ILR English Requirement Checker: Do You Need a Test?
Answer up to four questions to find out whether you need an approved English test for settlement, at what level, or whether you are exempt — including the B2 change coming on 26 March 2027.
This checker gives general guidance based on the current rules and HC 1691. Exemptions and evidence are fact-sensitive — always confirm on GOV.UK or with a regulated adviser before you apply.
Most people applying for settlement must prove their English at CEFR level B1 in speaking and listening — rising to B2 for applications made on or after 26 March 2027. But many applicants do not need a test at all: a degree taught in English, or nationality of a majority English-speaking country, can meet the requirement, and some people are exempt by age or medical condition. The checker above works out which applies to you.
What level of English you need
The requirement is about speaking and listening, and the level depends on when you apply.
| Applying for ILR | Required level | Skills tested |
|---|---|---|
| Before 26 March 2027 | B1 | Speaking & listening |
| On or after 26 March 2027 | B2 | Speaking & listening |
Source: GOV.UK Appendix English Language; Statement of Changes HC 1691 (laid 5 March 2026). The requirement is assessed against the rules in force on the date you apply.
The B2 change in 2027 — why timing matters
Under HC 1691, the settlement English standard rises from B1 to B2 in speaking and listening from 26 March 2027. Because settlement is judged on the rules in force on your application date, two people with identical English could face different levels depending only on when they apply. If your qualifying date falls close to that cut-off, it is worth checking whether applying just before it — where the rules allow — keeps you on the B1 standard.
Ways to meet the requirement
A test is only one of several routes to meeting the requirement.
| Method | What it involves |
|---|---|
| Approved SELT | Pass a Secure English Language Test at the required level (B1 or B2) in speaking & listening, from an approved provider |
| UK degree | A degree taught in a UK institution meets the requirement directly |
| Overseas degree | Accepted if Ecctis confirms it was taught in English and is of equivalent standard |
| Nationality | Nationals of majority English-speaking countries are exempt from a test |
Source: GOV.UK — Prove your knowledge of English for citizenship and settling, and Appendix English Language. A SELT passed at the required level and used in a previous successful application can often be reused at later stages.
Who is exempt
You do not need to prove your English if you fall into an exemption category. The main ones are:
- Nationality — you are a citizen of a majority English-speaking country.
- Qualifications — you hold an eligible degree taught in English (with Ecctis confirmation if it is from overseas).
- Age — you are aged 65 or over, or under 18.
- Health — you have a long-term physical or mental condition that prevents you meeting the requirement, supported by medical evidence.
ILR English requirement: frequently asked questions
What level of English do I need for ILR?
Is the ILR English requirement changing?
Do I need to take an English test, or can I use my degree?
Who is exempt from the English requirement for ILR?
Which countries count as majority English-speaking for the exemption?
Does the B2 change apply to reading and writing too?
Our editorial and accuracy standards
ILR Calculator UK is an independent, free settlement-planning resource. The logic in this checker is built from Appendix English Language and Statement of Changes HC 1691, with the primary sources linked at the point they are used. We review the tool after each Statement of Changes and record the review date at the top of the page.
This is a general guidance tool, not regulated immigration advice. Whether an exemption applies, and what evidence is accepted, depends on your circumstances and can change. For advice on your own case, use an adviser regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) or a solicitor listed on the Law Society’s Find a Solicitor register.