A person applying for a UK work visa typically needs to demonstrate their proficiency in the English language at the time of application. There are 4 components of proficiency in the English language. These 4 components include reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Some UK work visas require applicants to prove their proficiency in only two components: speaking and listening abilities. Other UK work visa applicants need to prove their ability in all four components: reading, writing, speaking, and listening in the English language.
A person needs to prove their proficiency to a certain minimum level of CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).
A person applying for a UK Representative of an Overseas Business visa or International Sportsperson visa is required to meet the minimum level of A1 of CEFR in speaking and listening.
On the other hand, an application for the UK Skilled Worker visa, Health and Care Worker visa, High Potential Individual visa, Overseas Domestic Worker visa, International Agreement visa (Temporary Work) for private servants, Innovator Founder visa,), and Scale-up Worker visa require to meet the minimum level of B1 of CEFR in reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
A person applying for the Minister of Religion visa (T2) visa is required to meet the minimum level of B2 of CEFR.
Please note that from 8 January 2026, the level of English requirement is changing from CEFR level B1 to CEFR level B2 for a person making their first application for a Skilled Worker visa, High Potential Visa, and Scale-up Worker visa.
Unless exempt, a person applying for a UK work visa will be required to satisfy the English language criteria. They can show their knowledge of English by:
Successfully passing a Secure English Language Test (SELT) from an approved test provider at an approved test location in the UK or overseas
Having a GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education), A level, Scottish NQ (National Qualification) level 4 or 5, Scottish Higher or Advanced Higher qualification in English, gained through study at a UK school that they started when they were under 18
Having a degree-level academic qualification equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or PhD that was taught in English at a university outside the UK.
For someone’s results to be accepted, their SELT must:
• Be an approved English language test
• Have been sat at an approved test centre
• Have been awarded in the two years before they apply for a UK work visa
A person applying for a UK work visa can book one of the following tests approved for SELT:
• IELTS (International English Language Testing System) SELT Consortium: ‘IELTS for UKVI’ or ‘IELTS Life Skills’
• LANGUAGECERT: ‘LANGUAGECERT International ESOL SELT’ or ‘LANGUAGECERT General SELT’
• Pearson: ‘PTE Academic UKVI’ or ‘PTE Home’
• PSI Services: ‘Skills for English UKVI’
• Trinity College London: ‘Secure English Language Tests for UKVI’ – ISE (Integrated Skills in English) or GESE (Graded Examinations in Spoken English)
A UK work visa applicant will be required to show that they have a specified level of English language ability. They will need to take an SELT test from an approved provider that assesses their reading, writing, speaking, and listening abilities.
IELTS is an approved test provider for SELT. IELTS UKVI tests are accepted by UKVI (United Kingdom Visas and Immigration) as proof of English if a person wants to work in the UK.
The UKVI uses the following tests:
IELTS for UKVI
IELTS for UKVI Life Skills A1
IELTS for UKVI Life Skills A2
IELTS for UKVI Life Skills B1
The UKVI only accepts tests taken in person at an official IELTS for UKVI test centre because UKVI requires an additional layer of security when taking language tests.
For visas that require CEFR level A1, a person needs to achieve a Pass in their IELTS for UKVI Life Skills A1 test covering Listening and Speaking.
For visas that require a minimum CEFR level B1, a person needs to get at least an IELTS score of 4.0 in each of the 4 components of their IELTS for UKVI test, covering Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening.
For visas that require a minimum CEFR level B2, a person needs to get at least an IELTS score of 5.5 in each of the 4 components of their IELTS for UKVI test, covering Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening.
There are other approved tests that can be used to demonstrate proficiency in English language required for UK work visas.
A person applying for a UK work visa can satisfy the English language criteria in 2025 through the PTE Academic UKVI test, which is an approved, four-skill SELT (Secure English Language Test), or the PTE Home A1 test, which is an approved, two-skill SELT (Secure English Language Test).
A person applying for one of the following visas needs to choose the PTE Academic UKVI test:
• UK Start-up visa
• UK Innovator founder visa
• Minister of religion visa (Tier 2)
PTE Academic UKVI contains three test sections:
1. Speaking & writing
2. Reading
3. Listening
This is a 2-hour test where each test section contains a range of different question types, so it’s important to get familiar with the format before sitting the test.
