers may also require an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate, which must be obtained before the CoS is assigned.

For regulated professions, proof of professional registration will be need to support the visa application.

 

3. Salary Requirement and Tradeable Points

 

Applicants must demonstrate that the salary meets one of the tradeable-point options set out in Appendix Skilled Worker. The default rule is a minimum annual gross salary of £38,700 or the occupation’s “going rate”, whichever is higher.

Where the role’s going rate exceeds £38,700, the sponsor must pay at least the going-rate figure to meet the test.

Applicants who cannot reach the standard threshold may rely on a tradeable alternative if they hold a relevant PhD, will work in a shortage-list role, are classified as “new entrants”, or undertake specific health, care or education roles with separate salary tables. In those scenarios, the ceiling can fall to 80–90 percent of the going rate, provided it is not below £30,960. Roles on the Immigration Salary List currently attract a lower visa fee but still require pay at or above £30,960 and the job-specific going rate. All allowances must be guaranteed and paid regularly through PAYE; discretionary bonuses or overtime cannot form part of the qualifying salary.

Sponsors must therefore state only the fixed annual figure in the CoS salary field. Case-workers check the number against the occupational table published and updated periodically by the Home Office; employers and applicants should review the table on the day the CoS is assigned to avoid last-minute discrepancies.

Requirement Element	Key Details
Standard minimum salary	At least £38,700 per year or the occupation’s going-rate figure, whichever is higher.
Working hours assumption	Salaries are calculated on a 37.5-hour working week; contracted hours above or below are pro-rated.
Tradeable-points routes	Relevant PhD holders, shortage-list roles, new entrants, and specific health, care or education roles may qualify at 80–90 % of the going rate, but never below £30,960.
Absolute salary floor	No route allows a salary under £30,960 per year.
Immigration Salary List roles	Visa fee is lower, yet pay must still reach £30,960 and meet the role’s going rate.
Eligible pay elements	Only guaranteed, regularly paid PAYE earnings count; discretionary bonuses, overtime and unguaranteed allowances are excluded.
CoS salary entry	Sponsors must state the fixed annual figure only, and it must match the figure entered in the visa application.
Home Office verification	Case-workers compare the declared salary to the latest occupational tables, so sponsors should verify figures on the day the CoS is assigned.

 

4. Financial (Maintenance) Requirement

 

Unless the CoS confirms that the sponsor will cover initial living costs, Skilled Worker applicants must hold personal savings of at least £1,270. The funds must have remained at or above that level for 28 consecutive days, with day 28 falling no more than 31 days before the online application date.

Bank statements must show the applicant’s name, account number, financial institution logo and transaction history covering the full 28-day period. Electronic statements printed at home are acceptable only if they are stamped by the issuing bank.

If you are already in the UK, and have been continuously for 12 months on a valid visa on the date of application, you may be exempt from providing evidence, but you should still be ready to show statements if requested.

Skilled worker dependants will need to satisfy separate thresholds: £285 for a partner, £315 for the first child and £200 for each additional child, held concurrently with the main applicant’s funds.

When applying outside the UK, the maintenance evidence is uploaded with other supporting documents; when applying in the UK, it can be submitted either at the biometric-enrolment appointment or through the UKVCAS document-upload system.

Caseworkers will refuse applications where the balance dips below the required amount on any day of the qualifying period or where the statement end date lies outside the 31-day window, so applicants should calculate the timeline carefully before finalising the visa form.

 

Read our detailed guide to the Skilled Worker Visa requirements here >> 

 

Section I: Need Assistance?

 

While the current standard remains at B1, government proposals published in May 2025 suggest that a higher threshold (B2) and additional requirements for dependants may be introduced in due course. Until any changes are brought into effect through secondary legislation, employers and applicants must continue to meet the existing B1 standard using one of the approved methods.

For expert guidance on your Skilled Worker visa application, including how to meet the English language requirement, contact our specialist advisers.

 

Section J: Skilled Worker English Language FAQs

 

Do I need to pass an English test for the Skilled Worker visa?

