What changes for workers
Skilled Worker and Health and Care Worker visa holders proved English at B1 to get the visa, and under the current rules that is enough at settlement too: GOV.UK lists these routes as ones where you do not prove English again because you proved it for your current visa. From 26 March 2027, settlement on these routes needs B2 speaking and listening, unless you are exempt. A B1 proved at the visa stage no longer carries you through. The same applies to Global Talent, Innovator Founder, Scale-up, UK Ancestry, T2 Minister of Religion, Representative of an Overseas Business and International Sportsperson.
Most workers already have it
Three groups can skip the test:
- A degree taught in English. Any bachelor's or higher. UK degrees need only the certificate; foreign degrees need an Ecctis statement. This covers most Skilled Workers.
- A previous B2 or higher SELT used for a UK application, still on the approved list. Many Skilled Worker visas were granted on IELTS for UKVI or Trinity ISE II at B2 or above; that result can be reused for settlement even after two years.
- Nurses and other health professionals registered with the NMC, GMC or HCPC usually passed IELTS or OET at B2 or above for registration. OET is not a SELT, but the Immigration Rules accept the professional registration itself as proof of English for Skilled Workers in those occupations. Check the current Appendix English Language for your occupation code before relying on it.
Who in the work routes is caught
- Workers who met B1 for the visa with a B1 SELT (common in care, hospitality and construction occupations) and have no degree.
- Workers whose degree was not taught in English.
- Dependant partners of workers. They also meet a knowledge of language and life requirement at settlement. Whether their level is B1 or B2 after 26 March 2027 depends on how the dependant rules in their route are drafted; check Appendix English Language for your route or ask a regulated adviser.
The ten-year question
The Home Office's "Fairer Pathway to Settlement" consultation proposes extending the qualifying period for most work routes from five to ten years. If adopted, fewer Skilled Workers will reach settlement in 2027 to 2029, and the English change will bite later for them. The partner route is not part of that proposal. Nothing in it changes the B2 rule.
Which test
If you need to sit a B2 test and reading and writing are not your strong skills, the Trinity GESE Grade 7 speaking and listening SELT is the lightest route once it is on sale. If you are comfortable with all four skills, IELTS for UKVI at 5.5 in each component, Trinity ISE II or LanguageCert B2 also work and are available now. See SELT tests.