Skilled Worker visa English language requirement

You must prove you can read, write, speak and understand English to at least level B2 on the CEFR scale (GOV.UK). CEFR is the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. A UK school qualification, a degree or an approved test can prove it. Nationals of listed countries do not need to prove it. Some people who extend need level B1.

What level of English do I need?

English is one of the three points requirements you must meet. You get 10 points for English at level B2. You also get them for level B1 if your most recent permission was as a Skilled Worker and was granted with a B1 requirement (SW 4.1). You must show the level in all 4 parts: reading, writing, speaking and listening (SW 7.1).

GOV.UK gives these levels:

Your situation	Level
Applying for the visa, no exemption	B2
You had this visa before 8 January 2026 and are applying to extend or update it	B1. You do not need to prove your English again
Switching from a Health and Care Worker visa	No proof needed again
Switching from a different visa	B2

See tradeable points for how the English points fit into the 50 mandatory points.

How can I prove my English?

You can prove it by:

• having a UK school qualification
• having a degree from a UK institution
• having a degree from an institution outside the UK that was taught in English
• passing an English test from an approved provider

If you have already proved your English in an earlier successful visa application, you may not have to prove it again.

The rules are in Appendix English Language. You meet the requirement if you meet any of the rules in EL 3.1 to EL 7.2 (EL 2.1). For the Skilled Worker route, EL 2.3 adds the rules in EL 7.1 and EL 7.2, or the rule in EL 9.1.

Way to meet the requirement	Rule	What it says
You already proved it	EL 3.1	You already showed you met the requirement, at the level needed now, in an earlier successful application.
A majority English-speaking country	EL 4.1	You are a national of a country in the list below.
An academic qualification	EL 5.1 to EL 5.4	A UK bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or doctorate, or a qualification that meets the standards in EL 5.2. You prove it as EL 5.3 and EL 5.4 require.
An English language test	EL 6.1	A valid digital reference number from an approved provider. It shows you passed an approved test to the level needed in each part in the 2 years before the day you apply.
GCSE or A level English	EL 7.1 and EL 7.2	A listed UK school qualification in English. You prove it with a certificate or an official transcript from the awarding body.
Professional regulation	EL 9.1	You are sponsored as a doctor, dentist, nurse, midwife or veterinarian. You have passed an English language assessment that your professional body accepts for registration.

A UK school qualification

You can prove your English with a qualification from a UK school that you began when you were under 18. It must be one of these:

• a GCSE
• an A Level
• Scottish National Qualification level 4 or 5
• Scottish Higher or Advanced Higher in English

The rules add more detail (EL 7.1). The qualification can be a GCSE, International GCSE, A level, Scottish National Qualification at level 4 or 5, or Scottish Higher or Advanced Higher in English (language or literature). It must be awarded by an Ofqual, SQA, Qualifications Wales or CCEA regulated awarding body. You must have learned it in a UK-based school, and started while you were under 18.

A degree

You can prove your English with a degree-level qualification that was both taught in English and awarded by a UK institution. This works even if you studied outside the UK.

Your degree might have been taught in English but not awarded by a UK institution. If so, you need to apply for an assessment from Ecctis. Ecctis gives a code. It confirms that your qualification is equal to a UK bachelor’s degree or higher, and was taught in English.

The qualification can be any of these (EL 5.2):

• a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or doctorate awarded in the UK
• a degree or degree-level qualification taught in a university or college in a listed majority-English-speaking country (except Canada), or Ireland, which meets or exceeds the recognised standard of a UK bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or doctorate
• a degree or degree-level qualification that meets or exceeds the recognised standard of a UK bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or doctorate and was taught or researched in English

An English test

If you have no qualification that proves your English, you need to pass a Secure English Language Test (SELT) with an approved provider. The list of approved tests and providers is on GOV.UK: prove your English language abilities with a Secure English Language Test.

Who does not need to prove their English?

You do not need to prove your English if you are a national of one of these countries or territories. The rules call them “majority-English-speaking countries” (EL 4.1).

Country or territory
Antigua and Barbuda
Australia
The Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
The British Overseas Territories
Canada
Dominica
Grenada
Guyana
Jamaica
Malta
New Zealand
St Kitts and Nevis
St Lucia
St Vincent and the Grenadines
Trinidad and Tobago
United States of America

You also do not need to prove your English if you are a doctor, dentist, nurse, midwife or vet who has already passed an English language assessment accepted by your professional body. A vet may need to prove they passed an English language assessment with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.

Is there an English requirement for settlement?

Settlement is a separate application. If you apply on or after 26 March 2027, you must show English ability on the CEFR in speaking and listening to at least level B2, unless an exemption applies (SW 22A.1).

You are exempt from the English requirement for settlement if, on the day you apply, any of these is true (EL 1.1):

• you are aged 65 or over
• you are aged under 18
• you have a disability (a physical or mental condition) that stops you meeting the requirement

There is a further exemption for some partners, parents and dependent children aged over 18, with conditions (EL 1.1(d)).