Updated: 18 September, 2022
According to the Home Office, all individuals wishing to settle in the UK should demonstrate their commitment by learning English and by having an understanding of British history, culture and traditions.
Therefore, since 28 October 2013, unless they are exempt, all applicants for settlement or naturalisation as a British citizen need to meet the knowledge of language and life in the UK requirement by:
– passing the life in the UK test; and
– having a speaking and listening qualification in English.
According to the Home Office, a certain level of English (speaking and listening) is necessary for a successful integration into the British community. It is true that being able to communicate with the wider community (not just your own community) is essential for many practical reasons, to find a job, to understand all kind of administrative/official procedures, to start a business, to travel around, and so on. The Home Office will accept a range of English language qualifications as evidence that your speaking and listening qualification in English is sufficient.
Also, according to the Home Office, it is essential that people who want to live permanently in the UK have a minimum understanding of British traditions, culture and history. The Life in the UK test is the way to test this knowledge of life in the UK.
For a full overview of these requirements, click here.
dear admin.
my wife has passed life in the uk test in 2012 and she has indefinite leave to remain since, now if we apply for nutralisaztion do we have to go through test again or the same test which she passed in 2012 going to be enough
regard
Dear Ibrahim. Yes her life in the UK test should still be valid. But you should call the Life in the UK test helpline at 0800 0154245 (Opening hours for the helpdesk is Monday to Friday 8-6.), explain her situation and confirm with them that her test is still valid. Good luck!
Hello …I wanted to know if I need to take the English exam B1 level again when I apply for British citizen? I just received my indefinite leave to remain as a spouse . Now im planning to apply citizenship. .just confused me a lot according ..to other people I dont need to take the English b1 level again because I already done it for my ILR ..this year.
thank you.
I hope you can help me.. xx
It is best if you ask directly the Home Office. Good luck!
Dear admin..
my wife has passed Esol. skils for life speaking and listening national qualification unite by edexcel.
it was in may 2012 and it was for ILR. Now its time to apply fie neutralization do we have to pass the life in um test?
The language requirements are different than the Life in the UK test. So she might have to pass this test. You should double-check with the Life in the UK test helpline at 0800 0154245 (Opening hours for the helpdesk is Monday to Friday 8-6.).
Hi, I passed my life in the UK test back in January 2012 and received my indefinite leave to remain three months later. The pass notification letter also states that my competence in English meets the required standard for naturalisation. Therefore just to confirm no further steps are necessary to prove my level of English when applying for citizenship this year? Thanks.
You should not have to prove your level of English again, but to be on the safe side, you should confirm this with the Home Office.
Hi! I have taken my life in the uk test way back in 2010 to get my ILR. I want to apply for British citizenship. Do I still have to take the listening and speaking qualification in order to apply for my British Citizenship? If you could kindly clarify me on this regards would be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance
You shouldn’t have to pass your Life in the UK test again, however you might have to take the listening and speaking qualifications again. Please confirm this with Home Office. Good luck!
Hi,
I received my I.L.R in July 2007 , passed the Life in the UK test that year but didn’t go on to apply for my passport …do I have to re-do and do the tests involved ?
Thanks
Wayne
You shouldn’t have to pass your Life in the UK test again, but please confirm this with Home Office. Good luck!
hi i am now 18 and want to apply for citizenship. do i have to do the test even though i went through secondary school in this country since year 8.
Yes you have to pass the Life in the UK test. Please confirm with Home office though. Good luck!
Hello;
I would like to apply for my citizenship end of this month.
I need to get an English exam.Do you think Tier 4 speaking and listining exam would be ok?
Because I can get Tier 4 results faster than the other exams.
You should have a look at the government website that explains in details the steps to become a citizen:
https://www.gov.uk/becoming-a-british-citizen
Good luck!
Hi there.I have ESOL LEVEL 3 certifficate and will I still need to do Life in the UK test?
Yes you have to take the test. Please confirm with the Life in the UK test helpline at 0800 0154245 (Opening hours for the helpdesk is Monday to Friday 8-6.)
Hi, I have certificate of English L1 from college, will it be enough to proof my English level?
many thanks
You should find your answer on this government web page: https://www.gov.uk/english-language
Hie am Sandra I just want to find out because I come to uk 2008 I have indefinite to remain and I did my B1 ESOL course 2009 can I use that certificate to apply for neutralization British passport oh I have to still do the life in UK test PLEASE help me with more information thankyou
Yes you do have to do your Life in the UK test. Best to double-check though with the Life in the UK test helpline at 0800 0154245 (Opening hours for the helpdesk is Monday to Friday 8-6.)
HELP !! I havent changed address on my account – now I cannot make changes. I have test this saturday 22.08. Wiill they let me still do the test ???
hi there, i passed my esol with life in the uk last 2009/
Ddo i need take again, please let me know, coz i want to apply now, i am so comfused an panicking.
