English test for a spouse visa: A1, A2 and B1 explained

Every spouse visa applicant has to prove they can speak and understand English, at a level that goes up as you move along the five-year route. Most people do it with a short speaking and listening test from an approved provider. Some are exempt, and some can rely on a degree or their nationality instead.

The level at each stage

Application	Level needed	What it means
First spouse or fiancé visa	A1	Basic everyday phrases
Extension after 30 months	A2	Simple conversations on familiar topics
Settlement after 5 years	B1	Can deal with most everyday situations

The levels come from the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). You can take a higher level than you need: a B1 pass at the first visa can be used again at the extension and at settlement, as long as the provider has not withdrawn the certificate. Settlement also needs the Life in the UK test.

The A1 English test for a spouse visa

The A1 test is a speaking and listening test only: no reading or writing. It usually takes about 15 to 20 minutes, with an examiner asking about your family, home and daily life. It must be booked as a UKVI test (a Secure English Language Test, or SELT) at an approved centre. An ordinary IELTS or other exam booked through a school or college does not count, even at a higher score.

The A2 English test at the extension

If you passed A1 for your first visa, you need an A2 test in speaking and listening for the extension after 30 months. Book it in good time, as some centres have waits, and a pass is needed before you apply.

Approved test providers

The Home Office approves these providers for spouse visa tests:

• IELTS SELT Consortium: IELTS Life Skills.
• LanguageCert: International ESOL SELT.
• Pearson: PTE Home.
• Trinity College London: GESE (inside the UK).
• PSI Services: Skills for English UKVI (outside the UK).

The list changes, so check the current approved English tests page before booking. A test must have been taken at an approved centre and is normally valid for two years for a new application.

Other ways to meet the requirement

• Nationality. Nationals of majority English-speaking countries, including Australia, Canada, Jamaica, Malta, New Zealand, the USA and several Caribbean countries, do not need a test.
• A degree taught in English. A UK degree counts with the certificate alone. A degree from outside the UK needs confirmation from Ecctis that it is equivalent to a UK bachelor's degree and was taught in English.

Who is exempt

• Applicants aged 65 or over.
• Applicants with a physical or mental condition that prevents them from meeting the requirement, with medical evidence.
• Applicants abroad where exceptional circumstances prevent them from taking a test before coming to the UK, such as no test centre being reachable. This is rarely accepted and needs strong evidence.

Questions people ask