English language requirement for UK Partner and Spouse Visas

Why is there an English language requirement on a Partner or Spouse Visa?

The English language requirement is a core eligibility condition on the Partner and Spouse Visa route. The rule applies at every grant of leave under Appendix FM, from initial entry clearance through to Indefinite Leave to Remain. The Home Office position is that proficiency in English supports the applicant's integration and participation in family and community life in the United Kingdom.

The requirement is set out in Appendix FM, paragraphs E-ECP.4.1, E-LTRP.4.1 and the knowledge of language and life rules at Appendix KoLL. Each stage of the route attaches a higher Common European Framework of Reference for Languages level than the one before it.

The applicant cannot be granted further leave, an extension, or settlement until the level is met.

Who is exempt from the English language requirement?

Some applicants on the Partner and Spouse route are exempt from the English language requirement. The exemption removes the need to sit a Secure English Language Test, provided the applicant evidences the basis of the exemption with the application. The applicant should check the exemption categories before booking any test, because the Home Office accepts the exemption directly and a test is then unnecessary. The exemption categories are set out in Appendix FM and Appendix KoLL.

What English level do you need at each stage?

An applicant who is not exempt and does not hold a qualifying degree sits a Secure English Language Test at the level the route requires. The Partner and Spouse Visa route has three formal English language milestones. The level rises at each milestone, and the same applicant typically meets it three times across the five-year route. The current settled position is A1 at entry, A2 at the extension stage and B1 at settlement.

A test at a higher level than a stage requires also satisfies that stage. A B1 result, for example, meets the A1 and A2 requirements as well, so an applicant who already holds a higher-level pass within its two-year validity does not need a separate lower-level test for that stage.

A higher English requirement for settlement comes into force on 26 March 2027. From that date, the level at ILR rises from B1 to B2 on the Partner and Spouse route, alongside other routes. Applicants whose qualifying date falls on or after 26 March 2027 should plan the higher level into their preparation timeline.

The level required depends on the route and the stage. All family partner routes are assessed in speaking and listening only:

What does CEFR A1, A2 and B1 mean in practice?

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages is the European standard the Home Office uses to set the English level on each route. The framework runs from A1 (basic user) to C2 (proficient user). The Partner and Spouse route operates within the A1, A2 and B1 bands across its three stages.

A1, basic user. An A1 speaker can understand and use familiar everyday expressions, introduce themselves and answer simple questions about personal details. The level is the entry level on the route. A1 is the language of basic interactions and short factual exchanges.

A2, elementary user. An A2 speaker can understand sentences and frequently used expressions on topics such as personal information, shopping, family and employment. The level supports routine communication in everyday situations. A2 reflects a meaningful step up from A1, and six months to a year of further study for many applicants.

B1, independent user. A B1 speaker can deal with most situations that arise while living in the United Kingdom. The level also supports the main points of standard speech on familiar topics and the production of simple connected text. B1 is the present statutory level for settlement on the partner route.

The official Home Office description of each level is set out in the published guidance on English language requirement levels for immigration applications. The applicant who is unsure of their current level can sit a placement assessment with a provider before booking the formal Secure English Language Test.

Approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) providers

The Home Office accepts only a Secure English Language Test, taken with an approved provider at an approved test centre. The result must be dated within two years of the date of the visa application. A test taken with a provider or centre that is not on the approved list is not accepted, even where the test itself is well known.

The four approved providers for SELTs taken in the United Kingdom or overseas for the Partner and Spouse route are:

• IELTS SELT Consortium (IELTS Life Skills A1, A2 and B1 for the partner route)
• Trinity College London (GESE for tests taken inside the United Kingdom)
• Pearson (PTE Home A1, A2 and B1)
• LanguageCert (International ESOL SELT at A1, A2 and B1 levels)

Each provider operates a speaking and listening test format suitable for the Partner and Spouse route, where the rules require speaking and listening evidence only. The applicant chooses the provider that offers the most convenient centre, soonest available date and best fit with the level required. The Home Office maintains the current list of approved providers and centres on GOV.UK.

Approved SELT providers if you are in the UK

• Trinity College London (GESE, speaking and listening)
• IELTS SELT Consortium (IELTS Life Skills)
• LanguageCert
• Pearson (PTE Home)

Approved SELT providers if you are outside the UK

• PSI Services (UK) Ltd, Skills for English
• IELTS SELT Consortium (IELTS Life Skills)
• LanguageCert
• Pearson (PTE Home)

Trinity College London tests are available in the UK only, and PSI Services (Skills for English) is the provider for tests taken outside the UK.

How to book a SELT for the Partner and Spouse route

The applicant books a Secure English Language Test directly with one of the approved providers. The booking is made on the provider's website using the same full name shown in the applicant's passport. A mismatch between the test name and the passport name can cause the result to be rejected by the Home Office.