Hi Maria, if you already passed your Life in the UK Test, you shouldn’t have to pass it again. For your esol, you should ask UK Visas and Immigration.
hi my name is melodina.i have the pass certificate for the english language test but i am wondering do i need the life in the uk test as originally my british national husband and i where looking for a settlement visa.but as our circumstances have change and my husband wants to emigrate back to my home country at the end of 2016.i initially entered uk in aug 2010 on a spouse visa.that was then extended in june 2013 so we could get the requirements.my present visa comes to an end in dec 2015.but as our circumstanes have changed is it possible for me to obtain a visa extension only so i can remain with my husband until end of 2016 when we both emigrate.
Hello Melodina, your case appears to be a little complex, so it is better that you contact UK Visas and Immigration and ask them. That said, in most cases you do have to pass the Life in the UK test. Good luck!
hii…I have my life in the uk test on next week.n may b they r changing from 15 September.and I wil apply for indefinite to leave remain after 3 years.so this test wil valid or no?plz..plzz tel me
The test should still be valid. Better confirm though with the Life in the UK test helpline at 0800 0154245 (Opening hours for the helpdesk is Monday to Friday 8-6.). Good luck!
Hi pleas I can’t reading very well ,
Hi
Do I need to take The Life in the UK test if I had ESOL classes with citizenship. (esol entry1-level1). Thanks
Yes you should have to take the Life in the UK test
Hii me applied the British passbord but me haven’t a neturlazation so please tell me what happened now can they give me back my fees which i give them!!!! Thanks
Sorry I forget to tell u my visa is spouse
Does the B1 esol entry test 3 expires for uk citizenship?
I just came to Uk on 33months spouse visa. Do I apply for FLR after expiration of my 33months visa or ILR?
Hi I completed my life in the uk test in 2010. I’m applying for citizenship now in 2015. I wanted to know if I need to re take the test or the one I did in 2010 will be okay?
Thank you.
Your 2010 test should still be valid, but you might want to confirm this with the UK test helpline at 0800 0154245 (Opening hours for the helpdesk is Monday to Friday 8-6.)
I did my Schooling (GCSE) and College (A-Levels) and University here in the UK….would i still have to take the uk life test?
Yes you should still have to pass the Life in the UK test. Please confirm with the Life in the UK test helpline at 0800 0154245 (Opening hours for the helpdesk is Monday to Friday 8-6.). Good luck!
Hi I did pass my life in the UK test on 2011. Now i wanted to apply citizsnship. I heard we newd to give life in the test again and ESOL as well. Is it true ?? Or my life in the uk test still valid ??
Thanks
Hi Prem, your Life in the UK test should not expire. Please confirm with the Life in the UK test helpline at 0800 0154245 (Opening hours for the helpdesk is Monday to Friday 8-6.). Good luck!
Hi
I have passed life in the uk test in 2011.
Do I have to pass listening and speaking test B1 etc as well.
My papers were ready just come to know this.
Or its valid ?
Please reply with mentioning my name “saqib”
Hi Saqib, your Life in the UK test should still be valid. For your specific case, please confirm with the Life in the UK test helpline at 0800 0154245 (Opening hours for the helpdesk is Monday to Friday 8-6.). Good luck!
I passed the Life in the UK test when I applied for indefinite leave to remain (as the spouse of a British citizen) in 2011, and still have my test pass certificate, etc. At the time, I understood I would not need to retake it when applying for naturalisation. I’ve now started reading through guidance for the naturalisation application and there is a statement “If you have already satisfied the requirement to have sufficient knowledge of language and life in the UK for settlement, by applying on or after 28 October 2013, you do not have to demonstrate it again”. I interpreted this to mean that I WOULD be required to demonstrate it again, since I passed the test in 2011. I was quite concerned and annoyed by this, as it contradicts what I was told and what it says on their website (https://www.gov.uk/life-in-the-uk-test “You only need to pass the test once – you don’t need to do it again if you’re applying to become a citizen and already passed it as part of your settlement application.”). As far as I know I was not even eligible to apply for citizenship until 2014, so it looks like I would have had to re-take the test no matter what. I called their contact centre (0300 123 2253) and the woman I spoke to said that yes, I would need to retake the test. She said I should have applied for citizenship a year after gaining settlement, even when I explained to her that at the time I was granted ILR, the regulations stated I needed to wait 3 years (I think?). I’m not confident that she knew what she was talking about, but now I’m second guessing everything I thought I knew about this. She also said I would need to have my biometrics enrolled again even though I had a biometric residence permit when I had temporary leave to remain as the spouse of a British citizen (2009-2011). I really don’t want to have to spend the money on the Life in the UK book, study guide etc. again, nevermind the test fee and transportation to and from the test centre! It will also significantly delay my application, which I had hoped to submit in a few weeks.
