Prove your English language abilities with a secure English language test (SELT)
For visa or citizenship applications, you may need to prove your knowledge of English by passing a secure English language test (SELT).
Applications that require an English language test
There are 2 types of test as different immigration routes require different levels of English language ability. The test you will need to take depends on what you are applying for.
For the following application routes, you will need to take a test that assesses your reading, writing, speaking and listening abilities:
- Health and Care Worker
- High Potential Individual
- Innovator Founder
- Minister of Religion
- Scale-up Worker
- Skilled Worker
- Start-up
- Student
- Temporary Work – International Agreement (private servants in a diplomatic household making applications for entry clearance)
For the following application routes, you will need to take a test that assesses your speaking and listening abilities:
- citizenship
- International Sportsperson
- parent
- partner
- Representative of an Overseas Business
- settlement (also known as indefinite leave to remain)
The level of test you will need, known as the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) level, will depend on the route you are applying for. To find out which level you need, see the specific guidance for your immigration route.
Approved test providers
If you are in the UK
You can only take a SELT with one of the following providers:
- Pearson
- Trinity College London
- IELTS SELT Consortium
- LANGUAGECERT
If you are outside of the UK
You can only take a SELT with one of the following providers:
- Pearson
- PSI Services (UK) Ltd – Skills for English (UKVI)
- IELTS SELT Consortium
- LANGUAGECERT
Find an approved test
For your results to be accepted, your test must:
- be on the list of approved English language tests
- have been sat at an approved test location
- have been awarded in the two years before the date of your application
The list of approved English language tests has been assessed as meeting Home Office requirements under the secure English language testing arrangements. Only those tests and test levels specified are approved. If you intend to use an English language test in your immigration or nationality application, you must take one of the tests on the list.
You should make sure the test that you book is the one approved for SELT:
- IELTS SELT Consortium: ‘IELTS for UKVI’ or ‘IELTS Life Skills’
- LANGUAGECERT: ‘LANGUAGECERT International ESOL SELT’ or ‘LANGUAGECERT Academic SELT’ or ‘LANGUAGECERT General SELT’
- Pearson: ‘PTE Academic UKVI’ or ‘PTE Home’
- PSI Services: ‘Skills for English UKVI’
- Trinity College London: ‘Secure English Language Tests for UKVI’ – Integrated Skills in English (ISE) or Graded Examinations in Spoken English (GESE)
It is for you to decide which test to take.
The list of approved tests gives the CEFR level and minimum grade requirements for each level.
Where 2 or more components (reading, writing, speaking, and listening) of a test are examined and awarded together, you must show that you achieved the required scores in all the relevant components with the same test centre provider as part of the combined test assessment.
In certain circumstances, if you failed one component of the test, you may be allowed to sit that component again. You will need to check the test provider’s terms and conditions before booking a test.
Changes to LANGUAGECERT SELT from 1 January 2025
From 1 January 2025 the LANGUAGECERT ESOL SELT 4-skills test will be replaced by the new LANGUAGECERT Academic SELT and LANGUAGECERT General SELT tests.
If you already have a LANGUAGECERT ESOL SELT 4-skills result this remains valid for two years.
If you have a voucher for a LANGUAGECERT ESOL SELT 4-skills test, you can use this for up to 12 months from the date of purchase.
Approved test centres
The list of approved test centres has been assessed as meeting Home Office requirements under the secure English language testing arrangements.
More test centres will be added to the list as the new approved provider services become available.
Check the SELT provider’s website to find out when tests are available and to make sure the test centre is open. Some test centres may be closed because of coronavirus. If you have any questions, use the website. Do not contact the test centre directly.
Book an English language test
If you are in the UK
To find test dates and book your test, go to the website of the provider offering the test you plan to take:
If you are outside of the UK
To find test dates and book your test, go to the website of the provider offering the test you plan to take:
You should be able to take a test within 28 days of booking, but it may not always be at the location nearest to you. If there is not an approved test location in your country, you will have to travel to another country to take the test.
The details used to book your test must be the same as on your passport or other identity document. If your surname has changed, you will still need to book the test in the name on your passport or identity document. If you wish to book your test using your changed surname, you must change the name in your passport or identity document before booking your test.
Prove your identity on the day of the test
You will need to provide evidence of your identity at the test location before you can take the test.
Your identity document must:
- be current and valid, unless you’re using a biometric residence permit that expires on 31 December 2024
- be an original, not a photocopy
- include a photo of you
- match the information you gave when you booked the test
If your identity document has a signature, this will also be checked.
The details used to book your test must match the document you provide at the test location.
If you are not able to prove your identity, you will not be allowed to take a test.
