The LanguageCert SELT exam: which one you need for a UK visa
In short
A LanguageCert SELT is a LanguageCert exam sat at a Home Office approved centre, with identity checks and a reference number for your visa application. There are three: a speaking and listening test at A1, A2 or B1 for family visas and settlement, Academic SELT for student visas, and General SELT for work visas. Results are valid for two years.
The three LanguageCert SELTs
LanguageCert International ESOL SELT
Speaking and listening only · A1, A2 or B1, with a pass result at the level you sit
Family visas, extensions, settlement and citizenship.
How the test worksLanguageCert Academic SELT
Listening, reading, writing, speaking · Reports B1 to C2
Student visas.
How the test worksLanguageCert General SELT
Listening, reading, writing, speaking · Reports A2 to C1
Work visas, such as Skilled Worker.
How the test worksWhich one your visa needs
The level comes from your visa route, not from how good your English is. Find your route:
| Visa route | Level | LanguageCert test |
|---|---|---|
| Partner, spouse or parent visa (first application) | A1, speaking and listening | International ESOL SELT |
| Extending a family visa after 30 months | A2, speaking and listening | International ESOL SELT |
| Indefinite leave to remain or British citizenship | B1, speaking and listening | International ESOL SELT |
| Student visa, below degree level | B1 in all four skills | Academic SELT |
| Student visa, degree level or above | B2 in all four skills | Academic SELT (or your university's own assessment) |
| Skilled Worker visa | B2 in all four skills | General SELT |
The settlement requirement rises from B1 to B2 for many routes on 26 March 2027. What that means for you.
Find out if you'd pass before you pay for the test
Take a short SELT-style interview with an AI examiner and see your estimated level. No account, no card.
Rules worth knowing before you book
- It only counts as a SELT if you sit it at a Home Office approved centre. The same LanguageCert exam taken elsewhere won't do for a visa.
- A SELT result is valid for two years from the date it's awarded, so book close to your application.
- From 6 July 2025, the old LanguageCert ESOL SELT four-skills test was replaced by Academic SELT and General SELT. Old results stay valid for their two years.
- For a degree-level student visa, your university can assess your English itself instead. Ask them before you book a SELT.
FAQ
What is the LanguageCert SELT exam?
It's a LanguageCert English exam taken at a Home Office approved test centre, with identity checks and a unique reference number you put on your UK visa application. The paper is the same as the normal exam; what makes it a SELT is where and how you sit it.
Which LanguageCert SELT do I need?
Family visas, settlement and citizenship use the speaking and listening test (International ESOL SELT) at A1, A2 or B1. Student visas use Academic SELT. Work visas such as Skilled Worker use General SELT, at B2.
Is LanguageCert SELT accepted by the Home Office?
Yes. LanguageCert is on the Home Office list of approved SELT providers, inside and outside the UK, for International ESOL SELT, Academic SELT and General SELT.
How long is a LanguageCert SELT result valid?
Two years from the date it's awarded.
What happened to the LanguageCert ESOL SELT four-skills test?
From 6 July 2025 it was replaced by Academic SELT and General SELT. A result from the old test stays valid for its two years.
What level do I need for a Skilled Worker visa?
B2 in reading, writing, speaking and listening, since 8 January 2026. If you already held the visa before then and are extending, B1 still applies and you don't need to prove it again.
Related
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Sources
This page summarises official guidance as it stood in October 2026. It’s general information about an English test, not immigration advice, and the rules change. Check your own application with the official source before you book anything.