Q: Tier 1 (General) visa

Minimum CEFR level required C1 Skills Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening IELTS test and minimum score required overall and in each skill* IELTS for UKVI – 7.0 overall, and in each of the four skills * Both Academic and General Training versions are accepted. The CEFR requirement for each skill must be met.

Q: Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa

Minimum CEFR level required B1 Skills Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening IELTS test and minimum score required overall and in each skill* IELTS for UKVI – 4.0 overall, and in each of the four skills * Both Academic and General Training versions are accepted. The CEFR requirement for each skill must be met.

Q: Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa

Minimum CEFR level required B1 Skills Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening IELTS test and minimum score required overall and in each skill* IELTS for UKVI – 4.0 overall, and in each of the four skills * Both Academic and General Training versions are accepted. The CEFR requirement for each skill must be met.

Q: Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) visa

Minimum CEFR level required B1 Skills Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening IELTS test and minimum score required overall and in each skill* IELTS for UKVI – 4.0 overall, and in each of the four skills * Both Academic and General Training versions are accepted. The CEFR requirement for each skill must be met.

Q: Tier 2 (General) visa - in most cases

Minimum CEFR level required B1 Skills Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening IELTS test and minimum score required overall and in each skill* IELTS for UKVI – 4.0 overall, and in each of the four skills * Both Academic and General Training versions are accepted. The CEFR requirement for each skill must be met.

Q: Tier 2 (Sportsperson) visa

Minimum CEFR level required A1 Skills Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening IELTS test and minimum score required overall and in each skill* IELTS for UKVI** – 4.0 overall, and in each of the four skills IELTS Life Skills – at A1 (Pass) * Both Academic and General Training versions are accepted. The CEFR requirement for each skill must be met. ** IELTS for UKVI can be used where IELTS Life Skills is required. Test takers would need to a score of 4.0 or above in Speaking and Listening (scores for Reading and Writing will be ignored).

Q: Tier 2 (Minister of Religion) visa

Minimum CEFR level required B2 Skills Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening IELTS test and minimum score required overall and in each skill* IELTS for UKVI – 5.5 overall, and in each of the four skills * Both Academic and General Training versions are accepted. The CEFR requirement for each skill must be met.

Q: (General) Student route - below degree level and pre-sessional courses

Minimum CEFR level required B1 Skills Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening IELTS test and minimum score required overall and in each skill* IELTS for UKVI – 4.0 overall, and in each of the four skills * Both Academic and General Training versions are accepted. The CEFR requirement for each skill must be met.

Q: (General) Student route - degree level and above

Minimum CEFR level required B2 Skills Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening IELTS test and minimum score required overall and in each skill* IELTS for UKVI ^ and IELTS – 5.5 overall, and in each of the four skills * Both Academic and General Training versions are accepted. The CEFR requirement for each skill must be met. ^Universities on UKVI’s list of Tier 4 Sponsors decide which exams to accept when a Secure English Language test (SELT) is not required. Students should check that the institution they are applying to is on this list, and whether or not there are any additional requirements.

Q: Family route (Spouse/partner or Parent of a dependant)

Minimum CEFR level required A1 Skills Speaking and Listening IELTS test and minimum score required overall and in each skill* IELTS for UKVI** – 4.0 in Speaking and Listening IELTS Life Skills – at A1 (Pass) * Both Academic and General Training versions are accepted. The CEFR requirement for each skill must be met. ** IELTS for UKVI can be used where IELTS Life Skills is required. Test takers would need to a score of 4.0 or above in Speaking and Listening (scores for Reading and Writing will be ignored).

Question 1

Tier 1 (General) visa

Accepted Answer

Minimum CEFR level required

C1

Skills

Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening

IELTS test and minimum score required overall and in each skill*

IELTS for UKVI – 7.0 overall, and in each of the four skills

* Both Academic and General Training versions are accepted. The CEFR requirement for each skill must be met.

Question 2

Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa

Accepted Answer

Minimum CEFR level required

B1

Skills

Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening

IELTS test and minimum score required overall and in each skill*

IELTS for UKVI – 4.0 overall, and in each of the four skills

* Both Academic and General Training versions are accepted. The CEFR requirement for each skill must be met.

Question 3

Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa

Accepted Answer

Minimum CEFR level required

B1

Skills

Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening

IELTS test and minimum score required overall and in each skill*

IELTS for UKVI – 4.0 overall, and in each of the four skills

* Both Academic and General Training versions are accepted. The CEFR requirement for each skill must be met.

