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English Language: Evidence Required for Points Based Applications
Published 31 August 2023
When applying for a UK visa, individuals will likely have to prove their ability to communicate to a certain level in English. This page summarises the various options for you to prove your English language depending on the visa you will be applying for, and we elaborate on what specific evidence entails.
Options For Demonstrating English Language
Depending on Visa Application
Click to expand the text for the relevant visa application to determine how English language will be assessed
National of a majority English speaking country
Met the requirement at the required level in a previous successful visa application
Academic degree taught or researched in English
Passed a secure English language test (SELT)
GCSE, A Level or Scottish Higher qualification in English, following education in a UK school.
If applying as a doctor, dentist, nurse, midwife or vet, you can confirm English language assessment accepted by the relevant professional regulatory body.
National of a majority English speaking country
Met the requirement at the required level in a previous successful visa application
Academic degree taught or researched in English
Passed a secure English language test (SELT) *
* A student can be exempted from some SELT components due to disability, providing the sponsor confirms English language ability.
GCSE, A Level or Scottish Higher qualification in English, following education in a UK school
Assessment by a higher education provider with a track record of compliance.
National of a majority English speaking country
Met the requirement at the required level in a previous successful visa application
Academic degree taught or researched in English
Passed a secure English language test (SELT).
National of a majority English speaking country
Met the requirement at the required level in a previous successful visa application
Academic degree taught or researched in English
Passed a secure English language test (SELT).
Evidence Explained
Click to expand the text for the relevant evidence to determine what is required
Within a visa application the applicant will have the option to confirm if they met the English requirement in a previous successful application. If they do so, the UKVI caseworker will confirm this by checking the immigration history on their systems.
The previous application must have been successful and must show the individual met the required level of English language ability on the route they are now applying for.
If the previous application shows a lower level of English language, the caseworker should contact the applicant and tell them they have one month to show they have reached the higher level required and that their application will be put on hold to enable them to do so. They will confirm how to provide the updated information.
An individual who is a national of one of the countries on the Home Office's list of majority English speaking countries will be able to prove their English capabilities purely by proving their nationality. This will be done via passport, travel document, valid national ID card or other satisfactory proof of nationality.
Dual nationals will meet this requirement if one of their nationalities is included in the majority English speaking country list.
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
The gov.uk website has lots of useful information on how and where you will need to take a secure English language test - Home Office information on SELTs.
There are only certain providers that will be acceptable for your application (these are listed on the linked Home Office page).
A few useful nuggets of information we can add are summarised below:
You must check that the test is an approved test with an approved provider at the date the test was taken. There has been such a significant amount of fraud in this area that the Home Office has tightened up security and will only accept a test from a provider that has strict identity checking processes. Look for the UKVI approved stamp on your certificate.
If you state on the visa application form that you are relying on a SELT, then you must provide a reference number. The UKVI caseworker will then use this reference to search for and verify the SELT online.
If you take the test and failed one or more of the components, then you must retake the test in its entirety. It is not possible to retake individual components.
SELTs are valid for 2 years. If the SELT certificate has expired within the one month before the date of application, the UKVI caseworker should contact you and allow time to take and pass a new test at the appropriate level. Your visa application will be on hold for one month. The caseworker will confirm how to provide the updated information to the Home Office.
There are two important aspects to this evidence: firstly that there is evidence of a genuine degree, and secondly that it has been taught in English.
A degree certificate, official transcript or letter from the awarding institution containing the equivalent information is acceptable evidence of a degree. Futher details of what must be evidenced can be found below. Click on the relevant degree to expand additional information.
If the degree was awarded by a UK body, the following must apply:
the awarding body is recognised in the UK (to confirm the degree was actually issued in the UK)
the degree is UK bachelor’s level or above (including Postgraduate degrees)
the qualification is academic, not technical or professional – if in doubt, you can check that with the degree awarding body.
You can check that an awarding body is recognised in the UK in the ‘Check if a university or college is officially recognised’ page on GOV.UK.
If the degree is from a non-majority English country or from Canada, the applicant will need to apply for a Visa and Nationality statement from Ecctis (formerly UK NARIC, a service that provides information, advice and opinion on academic, vocational and professional qualifications and skills from all over the world).
This must confirm that the following apply:
degree is equivalent to a UK bachelor’s level degree or above
qualification is academic, not technical or professional
degree was taught in English.
If the degree is from a majority English speaking country (except for Canada which is not treated as a majority English language speaking country for this purpose as degrees are also taught in French), the following must apply:
the degree is equivalent to a UK bachelor’s level degree or above
the qualification is academic, not technical or professional.
The applicant will need to apply for a Visa and Nationality statement from Ecctis (formerly UK NARIC, a service that provides information, advice and opinion on academic, vocational and professional qualifications and skills from all over the world). This must be included as evidence within the application, and must confirm that the degree is equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree or above.
See below for helpful information on what will be required when you apply to Ecctis.