Acceptable documents
You can use the following documents as identification for tests taken in the UK and outside the UK:
- passport
- UK biometric residence permit (BRP)
- UK biometric residence card
- convention travel document
- stateless persons travel document
If your BRP or BRC expires on or after 31 December 2024, you can use it to book a test. You must bring your expired BRP with you on the day of the test. Please refer to your chosen supplier’s website for more information.
You can use the following documents as identification for tests taken either in the UK or outside the UK in the country where the document is issued:
- identity cards of EEA nationals
You can use the following documents as identification for tests taken outside the UK in the country where the document is issued:
- valid photographic government issued identity cards
Emergency travel documents will not be accepted as proof of identity.
Your name must be on the document.
Contact the Home Office if you do not have a valid identity document.
If your passport is held by the Home Office and you do not have another valid identity document, you should contact the Home Office to request the return of your passport.
UK Visa and Immigration’s view and prove service for UKVI account holders does not currently apply to English language testing.
If you have a previous gender (including a different name) that you do not want the test centre staff to see or for it to show on your test result, email [email protected] before booking your test. They’ll tell you what you need to do.
After the test
After you pass the test, you will be given a SELT unique reference number which you must use when making your application. If you do not include your reference number, your application may be refused.
You will find your SELT unique reference number on your test result as:
- ‘UER’ for Trinity College London tests
- ‘UKVI number’ for IELTS SELT Consortium tests
- ‘Candidate URN’ for LANGUAGECERT tests
- ‘SELT URN’ for Pearson tests
- ‘URN’ for PSI Skills for English tests
You do not need to submit any documents as part of the immigration or nationality application. Test results and scores are checked using the SELT online verification system provided by each approved SELT test provider using a SELT unique reference number.
If you took a test in the UK, you can use your result for UK and overseas applications. You can also use tests taken overseas for applications made in the UK.
Test results are valid for 2 years from the date the test is awarded.
Reasonable adjustments
You can make special requests when you book your test if, for example, you have a disability and need extra equipment or help accessing the test location.
Updates to this page
Published 11 September 2020Last updated 16 December 2024 + show all updates
-
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and outside the UK.
-
Updated the lists of approved test centres in the UK and outside the UK.
-
Updated the section 'Prove your identity on the day of the test' to include the use of biometric residence permits that expire on 31 December 2024.
-
Updated the lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK.
-
Update of brand from LanguageCert to LANGUAGECERT and information added about changes to their SELT tests.
-
Updated the lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK.
-
Updated the lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK.
-
Updated the list of approved test centres in the UK and the list of approved test centres outside the UK.
-
Updated the lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK.
-
Updated the lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK.
-
Updated the order of the list of SELT providers.
-
Updates to the SELT centres details.
-
Updated list of approved test centres inside and outside the UK.
-
Added 'Temporary Work – International Agreement' under 'Applications that require an English language test'.
-
Updated the lists of approved test centres in the UK and outside the UK.
-
Updated the lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK.
-
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
-
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
-
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
-
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
-
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
-
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
-
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
-
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
-
Updated the list of approved test centres in the UK and the list of approved test centres outside the UK.
-
Replaced, 'List of approved test centres in the UK' and 'List of approved test centres outside the UK'.
-
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
-
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
-
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
-
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
-
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
-
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
-
Updated the list of approved test centres in the UK and the list of approved test centres outside the UK.
-
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Updated the order of the list of SELT providers.
-
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Updated lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK published.
-
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and outside the UK.
-
LanguageCert Academic and LanguageCert General added to the lists of approved tests. Also updated the lists of test centres.
-
Updated the lists of approved test centres.
-
Updated the order of the list of SELT providers.
-
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
-
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
-
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
-
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Updated the paragraph about tests under the 'Find an approved test' section.
-
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
-
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
-
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Updated lists of test centres inside and outside the UK published.
-
Updated the list of approved test providers.
-
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
-
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
-
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
-
Updating 'List of approved test centres in the UK and outside the UK'
-
Updated PSI Services (UK) Ltd - Skills for English (UKVI) name to clarify that PSI Services (UK) Ltd are approved for SELT tests.
-
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
-
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
-
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
-
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
-
Updated lists of approved test centres in the UK and outside the UK.
-
Order in which test providers listed changed.
-
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Updated lists of approved test centres.
-
Updated lists of approved test centres in the UK and outside the UK.
-
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK published.
-
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
-
Updated the lists of approved test centres in and out of the UK.
-
Updated lists of approved test centres in the UK and outside the UK.
-
Removed copy about remote proctoring pilot as it will be ending at the end of March 2023.
-
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK published.
-
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Updated lists of approved test centres in the UK and outside the UK.
-
Updated lists of approved test centres in the UK and outside the UK.
-
Order in which test providers listed changed.
-
Updated lists of approved test centres in the UK and outside the UK.
-
Updated lists of approved test centres in the UK and outside the UK.
-
Updated lists of approved test centres in the UK and outside the UK.
