The A1 English test for a UK partner or spouse visa
In short
If you're applying for a UK partner, spouse or parent visa for the first time, you need to prove English at CEFR level A1 in speaking and listening. There's no reading or writing paper. It has to be a Secure English Language Test taken at a Home Office approved centre, and the result is valid for two years.
Who needs A1
- Applying for entry clearance as the partner or spouse of a British citizen or someone settled in the UK.
- Applying for permission to stay as a partner for the first time, if you're switching from another visa inside the UK.
- Applying as a parent of a child who lives in the UK.
What the requirement actually is
Level A1
The lowest level on the CEFR scale: you can introduce yourself, answer straightforward questions about where you live and who you know, and handle simple everyday exchanges when the other person speaks slowly.
Speaking and listening only
Reading and writing are not assessed at this stage. That's the part most people are surprised by, and it's why the test is much shorter than an academic English exam.
An approved SELT
A general English certificate won't do. It has to be on the Home Office SELT list and sat at an approved centre. LanguageCert is one of the approved providers.
What the test looks like
- It's one live test with a real examiner, in four parts: a short interview, a role play, a picture task, and a listen-and-talk task.
- Speaking and listening only. There is no reading or writing paper at A1, A2 or B1.
- You're marked on five criteria and the result is reported as Pass or Not yet at the level you sat, not as a band score.
The four parts are the same at every level. Our guide to the SELT Speaking & Listening test walks through each one with a sample task.
Rules worth knowing before you book
- It has to be a Secure English Language Test (SELT) taken at a Home Office approved test centre. A test from the same provider taken anywhere else is not accepted.
- A SELT result is valid for two years from the date it's awarded.
- You sit the level you need. Passing at a higher level also satisfies a lower requirement, so a B1 pass covers an A2 stage.
You may not need the test at all
The requirement doesn’t apply to everyone. You’re likely to be exempt if any of these is true:
- You're aged 65 or over.
- You have a long-term physical or mental condition that prevents you meeting it, evidenced by a doctor.
- You're a national of a country the Home Office treats as majority English speaking, such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the USA or Jamaica.
- You already hold a degree that was taught or researched in English.
What comes after A1
After 30 months on the five-year partner route you apply to extend, and the level goes up to A2 in speaking and listening. At settlement it goes up again to B1. Each stage is a fresh test unless you passed at a high enough level the first time.
FAQ
What English level do I need for a UK spouse visa?
A1 in speaking and listening for a first application. You take a Secure English Language Test at an approved centre; reading and writing are not tested.
Do I have to take a reading and writing test for a spouse visa?
No. At A1 the requirement covers speaking and listening only.
How long is the A1 result valid?
Two years from the date the result is awarded, so it's worth timing the test close to your application rather than long before it.
Can I take a higher level instead of A1?
Yes. A pass at a higher level satisfies the A1 requirement, and if you pass at B1 you may be able to use that result again later. Passing at a higher level is harder, so it's a trade-off, not a shortcut.
Who doesn't need to take the A1 test?
People aged 65 or over, people with a long-term physical or mental condition that prevents them meeting it, nationals of countries the Home Office treats as majority English speaking, and people with a degree taught in English.
See where your English is right now
Record one answer to a real interview question and get it marked on the official criteria. No account needed.
Sources
This page summarises UK government guidance as it stood in September 2026. It’s general information about an English test, not immigration advice, and the rules change. Check your own application on GOV.UK before you book anything.