Knowledge of language and life in the United Kingdom

This page contains details of the knowledge of language and life in the United Kingdom that you normally need to have before you apply for permanent residence in the United Kingdom (also known as 'indefinite leave to remain').

You can demonstrate your knowledge of language and of life in the United Kingdom (KOL) in three ways:

• If you speak English to a reasonable standard, you will need to pass the Life in the UK test.
• If you are not an English speaker, you will need to take and pass an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) course which contains citizenship materials. To check your language ability, you should work through the tutorial on the Life in the UK test website. If you cannot fully understand the information in this tutorial, you may need to take a course in English and citizenship.
• If you are the spouse or civil partner or unmarried/same sex partner of a permanent member of HM Diplomatic Service, a comparable UK-based staff member of the British Council on a tour of duty abroad or a staff member of the Department for International Development who is a British Citizen or is settled in the UK, a person designated by the Secretary of State may certify personally and in writing that you have sufficient knowledge of life in the UK and of the English language. This person will normally be the head of the post where they are based. The letter confirming this must be signed personally and endorsed with an official stamp. The original letter should be submitted, not a copy.

Certain categories of people are exempt from the requirement to prove knowledge of language and life in the United Kingdom. These are listed below. Unless you are exempt, if you apply for settlement on or before 30 March 2009 and cannot meet this requirement, your application will be considered as an application for termporary permission to stay in the United Kingdom (also known as 'further leave to remain').

On 30 March 2009 we ended the transitional arrangements that allowed applications for settlement, submitted without a relevant qualification, to be automatically considered as applications for further leave to remain. Your settlement application will now be refused, and your application fee will not be refunded, if you do not enclose proof that you have met the 'knowledge of language and life in the UK' requirement. If you have not yet met the requirement, you will need to submit an application for further leave to remain on the appropriate form in order to extend your stay.

If you do meet the requirement but your dependant partner has not yet obtained a relevant qualification, they will need to apply separately on an FLR(O) form in order to be considered for further leave to remain. If you have/are applying for leave under the points-based system, your partner should apply on an FLR(M) form.

You should read the detailed guidance Knowledge of life in the UK: requirements for settlement applications (PDF 135K opens in a new window).

English for speakers of other languages (ESOL)

If English is not your main language, you can take an ESOL course to help you improve your English.

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, you can study ESOL at the three Entry Levels:

• ESOL Entry 1
• ESOL Entry 2
• ESOL Entry 3

In Scotland, you can study ESOL courses at the following three levels for the purposes of settlement:

• Access 2
• Access 3
• Intermediate 1

The Department for Children, Schools and Families provides details of what is covered in these courses. ESOL courses are available throughout the United Kingdom. The Directgov website can help you find a course in your area. You must take a course which includes citizenship materials derived from the document 'Citizenship Materials for ESOL Learners' (ISBN 1-84478-5424).

The 'Life in the UK test'

The test consists of 24 multiple-choice questions based on the information in the handbook 'Life in the UK: A Journey to Citizenship'. The handbook was last updated in March 2007. You should make sure you use this version (Second Edition) of the handbook when preparing for the test. The handbook is available from good bookshops, or you can order it directly from The Stationery Office. If you have a visual impairment, an audio CD version of the handbook is available.

An official study guide, endorsed by the Home Office, is also available. It is called 'Life in the United Kingdom: Official Citizenship Test Study Guide'. The guide is available from The Stationery Office bookshops and other good bookshops, priced at £5.99 (ISBN: 9780113413249). Please note that this study guide does not contain the learning materials for the test - it should be read in conjunction with the 'Life in the United Kingdom: A Journey to Citizenship' 2nd Edition (2007) handbook.

If you are in the United Kingdom, the test can be taken at one of around 95 Life in the UK test centres. Details of how to prepare for and book your test are available on the Life in the UK Test website. If you have a visual impairment, the test is available in large print, or the computer can read out each question for you. If you have special needs, you should contact your nearest test centre for details of the support they can provide.

The test costs £33.28. You will need to pay the fee at the test centre before you begin the test. You will also need to provide photographic identification before you take the test. The Life in the UK Test website provides details of suitable forms of identification.

If you pass the test, you will receive a pass notification letter. You will need to send this letter as part of your application. The test centre will also notify us electronically that you have successfully passed the test. This notification may take up to seven days to reach us, so if you want to apply for settlement in person at one of our public enquiry offices, your appointment to visit the office should be at least a week after your test. If you pass the test, you will not need to provide any other evidence of your language skills.

Taking the test in Welsh or Scottish Gaelic

The test is usually taken in English. If you are taking the test in Wales, you can request to take the test in Welsh. If you are taking the test in Scotland, you can request to take the test in Scottish Gaelic. You should ask your nearest test centre for further details.

If you are in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

You will need to pass the test or successfully complete an ESOL course with citizenship materials before you apply for settlement. Tests taken on any of these islands are paper-based and consist of 25 questions, with six questions based on local information about the island.

If you are outside the United Kingdom

It is currently not possible to take the Life in the UK test overseas. If you are outside the United Kingdom, you will have to return to the United Kingdom to take the test. In exceptional circumstances, it may be possible for a person in Crown or designated service outside the United Kingdom, or the spouse or civil partner of someone in Crown or designated service outside the United Kingdom, to take the test overseas.

Exemption from meeting the language and knowledge of life in the United Kingdom requirements

Exemption because of your age

If you are aged under 18 or 65 and over, you do not need to meet the knowledge of language and life in the United Kingdom requirement. When you apply, you should send your passport or birth certificate as evidence of your age.

Exemption because of disability

If you have a long-standing, permanent disability that prevents you from learning English, you may not have to meet the requirements. You must:

• be suffering from a long-term illness or disability that severely restricts mobility and ability to attend language classes; or
• have a mental impairment that means you are unable to learn another language.

When you apply, you should send evidence from a medical practitioner confirming your disability.

If you would require special arrangements to learn English or take the test, you still have to meet the requirements.

Exemption for certain categories of applicants

You will not have to meet the requirement if you are applying for settlement and you are:

• a Foreign and Commonwealth citizen on discharge from HM Forces (including Gurkhas);
• the spouse of Foreign and Commonwealth citizen on discharge from HM Forces (including Gurkhas);
• applying as a victim of domestic violence;
• applying as a bereaved spouse, bereaved unmarried partner or bereaved civil partner;
• a parent,grandparent or other dependant relative and you are applying under paragraph 317 of the Immigration Rules;
• a retired person of independent means;
• a European national with a non-EEA family member, making an application under the Free Movement of Persons provisions (which are not based on the Immigration Rules);
• a Turkish national applying under ECAA;
• applying for settlement following five years' leave as a refugee;
• applying for settlement following six years' discretionary leave;
• applying for settlement following four years' exceptional leave to remain
• applying for settlement following five years' humanitarian protection;
• being granted settlement outside the Immigration Rules; or
• a dependant child of a person in an employment category that preceded the points-based system (paragraphs 128-193 of the Immigration Rules excluding 135I-135K), or of a person applying for settlement in the United Kingdom as a businessman, self-employed person, investor, writer, composer or artist (paragraphs 200-239 of the Immigration Rules). This includes children who are 18 or over at the time of their application.

(Note that you will still need to meet the requirements if you later apply for British citizenship, unless you are exempt for other reasons.)

If you are applying in one of these categories, you should make sure that you meet the requirements for your category and can provide documentary evidence to support your application. See the individual categories for more information about the evidence required.

A member of the Brigade of Gurkhas of the British Army recruited in Nepal under the Brigade of Gurkhas' terms and conditions of service.