IELTS for the UK 🇬🇧
IELTS scores for UK visas
Updated 20 June 2026
UK visas describe their English requirement as a CEFR level (such as B1 or B2) rather than a band score. You then meet that level with an approved test. For most visas that test is IELTS for UKVI, which is the same exam as normal IELTS but taken at a secure, Home Office–approved centre. Here is how the CEFR levels translate into IELTS bands, taken from gov.uk and the official IELTS for UKVI pages.
IELTS for UKVI is marked the same way as standard IELTS. The band shown is the minimum in each of the four skills unless stated.
| Visa / purpose | CEFR level | IELTS for UKVI |
|---|---|---|
| Student — degree level or above | B2 | 5.5 in each skill |
| Student — below degree level | B1 | 4.0 in each skill |
| Skilled Worker (new, from 8 Jan 2026) | B2 | 5.5 in each skill |
| Family visa — first application | A1 | Life Skills A1 — Pass |
| Family visa — extension | A2 | Life Skills A2 — Pass |
| Settlement (ILR) & citizenship | B1 | Life Skills B1 — Pass |
Student visa
If you are studying a degree or higher, you need CEFR B2 — that is IELTS for UKVI 5.5 in Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. For courses below degree level the requirement is B1, which is 4.0 in each skill.
There is a useful exception. If you are studying at degree level or above with a licensed student sponsor (most universities), the university is allowed to assess your English itself. In that case it may accept a standard IELTS Academic result instead of the secure IELTS for UKVI version — as long as it still proves B2. Below degree level, you must take IELTS for UKVI.
Skilled Worker visa
From 8 January 2026, new Skilled Worker applicants must prove English at CEFR B2 — IELTS for UKVI 5.5 in each skill. This is a step up from the old B1 level.
If you already held a Skilled Worker visa before that date and are only extending or updating it, the earlier B1 requirement can still apply. If you are unsure which applies to you, check the current gov.uk Skilled Worker guidance.
Family, settlement and citizenship: IELTS Life Skills
Family and settlement routes use a different test called IELTS Life Skills, which checks only Speaking and Listening and is marked simply as Pass or Fail — there is no band score.
The level rises as you move through the system: A1 for a first family/partner application, A2 when you extend, and B1 for indefinite leave to remain (settlement) and for British citizenship. The B1 you need here is the two-skill Life Skills test, not the four-skill academic one.
Not sure what your scores add up to? Try the band score calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is IELTS for UKVI and how is it different?
It is the same test as standard IELTS, with the same content and scoring, but taken in person at a UK Home Office–approved secure centre with extra identity checks. UK visas only accept the UKVI version when a secure test is required.
What IELTS score do I need for a UK Student visa?
For degree-level study or above you need CEFR B2, which is IELTS for UKVI 5.5 in each of the four skills. Below degree level you need B1, which is 4.0 in each skill.
Has the Skilled Worker English requirement changed?
Yes. From 8 January 2026 new Skilled Worker applicants need CEFR B2 (IELTS for UKVI 5.5 in each skill). The old B1 / 4.0 level only applies to people already on the route before that date who are extending.
Do I always need IELTS for UKVI for a student visa?
Not always. If you study at degree level or above with a licensed student sponsor, the university can assess your English itself and may accept a standard IELTS Academic result that proves B2. Below degree level, the UKVI version is required.
What test do I need for settlement or citizenship?
IELTS Life Skills at CEFR B1. It tests only Speaking and Listening and is graded Pass or Fail.
Official sources
- gov.uk — Student visa: knowledge of English
- gov.uk — Skilled Worker visa: knowledge of English
- gov.uk — English language requirement levels for immigration applications
- British Council — IELTS for UKVI scores
- British Council — IELTS for UKVI overview
Requirements change. Always confirm the current rule on the official government page before you apply. ieltspractice.app is independent and not affiliated with IDP, Cambridge English, the British Council, or any government.