-
Added new routes to the list that require an English Language Test.
-
SELT test centre details updated.
-
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Updated list of test centres published.
-
List of test centres updated.
-
List of test centres updated.
-
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Lists of test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
List of test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Updated list of UK and non-UK test centres published.
-
Updated the list of approved test centres outside the UK and list of approved test centres in the UK.
-
Updated the lists of approved test centres.
-
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Added information above “prove your identity on the day” about a digital pilot to make customers aware that this may be offered to them.
-
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Updated lists of test centres in the UK and outside the UK.
-
Updated lists of test centres in the UK and outside the UK.
-
Lists of approved test centres updated.
-
Lists of test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Updated lists of test centres in the UK and outside of the UK.
-
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
List of test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Updated lists of test centres inside and outside the UK published.
-
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK published.
-
Order in which test providers listed changed.
-
Lists of centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Lists of centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Lists of centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Lists of centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Lists of centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Updated lists of approved test centres in the UK and outside the UK.
-
Lists of approved test centres updated.
-
Updated lists of approved test centres in the UK and outside the UK.
-
List of test centres in the UK and outside the UK updated.
-
List of test centres in the UK and outside the UK updated.
-
List of test centres in the UK and outside the UK updated.
-
List of test centres in the UK and outside the UK updated.
-
List of test centres in the UK and outside the UK updated.
-
List of approved test centres in the UK and outside the UK updated.
-
List of approved test centres in the UK and outside the UK updated.
-
List of approved test centres in the UK and outside the UK updated.
-
List of approved test centres in the UK and outside the UK updated.
-
Updated list of approved test centres for inside and outside the UK.
-
List of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
ODS files 'List of approved test centres in the UK' and 'List of approved test centres outside the UK' updated.
-
List of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
List of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
List of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Lists of test centres in and outside the UK updated.
-
Lists of test centres in and outside the UK updated.
-
Lists of test centres in and outside the UK updated.
-
Lists of test centres in and outside the UK updated.
-
Lists of test centres in and outside the UK updated.
-
Lists of test centres in and outside the UK updated for July 2021.
-
Updated lists of test centres published.
-
Updated the lists of approved test centres in the UK and outside the UK.
-
Updated changes to the process on booking an English language test.
-
Updated list of approved test centres in and outside the UK.
-
Updated list of approved test centres outside the UK.
-
Lists of test centres in and outside the UK updated.
-
List of approved test centres in the UK and outside the UK from 14 May 2021.
-
Lists of test centres in and outside the UK updated.
-
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Lists of approved test centres inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Updated list of approved test centres in and outside the UK.
-
Updated the list of approved test centres inside the UK from April 2021. Updated the list of approved test centres outside the UK from April 2021.
-
Lists of test centres both inside and outside the UK updated.
-
Updated the list of approved test centres in the UK from March 2021. Updated the list of approved test centres outside the UK from March 2021.
-
Updated list of approved test centres in and outside the UK.
-
Updated information about testing providers.
-
Updated list of approved test centres in and outside the UK.
-
Updated list of approved test centres in and outside the UK.
-
Updated list of secure English language tests taken outside the UK.
-
Updated list of approved test centres in and outside the UK.
-
Updated list of approved test centres in and outside the UK.
-
Lists of approved test centres updated.
-
Updated information under 'Accepted forms of ID' section.
-
Updated list of approved test centres in and outside the UK.
-
Updated lists of approved secure English Language tests taken in the UK and outside the UK.
-
Updated list of approved secure English language tests taken inside and outside the UK and list of approved test centres inside and outside the UK.
-
Updated list of approved test centres in and outside the UK to January 2021.
-
Updated lists of approved secure English language tests taken inside and outside the UK.
-
List of approved test centres in the UK from December 2020 updated.
-
Updated list of approved test centres in and outside the UK.
-
List of approved test centres outside the UK December 2020 updated.
-
Updated list of approved test centres in the UK.
-
Added list of approved test centres inside and outside the UK from December 2020.
-
Updated list of approved test centres outside the UK.
-
Updated list of approved test centres inside the UK.
-
Updated list of approved test centres inside and outside the UK.
-
Updated list of approved test centres inside and outside the UK for November 2020.
-
Updated list of approved test centres in the UK and list of approved test centres outside the UK to reflect current availability due to coronavirus (COVID-19).
-
Updated list of approved secure English language tests taken outside the UK and list of approved test centres outside the UK.
-
Updated guidance.
-
Replaced list of approved tests and test centres outside of the UK. Added link to PSI Services Ltd.
-
Added information for new test provider PSI Services (UK) Ltd. Replaced list of approved secure English language tests taken outside the UK and list of approved test centres outside the UK from September 2020.
-
Updated lists of approved test centres for September 2020.
-
First published.