Question 4

Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) visa

Accepted Answer

Minimum CEFR level required

B1

Skills

Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening

IELTS test and minimum score required overall and in each skill*

IELTS for UKVI – 4.0 overall, and in each of the four skills

* Both Academic and General Training versions are accepted. The CEFR requirement for each skill must be met.

Question 5

Tier 2 (General) visa - in most cases

Accepted Answer

Minimum CEFR level required

B1

Skills

Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening

IELTS test and minimum score required overall and in each skill*

IELTS for UKVI – 4.0 overall, and in each of the four skills

* Both Academic and General Training versions are accepted. The CEFR requirement for each skill must be met.

Question 6

Tier 2 (Sportsperson) visa

Accepted Answer

Minimum CEFR level required

A1

Skills

Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening

IELTS test and minimum score required overall and in each skill*

IELTS for UKVI** – 4.0 overall, and in each of the four skills

IELTS Life Skills – at A1 (Pass)

* Both Academic and General Training versions are accepted. The CEFR requirement for each skill must be met.

** IELTS for UKVI can be used where IELTS Life Skills is required. Test takers would need to a score of 4.0 or above in Speaking and Listening (scores for Reading and Writing will be ignored).

Question 7

Tier 2 (Minister of Religion) visa

Accepted Answer

Minimum CEFR level required

B2

Skills

Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening

IELTS test and minimum score required overall and in each skill*

IELTS for UKVI – 5.5 overall, and in each of the four skills

* Both Academic and General Training versions are accepted. The CEFR requirement for each skill must be met.

Question 8

(General) Student route - below degree level and pre-sessional courses

Accepted Answer

Minimum CEFR level required

B1

Skills

Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening

IELTS test and minimum score required overall and in each skill*

IELTS for UKVI – 4.0 overall, and in each of the four skills

* Both Academic and General Training versions are accepted. The CEFR requirement for each skill must be met.

Question 9

(General) Student route - degree level and above

Accepted Answer

Minimum CEFR level required

B2

Skills

Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening

IELTS test and minimum score required overall and in each skill*

IELTS for UKVI^ and IELTS – 5.5 overall, and in each of the four skills

* Both Academic and General Training versions are accepted. The CEFR requirement for each skill must be met.

^Universities on UKVI’s list of Tier 4 Sponsors decide which exams to accept when a Secure English Language test (SELT) is not required. Students should check that the institution they are applying to is on this list, and whether or not there are any additional requirements.

Question 10

Family route (Spouse/partner or Parent of a dependant)

Accepted Answer

Minimum CEFR level required

A1

Skills

Speaking and Listening

IELTS test and minimum score required overall and in each skill*

IELTS for UKVI** – 4.0 in Speaking and Listening

IELTS Life Skills – at A1 (Pass)

* Both Academic and General Training versions are accepted. The CEFR requirement for each skill must be met.

** IELTS for UKVI can be used where IELTS Life Skills is required. Test takers would need to a score of 4.0 or above in Speaking and Listening (scores for Reading and Writing will be ignored).

Question 11

Family route - extension (Spouse/partner or Parent of a dependant)

Accepted Answer

Minimum CEFR level required

A2

Skills

Speaking and Listening

IELTS test and minimum score required overall and in each skill*

IELTS for UKVI** – 4.0 in Speaking and Listening

IELTS Life Skills – at A2 (Pass)

* Both Academic and General Training versions are accepted. The CEFR requirement for each skill must be met.

** IELTS for UKVI can be used where IELTS Life Skills is required. Test takers would need to a score of 4.0 or above in Speaking and Listening (scores for Reading and Writing will be ignored).

Question 12

Indefinite leave to remain (to settle) or citizenship

Accepted Answer

Minimum CEFR level required

B1

Skills

Speaking and Listening

IELTS test and minimum score required overall and in each skill*

IELTS for UKVI** – 4.0 in Speaking and Listening

IELTS Life Skills – at B1 (Pass)

* Both Academic and General Training versions are accepted. The CEFR requirement for each skill must be met.

** IELTS for UKVI can be used where IELTS Life Skills is required. Test takers would need to a score of 4.0 or above in Speaking and Listening (scores for Reading and Writing will be ignored).

Migrate to the UK

Which IELTS test do I need if I am applying for a UK visa?