The applicant should expect to provide a valid identity document on the day of the test. The accepted document is normally the passport, a Biometric Residence Permit, a Biometric Residence Card, a convention travel document or a stateless persons travel document. The provider may also accept an eVisa share code generated from the applicant's UKVI account where the applicant is in the United Kingdom.

A SELT for the Partner and Spouse route takes between 15 and 25 minutes for the speaking and listening component, depending on the provider and level. The applicant receives a unique reference number on the published pass date, which is then entered on the visa application form. The Home Office verifies the result electronically using the reference number, so a paper certificate is not sent with the application.

The fee for a speaking and listening SELT is set by the provider and varies by level and country. Current fee information is published on each provider's website at the time of booking. A note of current fees and a comparison with the qualifying degree route is held on the firm's UK visa fees guide.

What evidence do you need to prove English?

The applicant evidences the English language requirement by uploading the relevant document to the online application. The Home Office verifies a SELT result electronically and a degree qualification through the supporting documents and the Ecctis QLS statement. The application form requires the applicant to confirm the basis on which the requirement is met.

For an applicant relying on an exemption, the document depends on the basis of the exemption. The passport evidences the nationality exemption. A qualified medical practitioner's letter evidences the long-term condition exemption. An identity document showing the applicant's date of birth evidences the over-65 exemption.

For an applicant relying on a qualifying academic qualification, the documents are:

• The degree certificate and academic transcript
• The awarding institution's confirmation that the course was taught in English (for UK qualifications)
• The Ecctis QLS English Proficiency and Qualification Comparison statement (for overseas qualifications)

For an applicant relying on a Secure English Language Test, the documents are:

• The SELT pass certificate or notification showing the level, the provider, the test centre and the test date
• The unique reference number for the result, entered on the application form so the Home Office can verify the result electronically

What happens if you do not meet the English level?

An application made without satisfactory evidence of the English language requirement may be refused. A refusal on language grounds means the loss of the application fee, alongside a delay to the route. The applicant can prepare and submit a fresh application once the requirement is met.

A common route forward is to sit and pass the test, then reapply with the fresh result. The applicant pays the application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge again on the new application. Current fees and the Immigration Health Surcharge rates are published on the firm's UK visa fees guide and the Immigration Health Surcharge guide.

A different route forward is to apply on a different category, where the applicant cannot reach the level in a reasonable period. The exemption categories should be checked again before reapplication, in case a basis the applicant did not previously consider now applies. The Whytecroft Ford Immigration Team advises applicants on the next-application options where the language evidence has caused the refusal.

The applicant who has not yet submitted the application can take time to study before sitting the test. Free and low-cost preparation is widely available through community ESOL classes, online courses and provider practice materials. Consistent daily study over several weeks is more reliable than short concentrated revision.

Common mistakes to avoid on the English language evidence

The applicant who plans the English evidence carefully can avoid the small set of errors that drive most language-based refusals. The points below reflect the firm's experience advising applicants across the Partner and Spouse route.

Booking a test when an exemption applies. A SELT is unnecessary where the applicant is exempt or relies on a qualifying degree. The applicant should check the exemption position before paying for any test.

Booking the wrong test format. The Partner and Spouse route requires a speaking and listening test only. An applicant who books a four-skills test (reading, writing, speaking and listening) is not refused for over-evidencing, but the higher-cost test was unnecessary.

Sitting the test at a non-approved centre. A SELT taken at a centre that is not on the approved list is not accepted. The approved list is provider-specific and centre-specific. The applicant should verify both before booking, particularly for tests overseas.

Using an expired result. A SELT result is valid for two years from the date of the test. An applicant who sat the test more than two years before the application date must sit a fresh test. The two-year clock runs from the test date, not from the date of the result.

Booking in a different name to the passport. The name on the SELT result must match the name on the passport. An applicant whose name has changed since the test, for example through marriage, should ensure the result is reissued or the passport updated before the application is submitted.

Assuming the entry-clearance result counts at FLR(M) or ILR. An A1 pass does not satisfy the A2 or B1 requirement at later stages. The applicant must sit a fresh test, at the higher level, for each milestone unless an exemption applies.

Relying on a degree without Ecctis QLS confirmation. An overseas degree is not accepted on its own. The applicant must supply the Ecctis QLS English Proficiency and Qualification Comparison statement.

Overlooking the Life in the UK Test at ILR. The English language requirement and the Life in the UK Test are two separate components of the knowledge of language and life requirement at settlement. The applicant must satisfy both, unless an exemption applies. The position is covered on the firm's Life in the UK Test guide.

How Whytecroft Ford can help with a partner or spouse visa application

Whytecroft Ford advises applicants and sponsors across the family visa routes, from the Spouse and Fiancé Visa to the Unmarried Partner Visa and the five-year route to settlement.

Our team are experienced, friendly professionals who handle the whole application from start to finish, on regulated advice and a written engagement letter.

For assistance with your Partner or Spouse Visa application, contact our friendly professionals on 0208 757 5751 or use the contact form.

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