Unless an exemption applies, most applicants will need to prove English language ability to at least CEFR B1 in reading, writing, speaking and listening.

 

What English tests are accepted by the Home Office?

Only Secure English Language Tests (SELTs) from approved providers are accepted including IELTS for UKVI (Academic or General Training), Pearson PTE Academic UKVI, LanguageCert International ESOL SELT, Trinity College London ISE I (B1) UKVI and PSI Skills for English UKVI. For doctors, dentists, nurses and midwives on the Health and Care Visa, the professional-body IELTS or OET result accepted by the GMC, GDC or NMC is also valid evidence.

 

Can I use a previous test result?

If you previously passed a B1-level SELT and used it successfully in a UK visa application, you can rely on it again—provided it was accepted at the time and still meets the requirements for your current route.

 

Is my university degree enough to meet the English requirement?

A UK degree may be accepted without further proof. An overseas degree may qualify if Ecctis confirms it was taught in English and is equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree or higher. You will need both the original certificate and the correct Ecctis statement.

 

How long is an English language test result valid for?

Test results are valid for two years from the date of issue, unless they have already been accepted by the Home Office in a previous application.

 

Do dependant family members need to meet the English requirement?

Not at the entry or extension stage. However, adult dependants aged 18 or over must meet the English requirement at CEFR B1 when applying for indefinite leave to remain.

 

What happens if I submit the wrong reference number or test?

The Home Office will treat the English requirement as not met. The application may be refused if the result cannot be verified or if the test taken was not on the approved SELT list.

 

Can I book my test before I apply for the visa?

It is advisable to do so. You must have a valid SELT result at the time you submit your visa application. Booking early helps avoid delays and ensures the result will still be in date.

 

Where can I find the list of approved English test centres?

Each test provider’s website lists UKVI-approved centres. You should only book through these sites to ensure your test will be accepted for immigration purposes.

 

Section K: Glossary

 

Term	Definition
CEFR	Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, a standard used to measure language ability across Europe. B1 is the required level for most Skilled Worker visa applicants.
Skilled Worker visa	A UK work visa route that allows employers to sponsor foreign nationals for eligible jobs in the UK.
SELT	Secure English Language Test, an approved English exam used to meet the Home Office’s visa language requirements.
IELTS for UKVI	A version of the International English Language Testing System approved for UK visa applications.
Ecctis	The UK agency responsible for evaluating overseas qualifications and confirming if they meet English language requirements.
URN	Unique Reference Number issued by the test provider, used by the Home Office to verify SELT results.
Appendix English Language	A section of the UK Immigration Rules that sets out how applicants can meet the English language requirement.
Appendix Skilled Worker	The part of the Immigration Rules that contains the requirements for Skilled Worker visa applicants, including salary, job role, and English language ability.
UKVI	UK Visas and Immigration, the division of the Home Office responsible for managing the UK’s visa system.
Degree taught in English	A qualification delivered entirely in English, which may be used to meet the language requirement if confirmed by Ecctis.

 

Section L : Additional Resources

UK Government – Knowledge of English for Skilled Worker visa
https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/knowledge-of-english
Official government guidance explaining the English language requirement, accepted tests, and exemption categories under the Skilled Worker route.

UKVI Approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) Providers
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/prove-your-english-language-abilities-with-a-secure-english-language-test-selt
Home Office list of authorised SELT providers and test centre locations for visa applications in and outside the UK.

IELTS for UKVI – British Council
https://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/take-ielts/which-test/ielts-ukvi
Details of the IELTS for UKVI test format, booking process, and preparation resources through the British Council.

PTE Academic UKVI – Pearson English Tests
https://www.pearsonpte.com/pte-academic-ukvi
Information on PTE Academic UKVI, including test content, scoring, test centres and official preparation tools.

LanguageCert SELT Exams for UK Visas
https://www.languagecert.org/en/uk-visa-exams
LanguageCert’s official site for UK visa SELTs, offering booking information, sample tests, and exam support.