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Immigration Rules Appendix English Language

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November 9
09:33 2022

It applies only to applications under Appendix Student, Appendix Skilled Worker, Appendix Representative of an Overseas Business, Appendix T2 Minister of Religion, Appendix International Sportsperson, Appendix UK Ancestry, Appendix Global Talent, Appendix Start-up, Appendix Innovator, Appendix Temporary Work - International Agreement, Appendix Domestic Worker in a Private Household, Appendix High Potential Individual, Appendix Settlement Family Life, Appendix Private Life, Appendix Scale Up and Appendix Hong Kong British National (Overseas).

The route sets out whether the English language requirement must be met and at what level.

Exemption

  1. EL 1.1. An applicant for settlement is exempt from the English language requirement if at the date of application any of the following apply:
    1. (a) they are aged 65 or over; or
    2. (b) they are aged under 18; or
    3. (c) they have a disability (physical or mental condition) which prevents them from meeting the requirement; or
    4. (d) they are applying for settlement as a partner, parent or dependent child aged over 18 where they:
      1. (i) have spent a continuous period of 15 years in the UK with permission; and
      2. (ii) can show an English language speaking and listening qualification at A2 CEFR or ESOL entry level 2 or Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 3; and
      3. (iii) provide confirmation from a qualified English teacher that the applicant has attended an English language class for at least 75 guided learning hours (not unsupervised study or preparation time) in the 12 months before the date of application and the teachers view is the applicant is unlikely to attain B1 level through further study.

How the requirement is met

EL 2.1. The English language requirement is met if any of the requirements in EL 3 to EL 6 are met.

EL 2.2. The English language requirement is also met by a person applying for entry clearance or permission to stay as a Student if any of the requirements in EL 7.1. to EL 8.4. are met.

EL 2.3. The English language requirement is also met by a person applying for entry clearance or permission to stay as a Skilled Worker route if:
(a) the requirements in EL 7.1. and EL 7.2. are met: or
(b) the requirement in EL 9.1. is met.

EL 2.4. The English language requirement is also met by a person applying for:

  1. (a) entry clearance or permission to stay on the Start-up route, or
  2. (b) entry clearance, permission to stay or settlement on the Innovator route, or
  3. (c) entry clearance, permission to stay or settlement on the Scale-up route, or
  4. (d) entry clearance or permission to stay on the High Potential Individual route, or
  5. (e) settlement under Appendix Settlement Family Life, or
  6. (f) settlement under Appendix Private Life,

if the requirements in EL 7.1 and EL 7.2. are met.

EL 2.5. DELETED.

Met in a previous application

EL 3.1. An applicant will meet the English language requirement if they have already shown they met the requirement, at the level required for their current application, in a previous successful application for entry clearance or permission to stay.

Majority English speaking country

EL 4.1. An applicant will meet the English language requirement if they are a national of any of the following majority-English-speaking countries:

Antigua and Barbuda
Australia
The Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
The British Overseas Territories
Canada
Dominica
Grenada
Guyana
Jamaica
Malta
New Zealand
St Kitts and Nevis
St Lucia
St Vincent and the Grenadines
Trinidad and Tobago
United States of America

Academic qualification

EL 5.1. An applicant will meet the English language requirement if they have an academic qualification which meets one of the requirements at EL 5.2. and is proven by the required evidence under EL 5.3. or EL 5.4.

EL 5.2. The requirements are that the applicant has:
(a) a bachelors degree, masters degree or doctorate awarded in the UK; or
(b) a degree or degree-level qualification taught in a university or college in a majority- English-speaking country listed in EL 4.1. (except Canada), or Ireland, which meets or exceeds the recognised standard of a bachelors degree, masters degree or doctorate awarded in the UK; or
(c) a degree or degree level qualification which meets, or exceeds, the recognised standard of a UK bachelors degree; masters degree or doctorate and was taught or researched in English.

EL 5.3. The requirement at EL 5.2. must be proven by one of:
(a) a certificate from the awarding body: or
(b) a transcript issued by the university or college that awarded the qualification; or
(c) an official letter from the university or college that awarded the qualification containing information equivalent to a degree certificate.

EL 5.4. If the qualification was awarded by a body from outside the UK, the requirement at EL 5.2. must, in addition to the requirement at EL 5.3, be proven by confirmation from Ecctis that the qualification meets the requirements at EL 5.2(b) or EL 5.2(c).

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