IELTS for the UK

If you make a visa application to stay or move to the UK, you need to be aware of changes made by the United Kingdom Visas & Immigration (UKVI).

The IELTS for UKVI test is a UK government-approved Secure English Language Test (SELT). This specific IELTS test can be used to prove your English language abilities in support of a UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) application.

An IELTS Life Skills score can be used to prove your English Listening and Speaking abilities in support of an application for a UK family visa or settlement.

The IELTS test you take – and the score you need – will depend on both your visa requirements and/or the requirements of the institution where you plan to study or work.

IELTS for UKVI

• If you intend to migrate to the UK, it’s likely you need to provide evidence of your English language skills. IELTS for UKVI is probably for you.

• There are two tests available: IELTS for UKVI General Training and IELTS for UKVI Academic.

Read more about IELTS for UKVI

IELTS Life Skills

• If you intend to take the family route to the UK as a spouse/partner/parent, it’s likely you need to provide evidence of your English. IELTS Life Skills is probably for you.

• IELTS Life Skills is for people who need to prove their English listening and speaking skills at Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) Levels A1 or B1.

• There are two tests available: IELTS Life Skills A1 and IELTS Life Skills B1.

Read more about IELTS Life Skills

Use the UK Government visa check list  to find out whether you need to take an approved test, what level you need to achieve, and which test you can use. You can also check the section below that applies to your visa tier. Just remember: UK Visas and Immigration rules can change, so you should always check with them before you book your test.

IELTS for UKVI has a number of test options available. Depending on the visa you require you may take any of the following tests:  

• IELTS Academic for UKVI   

• IELTS General Training for UKVI   

• IELTS for UKVI Life Skills A1

• IELTS for UKVI Life Skills B1   

Remember to double-check as to which IELTS test applies to you and what band scores you will need to achieve using the UK Government visa checklist.

You need to specifically take an IELTS for UKVI General Training or IELTS for UKVI Academic test to apply for your UK visa. You cannot use your IELTS General Training or IELTS Academic scores to apply for a UK Visa. It must be specified as an IELTS for UKVI test.

The IELTS for UKVI tests are taken at a UKVI approved test centre and must meet the administrative requirements outlined by the UK Home Office. To show that the test was taken in a UKVI approved test centre, the Test Report Form (TRF) will look slightly different. Nevertheless, the test format of IELTS for UKVI is the same as the other IELTS tests: content, format, scoring and level of difficulty.

IELTS for UKVI (IELTS for UKVI Academic and General, and IELTS Life Skills A1 and B1 tests) are currently only available in New Zealand in:

• IDP IELTS Auckland

If you need an IELTS test for UK visa applications, you can only do so at approved test centres. These UKVI-approved test centres meet the administrative requirements outlined by the UK Home Office.

How much does IELTS UKVI cost?

In New Zealand, the IELTS UKVI test costs $460. The price for the exam is the same whether you take the UKVI Academic or UKVI General Training test.

Read how to book an IELTS test for the UK