Hi I have passed the life in the UK test in 2011 and currently holding an ILR visa. I have been in the UK for almost 10 years now too. Do I still need to take an english test to apply for British citizenship? Thank you in advance.
Yes you still have to meet the knowledge of English requirement. See https://www.gov.uk/becoming-a-british-citizen/check-if-you-can-apply
hi, so just to double chceck, firstly i need to pass the Life in UK test and then have a furter exam about written english? and then to apply for naturalization? can somebody advise as iam properly confused.
thank
Lenka
I have passed Life in the UK test in 2009, I am holding ILR visa and I am planning to apply for British naturalisation in this year 2016.
Could you please advise me if I need to take another test ?
Any advice really appreciated.
Thanks
Your Life in the UK test should still be valid. Please confirm with the Life in the UK test helpline at 0800 0154245 (Opening hours for the helpdesk is Monday to Friday 8-6.)
Hi,
I have been a resident in the UK since I was a child. I have been to school in this country and have GCSEs in English and English literature, etc. I was wondering, do I would still have to do the test in order to apply for citizenship?
Hi Vlad, yes you most likely will have to do this test. Please confirm with the Life in the UK test helpline at 0800 0154245 (Opening hours for the helpdesk is Monday to Friday 8-6.)
Hello
Do I still need to do life in the UK test if I’ve done year 11 and had GCSE.
Thanks
Your Life in the UK test should be still valid, but please confirm with the Life in the UK test helpline at 0800 0154245 (Opening hours for the helpdesk is Monday to Friday 8-6.)
Hi I’m a german citizen that lives in the UK since 1991 I was born deaf I have never spoken german but I now can talk English and use BSL and lip read do I need to do the Life in the UK test .I went to school in the UK and did all my exams here to. Please can you help me. My father is British and my mother is german. I was born in Germany.
Hello
I got my IDL in 2011 and for my application I used my level 2 esol certificate. I am now applying for citizenship I have passed the life in UK test but see the entry levels of english have changed. Will I. Now need to do level 3?
Kind regarda
Hi Kelly, you should find your answer here: https://www.gov.uk/english-language
I have passed my Life in the UK test this week. I also have a Cambridge First Certificate in English (B2) but did it in 2001. Living in UK since, have been class teacher in English Primary schools for years and have an English husband.
Do I still have to pay for another English exam that is recent?
Thanks.
You should find your answer here https://www.gov.uk/english-language, otherwise please call the Home Office
Hi, My mother is 51yrs old and she is on PIP (disability allowance)
Does she required to take life in the uk test or she is exempt from the test? she currently holding her ILR.
Regards,
seez
For any questions regarding the Life in the UK test and the requirements for this test, please contact the Life in the UK test helpline at 0800 0154245 (Opening hours for the helpdesk is Monday to Friday 8-6.)
hi i passed life in the u k in 2008. do i need to do it again for apply citizenship now? i also did esol entry 1,2,3 and level 1 and 2 course. what else do i need to do applying for a naturalisation? thank you.
Your life in the UK test should still be valid. For the “knowledge of English” requirement, please visit https://www.gov.uk/english-language
I am a refugee, I renew my travel document and I receive biometric card with refugee settlement on it. Now do I have to do life in the uk test. i am confused i want citizenship
If you are applying for British citizenship, then you will have to pass the Life in the UK test. In your case, as a refugee, you should double check though with the Home Office
Email public.enquiries@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
Telephone 020 7035 4848
Hi I’ve passed the life in the uk test do I still have to do a knowledge of language test to apply for citizenship
Thanks
Hi I have ilr since from 2006 so I just want to know if I apply British citizenship without life in the UK test or we need to do test ? Thnx
Hi i have a quesation i passed life in the uk test 2010. can i still use 2010 certificate or i have to resit.i graduate from uk.
Hi I passed life in the uk test November 2012. I want to use life in the UK test for ilr application will this test still valid or I have to take it again thanks
Hi Ahmad,
To the best of our knowledge, the Life in the UK test certificate is valid for life. We recommend that you confirm this with a UK immigration agent.
Hi thanks for your information. Me and my sister have gcse’s and a -level qualifications and are now studying at university. Does this mean that we don’t have to do the life in the UK test, since our English language skills are alright. Have I read it correct? Thanks
Hi Nabhia,
We recommend that you contact the UK Border Agency in regards to your inquiry.
Here is the contact information:
UK Visas and Immigration contact centre
Telephone: 0300 790 6268 – select option 2
Monday to Thursday (excluding bank holidays), 9am to 4:45pm
Friday (excluding bank holidays), 9am to 4:30pm