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Meeting English Language Requirements for Entry Clearance to the UK

You need to get entry clearance or leave to enter in order to get permission to enter the UK in a specific capacity. You cannot get entry clearance issued from within the UK so you must apply for it - and get it issued - before you finalise your travel arrangements to the UK. When you get entry clearance, you can enter the UK initially for 30 days to collect your bio metric residence permit which allows you to stay in UK.

You can apply for Entry Clearance, in the following categories:
  1. UK ancestry visa
  2. Spouse visa
  3. Unmarried partner visa
  4. EEA family member
  5. Visitor visa
  6. Worker or student under point-based system Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 4 and Tier 5
One major requirement when applying for entry clearance is to meet the relevant English Language requirement. Those who want to come to the UK and stay here for over 6 months, need to meet such requirements. They can meet this requirement by passing a recognised English language requirement at A1 level before entering the UK. However, you don’t need to meet English language Requirement if you are exempt from this. Also - under certain visa categories - you don’t need to show evidence of English Language proficiency. You may require support to make a successful application for entry clearance.

Exemptions to the English language requirements

Unless exempt, applicants need to pass an English Language requirement. The following kinds of applicants are exempt from such requirements:
  1. Any applicants who are nationals of majority English-speaking country
  2. Any applicant who holds a degree taught in English
  3. Any applicant under 18 or over 65 years of age
  4. Any applicant that has a physical or mental disability which prevents them from meeting the requirement
  5. Exceptional circumstances preventing an applicant from being able to meet the English language requirement. For example, where the applicant is living in a war zone.
  6. If the applicant is applying in visa categories like Tier 1 Investor, Tier 1 Exceptional Talent, Tier 2 Intra Company Transfer and Tier 5 Temporary Worker.

What is the English language requirement for entry clearance in the UK?

If you are not exempt, you must meet the relevant English language requirements to get successful entry clearance into the UK. There are different levels of English language which you need, and your specific visa category will determine the level of English you must meet. All those aged 18 to 64 and are not exempt, and are applying to join a loved one or family member in the UK, must have English at A1 Level to meet the entry requirements.

What is the level of English required to enter UK?

  1. You need to be at B1 level if you plan to enter the UK as an Entrepreneur under Tier 1 of the Points Based System (PBS)
  2. You need to be at B1 Level if you plan to enter the UK as a Skilled Worker under Tier 2 of the PBS
  3. You need to be level B2 if you plan to enter the UK as a Minister of Religion under Tier 2 of the PBS
  4. You need to be at B1 Level if you plan to enter the UK as a General Student (Adult) under Tier 4 of the PBS
 

How to meet the English language requirements for entry clearance

 You can meet English language requirement in the following ways:
  1. You can clear the UKVI life skills test
  2. You can obtain nationality of a majority English speaking country – as per the schedule listing
  3. You can possess a qualification taught in English in the UK or overseas
  4. You can pass an English Test and obtain the original test certificate
At any point of time while making application, if you are looking for the best immigration lawyers in London, then you should get in touch with us....



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Visa and Migration is a private OISC regulated company (F201500999) and is not an official Government body. If you would like to prepare and submit your UK immigration application yourself you can do so by visiting the UKVI website.