On the other hand, a person applying for the UK International Sportsperson Visa or Representative of an Overseas Business visa needs to choose the PTE Home A1 test, which is a beginner-level English test.
PTE Home A1 test measures basic English speaking and listening skills for life and work in the UK.
A person sitting the PTE Home A1 test will hear 22 short sentences. They will need to repeat the sentence exactly as they heard it.
All PTE tests are computer-based tests.
Required Scores
For visas that require CEFR level A1, a person needs to achieve a Pass in their PTE Home A1 test covering Speaking and Listening.
For visas that require a minimum CEFR level B1, a person needs to get at least a PTE Academic UKVI score of 43 or higher in each of the 4 components of their IELTS for UKVI test covering Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening.
For visas that require a minimum CEFR level B2, a person needs to get at least a PTE Academic UKVI score of 59 or higher in each of the 4 components of their IELTS for UKVI test covering Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening.
A person can also satisfy the English language criteria in 2025 through SELT-approved Trinity College London GESE Grade 2 (A1) speaking and listening test, and ISE I (B1), or ISE II (B2) 4 skills test covering reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
For UK work visas that require CEFR level A1, a person needs to pass their GESE Grade 2 (A1) speaking and listening test.
For UK work visas that require a minimum CEFR level B1, a person needs to pass an ISE I (B1) 4 skills test covering reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
For UK work visas that require a minimum CEFR level B2, a person needs to pass an ISE II (B2) 4 skills test covering reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
This is an SELT (Secure English Language Test) approved by the UK government for various UK visa applications, including UK work visa applications. This uses a convenient, computer-based format for testing English proficiency in writing, speaking, and listening at various levels (A1-C2) and is offered through PSI's global network of test centers.
A person, in order to prove that they satisfy the English language criteria for UK work visas, can choose the test level they require, from beginner to proficiency, for either two skills, speaking and listening, or four skills, reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
For UK work visas that require a minimum CEFR level A1, a person must pass each component in a 2-skill test covering speaking and listening.
For UK work visas that require a minimum CEFR level B1 or B2, a person must be awarded ‘Pass’ or 'Pass with merit’ in a 4-skill test covering reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
Passing with merit demonstrates a person's higher level of English language ability than that achieved with the test-level pass mark.
A person can also satisfy the English language criteria for UK work visas in 2025 through the LANGUAGECERT International ESOL SELT A1 test or the LANGUAGECERT International ESOL SELT (A2-C1) test.
From 1 January 2025, the new LANGUAGECERT Academic SELT (B1-C1) test and the LANGUAGECERT General SELT (A2-C1) test have replaced the LANGUAGECERT ESOL SELT 4-skills test.
Those holding a LANGUAGECERT ESOL SELT 4-skills result can use it for two years.
Those with a voucher for a LANGUAGECERT ESOL SELT 4-skills test can use it for up to 12 months from the date of purchase.
For UK work visas that require a minimum CEFR level A1, a person must score a minimum of 60/100 in a LANGUAGECERT International ESOL SELT A1 2 skill test, which covers speaking and listening.
For UK work visas that require a minimum CEFR level B1, a person needs to score a minimum of 40 in each skill in a LANGUAGECERT General SELT (A2-C1) 4 skills test covering reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
For UK work visas that require a minimum CEFR level B2, a person needs to score a minimum of 60 in each skill in a LANGUAGECERT General SELT (A2-C1) 4 skills test covering reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
If you are a foreign national looking to work in the UK, then you may have a question about how to work in the UK without IELTS in 2025.
Visa and Migration is always there to help you with your UK work visa application process. Our expert immigration advisors will guide you through every step of the process, right from ensuring that you meet the English language requirements for working in the UK without IELTS to helping you get your work visa approved.
We would also love to help you with any other immigration issues that might arise during the process. Our team of expert advisors has been helping people apply successfully for UK visas for years.
For further information about UK Work Visa Without IELTS, you can call us at +44 (0)20 3411 1261 to receive immediate help & assistance with your situation.
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