What English level do I need for a Spouse visa?

A1 (CEFR) for the first visa from outside the UK or first grant inside. You then need A2 at your first extension (after 2 years 9 months) and B1 at the settlement (ILR) stage. The level rises at each step toward Indefinite Leave to Remain.

Which English test is accepted for the Spouse visa?

A Secure English Language Test (SELT) in speaking and listening from a Home Office approved provider — most commonly IELTS Life Skills (A1, A2 or B1) or the Trinity College London SELT, taken at an approved test centre. Only SELTs from the official list are accepted.

Who is exempt from the English requirement?

Nationals of majority-English-speaking countries, holders of a degree taught in English (confirmed by UK ENIC), applicants aged 65 or over, and those with a long-term physical or mental condition that prevents them meeting it. Exemptions must be evidenced.

Do I have to retake the test at each stage?

Yes, usually — you take an A1 test for the first visa, an A2 test for the extension, and a B1 test for ILR, unless you're exempt or already hold a qualification at the higher level. A degree taught in English can cover all stages.

How long is the English test certificate valid?

SELT certificates are valid for 2 years from the test date for immigration purposes. Make sure your certificate is still valid on the date you submit the relevant application.

Spouse Visa English Requirement 2026: A1, A2 and B1

TL;DR

The UK Spouse visa English requirement rises at each stage: A1 for the first visa, A2 at your first extension, and B1 at settlement (ILR). Prove it with an approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as IELTS Life Skills, a degree taught in English, or a passport from a majority-English-speaking country. Some applicants are exempt.

The level rises at each stage

Stage	When	English level
First Spouse visa	Initial application (2y9m grant)	A1
First extension	After 2 years 9 months — FLR(M)	A2
Settlement (ILR)	At 5 years — SET(M)	B1 + Life in the UK test

Each level is one step up the CEFR scale. You generally take a fresh test for each stage unless you're exempt or already hold a higher qualification.

How to meet it

There are three routes to satisfying the requirement at any stage:

1. An approved SELT

A Secure English Language Test in speaking and listening at the required level, from a Home Office approved provider, taken at an approved test centre. The common options:

IELTS Life Skills — A1, A2 or B1 (a single pass/fail test at the chosen level)
Trinity College London SELT (UK test centres)

Book the level you need — A1 for the first visa, A2 for the extension, B1 for ILR.

2. A degree taught in English

An academic qualification at bachelor's level or above taught in English, confirmed by a UK ENIC statement (an Academic Qualification Level Statement plus confirmation the course was taught in English). A degree taught in English can satisfy every stage, including the B1 needed for ILR.

3. A majority-English-speaking nationality

If you hold a passport from a majority-English-speaking country (for example the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, or most of the Caribbean), you meet the requirement automatically.

Who is exempt

You don't need to prove English if:

You're aged 65 or over
You have a long-term physical or mental condition that prevents you meeting it (evidenced with a medical report)
It would be unreasonable to expect you to meet it because of exceptional circumstances

Exemptions must be evidenced — they aren't assumed.

What each CEFR level actually means

The Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) describes language ability in bands. For the Spouse route you only ever need speaking and listening:

Level	Stage	Roughly what it means
A1	First visa	Basic phrases — introduce yourself, answer simple questions about where you live and people you know
A2	First extension	Simple, routine exchanges on familiar topics — shopping, work, immediate needs
B1	Settlement (ILR)	Hold a conversation on familiar matters, describe experiences, give brief reasons and explanations

Each level is genuinely a step up, so don't assume an old A1 pass covers the A2 you need at extension. The IELTS Life Skills test is pass/fail at the level you book — you sit the A1, A2, or B1 version, not a scored test you interpret afterwards.

Booking and cost

Book the exact level you need for your current stage, at an approved SELT centre
IELTS Life Skills typically costs around £150–£200; prices vary by country and centre
Book early — approved centres and slots can be limited, especially outside major cities
The certificate is valid for 2 years; sit it close enough to your application that it's still valid on submission, but with enough buffer to retake if you don't pass first time

If you're relying on a degree taught in English, order the UK ENIC statement in advance — it can take a couple of weeks and must confirm both the qualification level and that the course was taught in English.

Proving an exemption

Exemptions aren't taken on trust — you evidence them:

Age 65+ — your passport or birth certificate shows it
Long-term physical or mental condition — a report from a medical practitioner explaining why the condition prevents you meeting the requirement
Exceptional circumstances — documented reasons why it would be genuinely unreasonable to expect you to meet it

If you think an exemption applies, prepare the evidence as carefully as you would a test certificate — an unevidenced claim is treated as no claim.

Common mistakes

Wrong test type. Only SELTs on the official list count. A general/academic IELTS taken at a non-SELT centre is not accepted.
Right test, wrong level. A1 won't satisfy the A2 needed at extension. Book to the stage you're at.
Expired certificate. SELTs are valid for 2 years. Check it's still valid on your submission date.
Assuming the degree qualifies. A degree taught in English needs a UK ENIC English-medium confirmation, not just your word for it.

Do I have to retake it at every stage?

Usually yes — because the level rises (A1 → A2 → B1), a pass at one stage doesn't cover the next. The exceptions:

A degree taught in English satisfies every stage, including the B1 for ILR, so you never retake
A majority-English nationality satisfies every stage automatically
If you're exempt (age, condition), the requirement doesn't apply at any stage
If you already hold a SELT at a higher level than the stage requires (say a B1 sat earlier), that covers the lower levels too, provided it's still within its 2-year validity

For everyone else relying on a level-specific SELT, plan to sit A1, then A2, then B1 as you move through the route — and budget the time and cost for each.

What's next at each stage

The English level rises in step with the rest of the route. At extension you'll also re-meet the financial requirement; see extending your Spouse visa. At ILR you add the Life in the UK test.

Run the checklist generator for a full document list tailored to your stage and situation, or return to the Spouse visa guide.