ECCTIS documents needed (taken from Zoho template)
Photocopy of the final certificate
Photocopy of the full academic transcripts / marksheets
Medium of Instruction letter from awarding institution to confirm degree was taught solely in English (unless completed in a majority English speaking country)
Completed cover letter, so we can ensure all details are processed correctly (please see attached)
Please send clear colour copies in all cases, where possible. The turnaround time for processing a set of documents is 10 working days, unless you would like to order 24 hour fast track service; which is where we would deduct 2 credits from your ECCTIS bundle.
For those individuals applying for a Skilled Worker visa, there are some additional options for showing English language ability. Detail on the options is provided below - expand each option for additional information.
Medical Professionals
If you are being sponsored to work as a doctor, dentist, nurse, or midwife then you will meet the English language requirement if you have passed an English language assessment which is accepted as a requirement for registration by the relevant regulated professional body in the United Kingdom:
Doctors - General Medical Council
Dentists - General Dental Council
Nurses and Midwives – Nursing and Midwifery Council
As the assessment is a requirement for registration and employment by your sponsor, this will be sufficient if you are applying as a Skilled Worker under one of these SOC codes:
2211 – Medical Practitioners
2215 – Dental Practitioners
2231 – Nurses; and
2232 – Midwives
Veterinary Professionals
If you are being sponsored to work as a veterinary professional, you will meet the English language requirement if you have passed an English language assessment which is accepted as a requirement for registration by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS).
This applies if you are registered as a UK practicing vet surgeon with the RCVS, and being sponsored as a Skilled Worker under SOC code 2216 - Veterinarians.
You can show evidence of English language via a GCSE or A Level or Scottish National Qualification at level 4 or 5 or, Scottish Higher or Advanced Higher in English, providing the following criteria are met:
The exam was taken when you were aged 18 or under. Applicants cannot rely on GCSE or A levels gained through adult education or correspondence courses.
The qualification is in English literature or English language - qualifications in other subjects are not accepted.
The qualification is issued by an Ofqual, SQA, Qualifications Wales or CCEA regulated awarding body in the UK.
You attended school in the UK. The caseworker will check that the date of your qualification and the school/college included on the exam certificate to confirm that you attended school in the UK while under the age of 18.
You can prove the qualification by either:
A certificate from the awarding body: or
An official transcript issued by the awarding body.
For those individuals applying for a Student visa, there are some additional options for showing English language ability. This will require liaison with the sponsor, as information will need to be included within their Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies. Detail on the options is provided below - expand each option for additional information.
A student visa applicant can state they have been assessed by a higher education provider with a track record of compliance. You can check if the HEP has a track record of compliance via the Sponsor register on GOV.UK.
The sponsor will need to confirm this on the Confirmation of Acceptance of Study (CAS), as well as provide information on the method of assessment used. There are two options in terms of English language ability and what is subsequently required within the CAS:
The CAS confirms that the student has English language at level B2.
Alternatively, an individual can show they have passed a SELT at level B1 and have a combined CAS which includes a pre-sessional course. The CAS will need to confirm the student will reach level B2 by the end of the course.
You can show evidence of English language via a GCSE or A Level or Scottish National Qualification at level 4 or 5 or, Scottish Higher or Advanced Higher in English, providing the following criteria are met:
The exam was taken when you were aged 18 or under. Applicants cannot rely on GCSE or A levels gained through adult education or correspondence courses.
The qualification is in English literature or English language - qualifications in other subjects are not accepted.
The qualification is issued by an Ofqual, SQA, Qualifications Wales or CCEA regulated awarding body in the UK.
You attended school in the UK. The caseworker will check that the date of your qualification and the school/college included on the exam certificate to confirm that you attended school in the UK while under the age of 18.
You can prove the qualification by either:
A certificate from the awarding body: or
An official transcript issued by the awarding body.
A student visa applicant can be exempted from part of the SELT by the test provider due to a disability. The student sponsor must confirm on the CAS that the student has a sufficient level of English language ability to complete the course.
If a student is studying in the UK on a short term study abroad programme, they must be studying in the USA and the course must lead to them gaining a qualification from the overseas Higher Education Institution at least equivalent level to a UK bachelor’s degree.
You will need to obtain confirmation from Ecctis (formerly UK NARIC) that the qualification you are studying for is at least equivalent to a UK degree. This must also be confirmed on the CAS.
The CAS must include details of the overseas Higher Education Institution.
The English language requirement does not apply to applicants who are considered to be ‘gifted students’ by their Student sponsor. To qualify as a gifted student, they must meet both of the following requirements:
The applicant must have been offered a place on a course at RQF level 6 or above, or SCQF level 9 or above, at a higher education provider (HEP) with a track record of compliance. You can check if the HEP has a track record of compliance via the Sponsor register on GOV.UK.
The CAS must have been authorised by the academic registrar of the institution, and the academic registrar must confirm that they have personally approved the waiving of the English language requirement. The CAS is sufficient evidence (there is no need for a letter from the college or university).
USEFUL REFERENCES
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Disclaimer:
Whilst we endeavour to produce accurate and up to date information, the UK government can, and does, change the immigration rules on a frequent basis. This website is for information purposes and does not replace individual immigration advice. Please consult your immigration advisor to discuss your personal circumstances. We would be happy to help with this, please use the contact us section of this website.